Quick Summary
Four friends on a canoeing excursion through the Deep South are ambushed by hostile rednecks. Their desperate fight to get away forms the core of John Boorman's thriller, in a tense, river‑bound setting, which stars Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight.
About This Program ✦
Deliverance is a programme presented as a movie. It carries the title Deliverance and falls within the film category, offering a narrative that unfolds on screen rather than in episodic format. The story follows four friends who set out on a canoeing excursion through the Deep South. Their peaceful outing is abruptly shattered when they are assaulted by a group of hostile locals. Confronted with violent aggression, the quartet finds themselves locked in a frantic fight for survival as they attempt to flee the perilous situation. The film’s tension stems from the stark contrast between the serene river journey and the sudden, brutal encounter with the attackers. As the friends grapple with the desperate need to escape, the narrative concentrates on their struggle against the relentless threat posed by the aggressors. The setting in the Southern United States provides a vivid backdrop for this harrowing chase, underscoring the urgency of their fight for freedom.
Deliverance broadcasts on BBC Four at 9:00pm, Thursday, 12 February 2026. (Subtitles)





