Review: Deliver Us From Evil

A documentary on paedophile priests in the Catholic church, especially former priest Father Oliver O’Grady, who is more than willing to talk on camera about his misdeeds and immoral thoughts.

It’s not going to be a film that everyone will feel up to enduring, but this Amy Berg (“West of Memphis”) documentary from 2006 is also nonetheless compelling viewing. However, the recommendation is due almost entirely to the subject matter itself, as I’ve got a bit of a bee in my bonnet about the filmmaker’s overall storytelling/narrative choices here. Berg makes some missteps in this regard, affording too much of a voice to a disgusting and perverted man than is overall necessary. However, I can’t deny that the subject matter itself is of vital and relevant importance and provides enthralling viewing for anyone who is made of stern stuff.

Although I think a little of Father Oliver O’Grady goes a pretty long way, you can’t help but feel a sickness in your stomach with the shockingly normal, casual manner this guy has when talking about shockingly abnormal things. He’s a monster, make no mistake. An outwardly genial, gentle, Irish-lilted monster who preys upon children. Every word coming out of this creep’s mouth sounds less like a person with genuine regret towards his crimes and empathy for his victims, and more a monster entirely lacking in genuine empathetic capacity trying to give off his own ignorant impression of what empathy is. He’s aware that he’s a monster, and in his own faith-based head he thinks it’s unlikely he’ll end up in the ‘good’ place with the angels and harp music. That ain’t empathy, it’s either a) Fear of your own actions catching up with you in the afterlife, and b) Trying to soften your crimes a bit and pull the wool over people’s eyes so you can potentially continue diddling children. You may think there’s a way to spin what you did into something palatable, but I’m not having it, Father. That musical Irish lilt and flowery words aren’t fooling me, buddy. Does he really think that all he needs for absolution is to simply admit to his sins? Not on this Earth, not in this lifetime, and if God truly does exist, I hope he’s even less forgiving than I am. The guy even has the hide to smile at times! Just look at the absolutely shameless and ghastly scene where O’Grady, on camera, invites his victims over to supposedly make amends with them. He says to camera ‘I hope you come’ and gives  a wink and a smile! Fuck you, you dirty pervert. Unsurprisingly, we learn the old creep takes back the invitation. So he’s a monster and a coward, too. Although O’Grady is obviously a very mentally sick man, it’s impossible to excuse him especially when there’s an obvious cunning and narcissism to the man, as well. His demeanour and his role as priest are what allowed him to get away with things for as long as he did, much like John Wayne Gacy had Pogo the Clown as a front to disguise the monster within.

I really wish Berg edited this thing far more judiciously, and removed one moment entirely: Towards the end we see O’Grady pretending he’s a good guy sticking up for victims against the Church itself! It’s an awful, wrong-headed decision from a reasonably smart filmmaker otherwise. Away from O’Grady specifically, Berg’s film offers up a fascinating bit of Catholic history concerning celibacy in the clergy through the ages. Long ago priests were allowed to be married. I don’t think the celibacy thing is the defining issue as pertains to paedophile priests, however I do believe it does play a factor in some of these cases nonetheless. In fact, I’d like to see them allow priests to marry, and see if that changes things. If it doesn’t, and my hunch is it largely wouldn’t, then at least we know it’s not about celibacy. My feeling from an uneducated, Agnostic Atheist point of view is that celibacy is less the issue than sickness/evil, as well as the Catholic hierarchy/secrecy that has allowed the problem to flourish.

Infuriating, enthralling, outrageous, stomach-churning, and heart-breaking all at once. Although I think Berg makes the mistake of giving O’Grady too much of a leash here, the film is undeniably compelling for those of you strong enough to endure it. Sadly, it appears O’Grady was unchanged and undeterred in the years after the film was made. He’s still a highly dubious character. The Catholic Church itself meanwhile, continues to be dogged by cases involving sickos like O’Grady and the equally monstrous powerful figures/corrupt institution that cover/covered it all up (Like creepy, corrupt Cardinal Mahoney…who became Archbishop Mahoney long after this film’s release). I know an Agnostic Atheist really shouldn’t have an opinion on the subject, but I really do think you Catholics ought to abandon your church until it shows definitive proof that it has fixed the rot. I’m quite sure Australia’s own Cardinal George Pell won’t be the last skeleton in the closet.

Rating: B-