If you’re dreading the glut of action/superhero blockbusters set to arrive this year, you can rest easy knowing that there are plenty of promising horror films on the horizon as well. Deliver Us From Evil, from Scott Derrickson, the director of Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, is perhaps my most anticipated, primarily because it looks to blend a demonic possession plotline with the dark and brooding feel of a cop drama.
The international trailer for the film, which Sony dropped earlier today, recycles some footage from the absolutely nerve-wracking first trailer while also weaving in some terrifying new clips of the hideous, malevolent presence that cop Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) finds himself up against. Check it out below:
In addition to Bana, Deliver Us From Evil also stars Edgar Ramirez, as a renegade priest who partners with Sarchie to take on the demonic force, and Olivia Munn, who appears to have nailed a Brooklyn accent for her role as Sarchie’s understandably perturbed wife.
Watching the international trailer, it appears that Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman are going down a checklist of recent horror tropes. We’ve got evil Latin writing, a little girl in peril, creepy playthings, horribly contorted possession victims, and even the “based on real events” disclaimer that no one actually buys for a second. Luckily, the cop angle is a refreshing one, and the acting looks strong enough all around to make up for some familiar plot parts. The international trailer also doubles up on the gore, with some disturbing images of possession victims crawling around and wreaking havoc.
Derrickson’s stellar track record is another reason I’m excited to check out Deliver Us From Evil this summer. Sinister was one of the scariest movies to emerge in the past five years, and that was in large part thanks to Derrickson’s grounded, gritty style. If this trailer is any indication, fans of his past efforts certainly won’t leave disappointed.
Deliver Us From Evil opens stateside July 2nd.