Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Dear Dead Delilah Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 31, 2018

With a title like “Dear Dead Delilah” (not to be confused with the recent Blu-ray release of “Deadly Daphne’s Revenge”), there’s a certain expectation put in place for a sinister tale of murder, with the possibility of a ghost story setting. Writer/director John Farris doesn’t exactly pursue a hardcore tale of diabolical happenings, preferring to settle into the dismissive ways of southern folk in Tennessee as they deal with plantation life, a hidden inheritance, and a rising body count due to the presence of an ax-swinging killer. Farris prefers family business over chopped-up bodies, making “Dear Dead Delilah” more of a psychodrama than a slasher film. There’s some disappointment with the end results, but Farris isn’t completely removed from the demands of the genre, putting together a few suspenseful scenes, one genuinely weird kill, and nurtures fine performances from the cast, with lead Agnes Moorehead giving the helmer more than he deserves as the titular woman, who’s very much alive during the endeavor.

In 1943, teenager Luddy (Patricia Carmichael) murdered her mother with an ax after taking years of abuse. 25 years later, the gifted artist has been released from prison, sent to Nashville to start a new life. When’s she knocked down by Richard (Robert Gentry) while watching a football game, his wife, Ellen (Elizabeth Eis) insists that Luddy recuperate at her home on South Hall Plantation, which is run by the aging Delilah (Agnes Moorehead). Luddy quickly makes friends in the household, which is currently being torn apart by arguments about the future, with Delilah in charge of the family fortune, leaving siblings Dr. Alonzo (Dennis Patrick), Grace (Anne Meacham), and Morgan (Michael Ansara) with very little. Hosting a reunion, Delilah offers a treasure hunt for sorts for her father’s buried “horse money,” but violence visits South Hall instead, greeting an ax murderer who picks off the clan one by one.

Farris channels the spirit of Tennessee Williams for “Dear Dead Delilah,” which quickly settles into melodrama involving the South Hall family, who are reunited with hopes to work on their differences. Delilah is Daddy’s Little Girl, with the first born in control of her deceased father’s fortune, setting up a power play as the younger siblings jockey for position, craving a bigger bite of the apple, with over one million dollars in play as the oldest sister announces a decline in her overall health, preparing for the end. There’s a lot of argumentative behavior in “Dear Dead Delilah,” with the titular character a mean old woman who lives to humiliate others, using the possibility of a buried fortune in lost cash as a way to make the group dance for her personal enjoyment. Farris pays attention to the brothers and sisters as well, with Dr. Alonzo a secret junkie who makes a personal connection to Luddy, with the pair commiserating over the lost children they weren’t allowed to have. Richard is an outsider who has his own interests in manipulation, sleeping with Grace to wedge himself firmly into the family way, growing frustrated with Delilah’s status as a living person, and a particularly vindictive one, growling at the world from a wheelchair.

Horror eventually comes out to play in “Dear Dead Delilah.” Farris makes his directorial debut here, and his caution shows, paying close attention to human interaction before grisly events start appearing. Luddy is supposed to be the major question mark of the screenplay, but for a character who’s intended to be the focal point of the movie, her madness is put on the backburner more often than not, with Farris more interested in Delilah and the family bitterness, leading to extended scenes of conversations and toxic confrontations among the South Hall gang. Farris finally gets around to gore, and while he struggles with staging, the leap to chills is most welcome, with the mysterious ax-wielding killer marching around the property picking off nosy residents. One character loses a hand, while another receives a clean beheading from a madman on horseback, which delivers some refreshing oddity to an otherwise straightforward dissection of domestic power. While the treasure hunt aspect of the screenplay doesn’t take command of the picture (the potential for a plantation scramble is sadly wasted), at least Farris gets a few kicks in before the tale wraps up, with the slow escalation of twisted events helping to energize “Dear Dead Delilah” when it needs it the most.

Dear Dead Delilah Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Wear and tear is evident on the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation, with age showing up in scratches and speckling, along with brief chemical blotches, and there's a mild red flashing that appears throughout a few reels. Vinegar Syndrome takes the materials as far as they can, and "Dear Dead Delilah" looks very good, even with some roughness. Though the production struggles with focus issues, sharpness is welcome for some close-ups, which detail senior characters and sickly makeup. Plantation visits carry textured set decoration and outdoor distances. Costuming is also appealing, showcasing period fashion. Colors are agreeable, securing natural skintones and greenery, while bolder hues comes through on clothing. Bloodshed also keeps intended redness. Delineation is acceptable, preserving lengthy evening encounters. Grain is heavier but quite filmic.

Dear Dead Delilah Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does well with dialogue exchanges, which deliver a true feel for room environments and performances, lacking distortive extremes with argumentative behavior. Scoring is also appealing, supporting suspense when necessary. Sound effects are basic but effective.

Dear Dead Delilah Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (21:31, SD) with writer/director John Farris clears a few things up about "Dear Dead Delilah," including the project's origin story, where the helmer had a title long before he had a script. An established author, Farris admits he was out of his league when he decided to direct the movie, ultimately picking up creative and casting tips from Clint Eastwood, who was in Nashville to work on his debut album. According to Farris, "Dear Dead Delilah" was a smooth shoot, and he details the experience of working with Agnes Moorehead, who was cooperative, taking a liking to the director. There's talk of the picture's successful release and its initial X-rating, with the MPAA not fond of the effort's centerpiece beheading sequence.

• Still Gallery (1:44) collects lobby cards, newspaper clippings, and poster art.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Dear Dead Delilah Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Dear Dead Delilah" is powered primarily by Moorehead, who gives the B-movie more hateful definition than it probably deserves, delivering a fierce, committed performance that's easily the highlight of the film. Her Delilah is a force of nature, and it's amusing to watch the senior citizen rule her family from afar, all the while clinging to the memory of South Hall's prime years under her father's rule. The rest of the ensemble finds their grooves without issue, but Farris smartly remains on Moorehead, who conjures evil and some faint sense of sympathy, providing depth to a production that doesn't always earn her professionalism. Farris keeps Moorehead involved as much as possible, but slasher ways soon take over the feature, finally giving genre maniacs what they've been waiting for. And it's a long wait too, making "Dear Dead Delilah" suited for a viewing mood that's okay with a lack of intensity, which is often downplayed for familial dramatics, approaching a true southern gothic atmosphere.