Linkshoch Wonderful Movie

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Irishchatter Yeah he admitted that he sexually abused young girls but I seriously do not have any sympathy for what he done to them. Why did they have interview him? Like hes just a dirty miserable person who should've been locked away. I would've preferred to hear what the victims have to say. I definitely didn't want to hear what he says. Whenever he talked, he made me sick to my stomach, why is he still alive to tell the tale? I swear to god, why did Amy Berg have to do this? I just can't stop asking this question - why did they have to interview him?!. I would've rathered him silenced than hear him speak, it made me ears bleed. Sick pervert, he doesn't deserve to be in this project, he deserves punishment! Why are we giving him credit here?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robyn Nesbitt (nesfilmreviews) 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 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.

MartinHafer This is an exceptionally well made documentary that is very difficult to watch, as it deals with the molestation of children by priests who were trusted by their families. It only follows a couple cases, though if you watch the news you realize that this is actually a much wider-spread problem--as many more priests in the US have been prosecuted for raping kids. But this isn't the worst part--church officials have actively impeded prosecution, often transferred molesters to new and unsuspecting parishes instead of turning them over to the police and wouldn't think of excommunicating them. In fact, they CONTINUE to employ them and provide them with retirement incomes--in addition to allowing them to set foot in a church building! If the quality of a documentary is based mostly on how angry it makes you feel and how well it convinces you of their position, then this is a GREAT film. Well constructed and hard-hitting--this is a terrific film.By the way, it is important to point out that these men are NOT molesters because of celibacy. For years, I did psychotherapy with victims and offenders and can tell you from my experience that these men CHOOSE the priesthood to have access to children. Plus, if they NEED sex, why not have an affair or hire a prostitute--it sure beats raping kids. And, by the way, I no longer work in this field, as working with these evil victimizers was simply killing me--plus I didn't feel therapy is effective for these folks.Finally, if you are Catholic, I don't see how you can remain in the church, as this would condone everything. When you see this film, it becomes clear that the church was CLEARLY a co-contributor to the emotional and spiritual rape of countless children. Now perhaps you could say to yourself that the offenders and their superiors who condoned it only represent a small portion of the Catholic church. But what about the rest of the Church and the Pope? Where is their response of such evil?! The silence is deafening.

mekjd This documentary captures a pederast in all his narcissistic glory (and with all of his inability to sense what is going on with others). For that alone, it would be a valuable work. The documentary purports to present a photo essay concerning the shortcomings of Catholic leadership. While some of this is regrettably true, other points presented -- for example, the notion that clergy are more important than non-clergy -- are distortions at best. To that end, the piece falls short and could easily become another exercise in Catholic bashing.The stories of the families are compelling and the injuries incurred heartbreaking. In this regard, the movie did not delve deeply enough. It is not enough to show anger and tears or hint at why a family might be ripe for abuse. More needs to be done here.Some commentary was just plain stupid. For example, it was suggested that because celibacy is required of clergy, that the view is that sex is bad, and that child sexual abuse is just another form of sex that is bad, equivalent to any other form of bad sex, that is to say, all sex. The invitation to join this spiral of nonsense needs to be declined.Notwithstanding the criticisms above, the film is an important contribution to bringing the problems of child sexual abuse to light, and for that, the film's makers and participants need to be applauded.