Deliver Us from Evil

Name: Deliver Us from Evil
Genre: Crime, Documentary
Released: October 13, 2006
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 86
Cast: Thomas Doyle

2006

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 23 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Ratings

See All

8.0

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.0	Your Score
8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: October 13, 2006 | Not Rated

Starring: Thomas Doyle

Summary: This controversial documentary is the story of Father Oliver O'Grady, the most notorious pedophile in the history of the modern Catholic Church.

Director: Amy Berg

Genre(s): Crime, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 101 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Owen Gleiberman

Brilliant and psychologically transfixing documentary. Read full review

100

M. E. Russell

As a study of a predator, "Evil" is fascinating and enraging. Read full review

100

Carrie Rickey

Courageous, shattering and exceptional documentary. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Deliver Us From Evil has a few things wrong with it, including an egregious musical score, but without resorting to sucker punches, it takes your breath away while making your skin crawl. Read full review

Jack Mathews

Amy Berg's riveting documentary, tracks O'Grady's predatory trail from San Andreas, Calif., to Ireland, where he is now living on a church pension that was apparently meant to buy his silence. Read full review

James Berardinelli

With Deliver Us from Evil, Berg has been uncompromising in the picture she paints. She pulls no punches and makes no apologies. Read full review

Desson Thomson

Works best when it concentrates on O'Grady and the ever-rippling effect of his transgressions. Viewers may not remember the victims whose stories practically pierce the heart, but they're unlikely to forget O'Grady's deceptively innocent face. Read full review

SEE ALL 23 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

cabrita

Jun 14, 2012

It is more powerful and haunting then any horror film. More suspenseful then a thriller. More thought provoking then an art film. It is simply amazingly powerful. It ranks with the best documentarys of all time. Every person in the catholic church should watch this film and act on it

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KristenS.

Oct 18, 2006

Thank God. This movie will reach believers to hopefully cry for their church to be better, hold itself to higher standards and serve the people -- not its own interests. I'm so thankful to those with the courage to speak up. Their victimization by those perpetuating this evil (within Thank God. This movie will reach believers to hopefully cry for their church to be better, hold itself to higher standards and serve the people -- not its own interests. I'm so thankful to those with the courage to speak up. Their victimization by those perpetuating this evil (within the church) needs to be stopped. It starts by talking about it and the priests and church to be accountable to those they took an oath to God to serve.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

VeraAA

Oct 13, 2006

I must say this movie was disturbing, real, powerful, moving and brilliant. Although it was somewhat slow and repetitive it was still unbelievable to get a real life look at the ignored crime of Catholic Clergy Sexual abuse and child molestation. The most powerful story is that of two I must say this movie was disturbing, real, powerful, moving and brilliant. Although it was somewhat slow and repetitive it was still unbelievable to get a real life look at the ignored crime of Catholic Clergy Sexual abuse and child molestation. The most powerful story is that of two parents among other adults in the film, whose daughter was sexually abused by a varied victim madman. The story of there horror and the pain that they struggle with is so indescribably moving and superb. The effects that the news had on them of there daughter being abused is stunning. This movie is truly brilliant Grade A for a documentary. The man behind the crime should be jailed for life to bring true justice to the many female and male victims and the crime should be acknowledged by the Catholic Church and worldwide. This is a big step in decreasing the amount of sexual abuse in church related manner.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SamS

Oct 13, 2006

This movie may bee too long and may have some unpowerful content amount its brilliant script, profound characters, and heart throbbing moments. But its brilliant and messy powerful pizzazz makes it a documentary classic. It is both stunning and powerful. It takes you into the mind of a This movie may bee too long and may have some unpowerful content amount its brilliant script, profound characters, and heart throbbing moments. But its brilliant and messy powerful pizzazz makes it a documentary classic. It is both stunning and powerful. It takes you into the mind of a confessing madman and gives you a in-depth look at the life that his once young victims now live.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SaraK.

Jun 23, 2007

Just watch this movie, its unbelievable! I have never felt SO bad for anybody as I did for the victims and their families.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Nesbitt10

Sep 20, 2013

The spellbinding power of this Oscar nominee for best documentary comes from its chilling subject matter, a notorious pedophile priest and the cover-up of his heinous acts by the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the state of California. Director Amy Berg's documentary is clear-sighted andThe spellbinding power of this Oscar nominee for best documentary comes from its chilling subject matter, a notorious pedophile priest and the cover-up of his heinous acts by the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the state of California. Director Amy Berg's documentary is clear-sighted and tough-minded a portrait of individual criminality and institutional indifference. A study in the betrayal of trust, and the irresponsibility of authority. In addition to giving faces and voices to victims who are often anonymous, it offers an interview with a convicted ex-priest who admits his crimes without remorse. "Deliver Us from Evil" presents three case studies of Father O'Grady's abuse. Simply put, jaw-dropping.

In the 1970s and 80s, Father O'Grady was serving as a parish priest in several towns in Central California, where he molested children over and over again, both boys and girls, including, a 9-month-old. Filmmaker Amy Berg masterfully exposes just how deeply rooted the corruption runs. Armed with anguished testimony from the families of the abused and their lawyers, she seamlessly presents indisputable evidence that the Church knew about O'Grady's activities. The hierarchy moved him from one parish to another, simply to avoid public scandal, and to prevent destroying the careers of those in power.

Present day and walking around the streets of Dublin, O'Grady peers into a schoolyard with an interest that can only appear perverse after what's been revealed about him. He seems so removed from his crimes that he could be an actor playing the part of a pedophile ex-priest. That he agreed to appear in "Deliver Us From Evil," is an indication not just of an oversized ego, but also a complete failure to comprehend of what he has actually done. Father O'Grady walks freely today in Ireland, not even registered as a sex offender. "Deliver Us From Evil" has already prompted legal attention in Los Angeles toward Cardinal Roger Mahoney, who allowed more than 550 priests under his jurisdiction to molest children without punishment.

Watching this documentary, and especially the interviews with O'Grady, is so much more disturbing than any piece of fiction could ever be. This is a real monster victimizing children, and it was allowed by a group that was claiming to do God's work.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

PnArdyPnArdy

May 13, 2007

Skipped it to the end. Film about child abuse in catholic church.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 9 REVIEWS