Delivery DVD Review

Director: Brian Netto

Starring: Laurel Vail, Danny Barclay, Rob Cobuzio, Rebecca Brooks, Lance Buckner, Peter McGlynn

Running Time: 84 Minutes

Certificate: 15

Hearing the words “found footage” and “demon pregnancy” may conjure up images of this year’s awful  DEVIL’S DUE. On paper the films sound painstakingly similar which will have people questioning whether or not they’ve already seen DELIVERY or not. Rest assured though, DELIVERY is no DEVIL’S DUE, and as far as found footage horrors go, this one knocks it out of the park.

DELIVERY follows a young couple, Rachel (Vail) and Kyle (Barclay), who decide to have their pregnancy documented by a US reality TV show. Straight away this works, as it gives reasons for the continuous filming to take place. Whereas other films often have to rely on the audience’s suspension of disbelief when forcing the old “I have to document this,” line into the script, the idea of a TV production forcing people to keep to their contracts for good ratings is much more palatable. When the film starts we’re in full US reality TV land, with all the cheesiness you can imagine. This is so convincing at times, I completely forgot I was watching a horror and questioned why on Earth I was watching such melodramatic dreck.

As the film gradually eases into horror territory, fans of the genre will see where the film is going, but the subtlety with which events pan out adds to the horror without detracting from the drama. Netto understands that found footage films are not just a cheap alternative, and uses the form to explore the relationship of the central characters and how it gradually falls apart. The actions of characters are very understandable, and there aren’t too many occurrences that couldn’t be explained with logic and reason. Both Vail and Barclay bring chemistry and natural charm to their roles, as well as effectively evolving into different characters completely, with the bright and bubbly Rachel becoming a nervous wreck, and the calm and loving Kyle becoming impatient and aggravated.

Like all good horrors it taps into a primal fear, that being the delicacy of childbirth. The happiness is evident at first before stressful situations turn everything into a grim and tense atmosphere. If you shouldn’t watch JAWS before going swimming, or THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT before camping, then certainly don’t sit through this if you’re expecting. Unlike many found footage films, there is also a shocking ending that also brings about a conclusion, although some questions are left unanswered, which is all for the best. One of the best of its kind.

[usr=4]DELIVERY is released on DVD on 12th May.