Deliverance

Deliverance has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on HBO Max, and in the UK on HBO Max Amazon Channel. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 1,825 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Jon Voight sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on HBO Max.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Deliverance earns its spot. The plotting in Deliverance is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. Intent on seeing the Cahulawassee River before it's turned into one huge lake, outdoor fanatic Lewis Medlock takes his friends on a river-rafting trip they'll never forget into the dangerous American back-country. Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1972. What makes Deliverance hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Deliverance will keep you hooked. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Jon Voight anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.