after have see deliverance and movie like pulp fiction do not seem so extreme . maybe by today blood and bullet standard it doesn not seem so edgy and but if you think that this be 1972 and that the movie have a truly sinister core then it make you think differently . when i start watch this movie nothing really seem unusual until i get to the duel banjos scene . in that scene the brutality and edge of this film be truly visible . a i watch drew ( ronny cox and robocop ) go head to head with a seemingly retarted young boy it really show how edgy this movie can get . when you think that the kid have a small banjo and which he could of probably make by hand and compare to draw nice expensive guitar and you really figure out just how out of their territory the four men be . a the plot go it very believable and never stretch past it limit . but what really distinguish this film and about four business men who get more than they bargain for on a canoe trip and be that director john boorman ( excalibur ) break all the character away from plain caricature or stereotype . so a the movie go into full horror and suspense i really care about all four men and what would happen to them . the acting be universally excellent . with jon voight ( midnight cowboy and enemy of the state ) and burt reynolds ( boogie night and striptease ) lead the great cast . jon voight do probably the hard thing of all in this film and that be make his transformation from family man to warrior very believable . unlike reynolds whose character be a warrior from the start and voight character transforms over the course of the movie . ned beatty ( life ) be also good in an extremely hard role and come on get rap by a hillbilly and while ronny cox turn in a believable performance . one thing that really make this movie powerful for me be that the villain be as terrify a any i have ever see . bill mckinney and herbert cowboy coward be excellent and extremely frightening a the hillbilly . overall deliverance be excellent and i suggest it to anyone and except for people with weak stomach and kid . positive . see this movie .