arguably best outdoor adventure film time four city guys confront natures wrath story survival setting backwoods georgia forests mountains wild riversbr br the director john boorman chose use local people actors portray secondary characters locals imbue film depth characterization unequaled film history central casting actors could ever come close peoples remarkable faces voices actions recall film wherein secondary characters realistic colorful much anything else gritty realism makes film amazingbr br another strength films theme nature wild violent appropriate setting american south places us are been violent redneck country story darwinian survival fittest film conveys idea humans part nature separate itbr br deliverance much product time when unlike today americans expressed concern vanishing wilderness films magnificent scenery sounds birds frogs crickets roar river rapids combined absence civilization convey environmental message another strength filmbr br at entertainment level tension gradually escalates plot proceeds even half way film tension becomes extreme never lets up final credits roll films sustain level intensity long span plotbr br finally films technical quality topnotch direction editing flawless cinematography excellent dialogue interesting acting terrific burt reynolds never better ned beatty perfectly cast fine job jon voight nominated oscar weak link film music strikes timidbr br overall deliverance almost certainly appeal viewers like outdoor adventure even dont gritty characterizations acting plot tension reasons enough watch film one finest cinema history