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Plot Summary

Discover the intricate plot of Deliverance (1972). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.


Lewis Medlock, Ed Gentry, Bobby Trippe, and Drew Ballinger are businessmen from Atlanta who embark on an adventurous canoe trip down the Cahulawassee River in the untouched wilderness of northern Georgia before it is flooded due to dam construction. Leading the expedition is the experienced and confident Lewis, while Ed possesses outdoor skills but lacks Lewis’ bravado. On the other hand, Bobby and Drew are greenhorns. During their drive to the launch site, they show disrespect toward the locals, which leads to a hostile atmosphere. At a nearby gas station, Drew challenges a young banjo player to a musical duel, which brings some locals joy and prompts them to dance, although the boy refuses to shake Drew’s hand afterward.

As the friends paddle in pairs, their canoes drift apart, leading Ed and Bobby to encounter two intimidating mountain men. One of them, armed and with a menacing smile, forces Bobby to strip, and in a shocking moment of violence, he brutally assaults him, ordering Bobby to “squeal like a pig.” Meanwhile, Ed finds himself tied up and threatened. Quick-thinking Lewis saves the day with his bow and arrow, taking down the rapist and allowing Ed to seize the shotgun from the other man, who runs away. After a fraught discussion about what to do next, the group decides to bury the body and leave the incident behind.

Their journey continues, but soon they reach treacherous rapids. As Drew and Ed navigate ahead, Drew falls overboard, prompting a catastrophic capsize that injures Lewis and scatters the others across the jagged rocks. Lewis, convinced Drew was shot, urges Ed to scale the gorge and set an ambush for the lurking mountain man. Under the cloak of darkness, Ed waits until dawn, and when he spots a figure above, panic takes over. He accidentally pulls the trigger and kills the man but falls onto one of his arrows in the process. Doubt creeps in as he inspects the corpse, initially fearing he has made a grave mistake, only to realize the man was wearing dentures. Determined to conceal their actions, Ed and Bobby sink the body in the river, as well as Drew’s lifeless form when they discover him downstream.

Upon reaching the small town of Aintry, Ed and Bobby rush Lewis to the hospital. The trio fabricates a story for Sheriff Bullard regarding Drew’s death, but their lie is almost exposed when Ed mistakenly thinks Bobby confesses to the truth. In the hospital, while under the watchful eye of a police officer, Ed expresses concern about their deceit to Lewis, who calmly dismisses the need for change, citing memory loss due to his injury. Sheriff Bullard, suspicious due to a missing hunter in the area, confronts the men but ultimately does not have enough evidence to detain them, cautioning them never to repeat such a reckless adventure. The three men make a pact to carry the burden of their secrets indefinitely.

Afterward, Ed returns home to his family, yet peace eludes him. Sometime later, a chilling symbol of his trauma emerges as a decomposed hand rises from the depths of the lake, haunting him with the torment of their harrowing experience.

Timeline

Track the key events of Deliverance (1972) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.


Starting the Adventure

Lewis, Ed, Bobby, and Drew, four businessmen from Atlanta, embark on an adventurous canoe trip down the Cahulawassee River. Their goal is to experience the untouched wilderness of northern Georgia before the area gets flooded due to the construction of a dam.

Cahulawassee River

Disrespecting the Locals

On their drive to the launch site, the friends display a sense of superiority and disrespect toward the locals they encounter. This leads to a tense atmosphere and foreshadows the troubles they will face during their journey.

Musical Duel

While stopping at a gas station, Drew challenges a young banjo player to a musical duel, attracting attention from the locals. The challenge brings joy to some, but ultimately ends with the boy refusing to shake hands with Drew, highlighting the tension between the newcomers and the locals.

Gas Station

Encounter with Mountain Men

As the canoes drift apart, Ed and Bobby encounter two intimidating mountain men in a secluded area. The situation escalates quickly as one of the men forces Bobby to strip and violently assaults him, creating a moment of sheer terror.

Rescue Attempt

Realizing the severity of the situation, Lewis acts quickly and uses his bow and arrow to save Bobby from further attack. Ed manages to overpower the second mountain man, leading to a chaotic struggle for survival.

Covering Up the Incident

After the violent encounter, the group decides to bury the body of the mountain man and keep the incident a secret. The decision weighs heavily on them, but they choose to continue their journey, hoping to put the experience behind them.

Navigating the Rapids

The friends face treacherous rapids that significantly challenge their canoeing skills. As Drew and Ed navigate the dangerous waters, Drew falls overboard, resulting in a catastrophic capsize that injures Lewis and scatters the group across the treacherous rocks.

A Dark Decision

Believing that Drew has been shot, a frantic Lewis convinces Ed to climb the gorge and set up an ambush for the lurking mountain man. In a moment of panic, Ed inadvertently pulls the trigger and kills the man, realizing only after that he was not the target.

Sinking More Than One Body

Nauseated by their actions, Ed and Bobby decide to sink the first victim's body in the river, along with Drew's lifeless form when they discover him downstream. The depth of their predicament deepens as they are forced to further conceal their guilt.

Arriving in Aintry

Arriving in the small town of Aintry, Ed and Bobby rush an injured Lewis to the hospital. They concoct a fabricated story about Drew’s death, but their assurance wavers when Ed misinterprets Bobby's words as a confession.

Aintry

Confrontation with Sheriff

Sheriff Bullard confronts the men regarding a missing hunter while they are at the hospital. Although he suspects them, he does not have enough evidence to detain them, warning them not to engage in such reckless adventures again.

Hospital

Sealing the Pact

The trio makes a pact to keep the weight of their secrets between them indefinitely. They agree to carry their guilt and trauma, attempting to return to their normal lives despite the burden of their actions.

Returning Home

Returning home, Ed finds no comfort in the familiarity of his family. The peace he seeks eludes him, overshadowed by the horrors of their adventure and the guilt of what they have done.

Symbol of Trauma

Some time later, Ed is haunted by a chilling symbol of his trauma—a decomposed hand rising from the depths of the lake. This unsettling image serves as a constant reminder of their harrowing experience, leaving him unable to escape the past.

Characters

Meet the characters that bring Deliverance (1972) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.


Ed Gentry

Ed Gentry is a pragmatic character, balancing his outdoor skills with a deep sense of morality. Throughout the harrowing journey, Ed becomes increasingly aware of the dark consequences of their decisions, leading to an internal struggle as he deals with guilt and trauma. His character's evolution is pivotal as he transforms from a participant into a reluctant moral compass of the group.

👨‍💼 Businessman 🌊 Outdoor Skills 😟 Guilt

Lewis Medlock

Lewis Medlock serves as the confident and adventurous leader of the group, embodying bravado and an intense love for the wilderness. His actions drive the plot forward, but his attitude also catalyzes the group's confrontation with danger. Lewis's confidence ultimately falters when faced with the consequences of their encounter, revealing deeper layers to his character.

🧭 Leader 🚣 Adventurous 💪 Bravery

Bobby Trippe

Bobby Trippe is portrayed as a naive and inexperienced member of the group, whose lighthearted demeanor quickly gives way to fear in the face of danger. His encounter with the mountain man marks a pivotal moment, stripping him of his innocence. Bobby’s character highlights the vulnerability that can accompany adventure.

😅 Inexperienced 🛶 Naive 😢 Trauma

Drew Ballinger

Drew Ballinger starts off as one of the less serious members of the group, but his fate becomes a crucial turning point for the others. His transition from carefree to victim showcases the sudden shift in their adventure, influencing the decisions they make afterward. Drew embodies the unforeseen dangers that lurk in their journey.

🎸 Carefree 🚣‍♂️ Adventurous ⚠️ Victim

Setting

Uncover the settings of Deliverance (1972), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.


Time period

The movie takes place in a contemporary setting, reflecting a time before significant environmental changes and dam constructions, which showcases a more pristine natural landscape. The era emphasizes themes of masculinity, survival, and moral dilemmas during a weekend getaway into nature.

Location

Cahulawassee River, Northern Georgia, Aintry

The Cahulawassee River winds through the untouched wilderness of northern Georgia, known for its tranquil beauty and challenging rapids. It's a location that epitomizes adventure, but also serves as a haunting reminder of the darkness that can lurk in nature. Aintry is a small town that becomes a pivotal location for the characters, representing both safety and the burden of their secrets.

🏞️ River 🌲 Wilderness 🏘️ Town

Themes

Explore the core themes of Deliverance (1972). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.


🏔️

Survival

Survival is a central theme of 'Deliverance', as the characters are thrust into a battle against nature and their own fears. The wilderness tests their physical and mental limits, forcing them to confront not only external threats but also the darker sides of human nature. The struggle for survival dramatically reveals their true characters and the choices they make under duress.

🤐

Secrets

The burden of secrets weighs heavily on the characters as they navigate the aftermath of their gruesome experiences. The pact made among them to conceal the truth highlights the moral complexities and psychological ramifications of their actions. This theme explores how guilt and deception can linger long after the physical danger has passed.

🎸

Conflict

Conflict arises not only between the businessmen and the local mountain men but also within the group's dynamics. Their initial disrespect towards the locals incites hostility, and later, the internal conflict regarding their decisions fosters tension. This escalating conflict underscores the themes of man versus nature and man versus himself.

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