‘Deliver Us’: A Nightmarish Gothic Horror Masterpiece Worth the Hype
Deliver Us delivers spine-tingling chills and thought-provoking thrills that will haunt your dreams and spark some lively discussions. This dark, gothic horror film, directed by Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis, a standout in the indie genre scene, is hitting theaters and on-demand platforms on September 29. It’s a world where good battles evil, and ancient prophecies come to life in the most terrifying way possible.
Deliver Us boasts an ensemble cast including Lee Roy Kunz, who takes on the role of Father Fox. Maria Vera Ratti portrays Sister Yulia, the nun at the heart of a chilling prophecy. Alexander Siddig plays Cardinal Russo, Jaune Kimmel is Laura, Fox’s Estonian partner and Thomas Kretschmann is Father Saul, a key figure in the battle between good and evil. The film also features Aleksander Mikoš McCarthy, Hans Robert Varts, Marko Leht, Lena Barbara Luhse, and Jason E. Medina.
Deliver Us takes inspiration from movies like The Omen or Rosemary’s Baby, putting a different spin on a classic supernatural/psychological horror tale. When Sister Yulia claims to have immaculately conceived twin boys, one destined to be the Messiah and the other the Anti-Christ, the Vatican dispatches a team of priests to investigate. However, they are not alone; a secret society with sinister intentions also wants to ensure the prophecy’s outcome. Amidst this chaos, an American Jesuit discovers their nefarious plan and lends a helping hand to Sister Yulia, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle between good and evil.
Deliver Us is a labor of love and collaboration among Lee Roy Kunz, who serves as co-director, co-writer, producer, and actor, and his partners at World’s Fair Pictures: Cru Ennis and Isaac Bauman. “The initial idea actually came from my father,” Lee Roy Kunz shared at the Los Angeles premiere. “He pitched this to me, and I was like, ‘That’s one of the best ideas I’ve ever heard.’ I immediately got to writing and brought my brother [Kane] on board. Within six months, we were pretty much off to Estonia.”
As Lee Roy Kunz pointed out, working with family has its perks: “Having a lot of that love and support helps through doing some of these difficult challenging things where I’m really pushing the boundaries.”
Co-writer and producer Kane Kunz emphasized the power of collaboration. “My brother is the general of the army of people that it took to get this done,” he said on the red carpet. “When he had reached out to me about collaborating, we were in two different cities. But since we had a similar goal in mind, we could move in tandem fairly quickly.”
While reading the script, cinematographer and producer Isaac Bauman imagined the film in its finished form. Bauman’s vision seamlessly blends the gothic grandeur of the Catholic Church with the cold austerity of the ex-Soviet bloc, creating a visual feast that perfectly complements the film’s narrative. He explained, “I tried to find a fusion between those two. I wanted to bring in that austerity of the Eastern European aesthetic and the gaudy gothic grandeur of Catholicism.”
Deliver Us delves deep into themes of good and evil, faith, and the human condition. Co-director/producer Cru Ennis emphasized how the film examines biblical themes with authenticity. “It’s very raw. We don’t shy away from anything the genre normally highlights,” Ennis tells Hollywood First Look. “Because it’s a religious film, normally things are done with a certain pulp. There’s none of that. It’s very real, raw, and grounded. It has really resonated with people and initiated some great conversations.”
Ennis says the goal is to entertain audiences and give them a thoughtful experience. He wants everyone to have their own idea of what the movie means and hopes it provokes meaningful dialogue.
Magnolia Pictures celebrated the Los Angeles Premiere of Deliver Us on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at The Landmark Westwood. The movie arrives worldwide on September 29, just in time for spooky season.
