The Delivered (2019) User Reviews

Try to stick with it...it gets better

[fluglotse1 · 7/10 · 16 October 2020]

I was ready to turn this movie off. It's a period piece. Cromwell's in charge, the King was executed and a brutal war recently ended. I was bored. I would have rated it a 5, but the solid acting brought it up to 6.

About two thirds of the way through, there is a plot twist or two which were quite unexpected and gave the movie a bonus star. Try to stay until the credits run, as there is an epilogue which makes me now question if the movie was based on a real person.

Impressive and thought provoking

[AufidiusSnodgrass · 7/10 · 6 November 2021]

I found this to be a very beautifully shot film with lots of interesting camera work and an engaging story with interesting characters. There were many sequences that I thought were brilliantly done. It will be interesting to see what Thomas Clay does in the future. The actors all did a wonderful job.

I was most interested in the clash of worldviews between the Puritanical John and the heretical libertine Thomas which slowly emerged and then erupted in some violent ways. But in the end, I feel the story was more about the women, especially Fanny. I don't think either worldview represented by the characters here is entirely correct or incorrect. I believe both sides have much to learn from each other, though the tense situation did not allow it.

I would venture to say that, while Thomas talks a good game, he has much to learn about the finer points of free will. He says he's never forced himself on a woman, but he seems to relish imposing his will on John. Probably because of abuse and persecution that he has endured from such men in the past.

I do feel the script could have been improved. For instance, I found Fanny's giving into the influence of Thomas and Rebecca to be too rushed. It should have been made much more explicit the nature of the abusive relationship between her and John, which would have made her actions more believable. Also, it's hard to believe that the boy Arthur would be held at sword-point one moment and then soon after be casually giggling with one of his captors as his father is tied up downstairs.

Also, all of the linguistic anachronisms listed in the "goofs" section of this entry were noticed by me and they hurt my immersion somewhat, but probably not every viewer will care as much as I do about that. I just don't know why a screenwriter would take such care to get many historical things right but be careless about others. Overall, I did enjoy the film and recommend it.

A unique and confronting experience

[eddie_baggins · 7/10 · 15 November 2020]

A labor of love for its writer and director Thomas Clay, who spent the better part of 10 years developing this 1600's set English period folk piece; his first film since 2008's Soi Cowboy, Fanny Lye Deliver'd is an almost indescribable melting pot of drama, thriller and religiously tinged horror and while it doesn't all work, this unique piece of independent film-making is still worth your time.

Introducing us to a post war era of rural England, where witch hunts, churches and religious zealots run rampant throughout the mud-filled lands of the English countryside, Deliver'd introduces us to odd couple John and Fanny, who alongside their young boy Arthur live out a quiet existence on their farmland (custom built for this film), with their faith dominating their lives, a faith tested by the arrival of Freddie Fox's Thomas and Tanya Reynolds Rebecca, a couple who couldn't be further from the Lye's in nature and desires.

When watching clips or trailers of Clay's film one would be right in expecting something of The Witch like horror but Deliver'd is a much different beast to that genre classic and while both films share similar settings, religious/faith themed undertones and characters grappling with their teachings going head to head with their feelings, Deliver'd is a more dramatic themed feminist-centric yarn that allows its breakout performer Maxine Peake one of the roles of her increasingly impressive career.

Fanny may be the titular character of the film but it takes a while for Peake's fully formed performance to take centre stage here in what's a masterful build-up from her and Clay with Fanny undergoing significant evolution from the first time we see her tending to her chores through to her last triumphant frame and after notable turns in well-regarded if little seen offerings like Funny Cow and Peterloo, Peake is an undeniable triumph here as complicated wife, mother and independent spirit.

There's a lot going on around Fanny and Clay's film is loaded with ideas and explorations, some of which don't feel fully formed come the films more drastically pivoted final stretch but it's an unpredictable affair and one that might not make for easy viewing but remains constantly engaging throughout as we remain on edge, unsure of what lays ahead for our collection of troubled souls in equally troubled times.

Final Say -

A film that defies simple explanation or analysis, Fanny Lye Deliver'd is a confronting film and one that struggles at times to juggle its various components but its strong trope of actors and wholly original vibe makes for mostly fascinating and unpredictable viewing.

3 1/2 muddy fields out of 5

Fanny you should say that.

[desimonici-898-584421 · 16 July 2020]

A feminist folk horror someone said.... LOL So feminism comes in the shape of some weird couple showing up and forcing a woman to have sex in front of her husband and son for no apparent reason really! A Guardian critic said in typically floral fashion "a convincing depiction of someone who will learn from what she will survive." Seriously? You got all that from this stick thin story? From the narration which I presume the director realised was the only way anyone would know what was going on, it sounded like the more interesting story would have been what followed! Performances we're fine, scene looked authentic apart from horse saddlery which as usual featured modern stainless hardware. I was hoping for something like The Witch but this wasn't it.

Magnificent

[killercharm · 7/10 · 13 July 2020]

A magnificent tale of a downtrodden wife and mother who is beat down by her bully, self-important husband who regularly beats both her and their little son for no reason other than he hates. He hates her, women, children who love their mother, the world, and himself. He is truly a child of his time; that time is 1657, during the cycle of English Civil Wars. One day as they arrive home to their farm from church (her husband riding the horse while she and the child walk) they find they have been invaded. A young couple has run to their secluded farm to hide out. What will the uber judgmental man of the farm do with them? This movie is not only authentic and beautifully made but it had my jaw dropping a couple of times. The cast is superb, especially that Peter McDonald as the High Sheriff for the Council of State. There isn't a sour note in the whole work.

Should Have Been Better!

[spookyrat1 · 6/10 · 9 June 2022]

Most of us anyway hunger for original films and one of the many positives of Fanny Lye Deliver'd, is that it truly is a movie based on original ideas. Fancy a Puritan western? A folk horror tale? Or just an extremely unusual period piece? Thomas Clay's Fanny might just be more than worthy of your attention. But having said that, I also have to admit I have mixed feelings about it and am disappointed that such a beautifully acted film, which spent 3 years in post production (almost unbelievable for such a clearly low budget production) didn't end up being a better product.

There is a lot to admire here, The film looks amazing: the costumes and production design are striking and the subdued colours, often viewed through mist, make many shots look almost like paintings. The small cast is excellent, especially Charles Dance, who gives his stern character some humanity, and Maxine Peak, who, as the titular character, gradually discovers there are other ways to live and is tempted by the possibilities. The occasional anachronistic-sounding piece of dialogue aside, there's a strong period feeling.

The narrative itself is compellingly interesting, especially for those with a genuine interest in the time of the singular English republic. The pace varies for sure, but the storyline could never be accused of being predictable. And the major characters of the admittedly, deliberately small cast are all engaging in their own ways.

So, the letdowns? Clay's score, added in the above - stated post production phase of course, is varied in its themes and instrumentation but does seem to be lathered on way too much and overall ends up feeling rather awkward. At times it seems as though the music is simply playing in the background with little or no relation to what's happening on screen. And the inclusion of an arrangement of the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony more than 150 years before the composer wrote it was another jarring anachronism, too familiar to be fully effective.

On top of this, the film builds to a climactic action set piece, which is filmed in virtual darkness. For about a minute and a half, we can't really see what's going on, only hear a multitude of sounds. It might make for a good radio play, but it doesn't make for good cinema. The light of day reveals what has occurred, but the feeling that much dramatic heft, has been expunged from our viewing, cannot be easily passed off. Again, I have to ask, why was this allowed to occur in a film so long in post production and editing? Surely it could have been remedied in some way. It also would appear that this scene, which really defines the "Deliver'd" aspect of the film's title should have appeared somewhat earlier in the film in order that we can discover how well Fanny Lye has been delivered of her previous life.

In concluding, FLD will undoubtedly please many punters looking for movies with original riffs. However it only achieves qualified success, due to some wayward directorial decisions, from its albeit, very creative writer - director.

A Feminist's Wet Dream

[Brakathor · 6/10 · 7 July 2021]

What do you know. Thomas Clay finally put together a REAL movie. What do I mean by that exactly? Well, he's done "The Great Ecstasy Of Robert Carmichael, a teen angsty pseudo horror quasi experimental film which caused a brief splash, managing to alienate both the horror people for not being horror-centric, as well as everybody else for the seemingly senseless gross-out nature of the subject matter. Then there was Soi Cowboy, a very arthousey existential flick with not much of a plot, and which no one cared about. Don't get me wrong, I like both of his earlier films. I thought they showed a lot of promise. The difference is Fanny Lye is a film that normies will ACTUALLY go and see, and ACTUALLY appreciate for what it is.

Interestingly too, Thomas Clay seems to have dropped the trademark long drawn out scenes. This film is tight; it's well paced; very basic plot and cast, but enough to flesh out into something meaningful and resonant. In short, it's very conventional, in every sense of the word. The message I get from this film is "I want to make a career as a director, please." I think he's done with the experimental stuff. He wants to be mainstream, and with that point, let's talk about the subject matter. He couldn't have picked a more in vogue theme if he tried, the theme of female empowerment.

So, am I bashing the idea of a film where the men are blithering idiots who might as well be running around in circles, bumping into each other's heads, while a woman cleans up after their mess? Not exactly... But my description alone should tell you that I'm rolling my eyes at it JUST a little bit. I'm bored of female empowerment.. I just am. EVERY film has to have a heroin. EVERY reboot has to have an all female cast, and we KNOW it's all about satisfying a trend, and little else. That being said, Let's judge the film on its own merits. How did he do?

To start off on the downside of things, all the action scenes seem very forced, and not particularly well handled. It often comes across as "I want this to happen now; therefore this is going to happen now." Who gets overpowered and when, all seems to come down to the whim of the director. It doesn't feel very organic. Is this irredeemable? No, but I should mention the worst example of this. Early on when the vagabonds threaten the captain as the bounty hunter approaches. He doesn't notice any of the noise, commotion, or arguing back and forth going on within the hut as he's mere meters away. And why doesn't he notice? Because the director didn't want him to! That's how that comes across to me: one sloppy aspect of the film that's hard to ignore.

Onto the better points, as I've mentioned, the plot is very basic. This being the case, the film is fleshed out with strong dialogue and very well-focused tension between the characters. This actually isn't something you've seen Thomas Clay do in his previous films. How about the actions and motives of the characters? Is fanny Lye a well-developed character and do her actions make sense? Overall you'd have to say yes. She doesn't feel like a caricature. None of the characters do really, and that's important because each of them represent a very specific and classic theme in regards to human chaos, escapism, and order. There is one gross-out scene very sexual in nature, that might come across as a little forced, but to each his own.

To recap, it's a decent film. Maybe not groundbreaking, but it does have rewatch potential. It reminded me a bit of a film called "Blood Oranges," with all the sexual tension, by a director who reminds me a lot of Thomas Clay. So yeah I dunno, at the very least give the guy a tv career if that's what he wants. It's only taken him 12 years to find his voice, but I'll say it now just like I said 15 years ago, he does have talent, and I'm curious to see where he goes from here, after this, his second birth.

Trash Script

[dataminerdaniel · 1/10 · 14 August 2021]

We are supposed to believe that a mother will take up with a felon who held a sword to her only son's throat and who battered her husband!

The script? Utter trash, and an insult to all women, especially mothers.

Feminist? Feminism means taking up with men who assault and nearly kill your only child? This is not feminist. This is offensive.

An intriguing oddity

[calum-18 · 9/10 · 23 March 2022]

While superficially it may seem to be cut from similar cloth to "A Field in England" or "The Witch", "Fanny Lye Deliver'd" has more in common with early '70s films "Straw Dogs" and "The Devils". Very well shot (it looks far better than the awful generic poster, despite the occasional overuse of mist). Excellent performances from all concerned, and nicely timed and believable character revelations help to create shifting sympathies between the main characters. None of them are as good or as bad as they initially seem, and their own preconceptions blind them to their common ground. A film with a genuinely transgressive (and in the end, weirdly wholesome) energy, that just screams "future cult favourite"

The Founders of Hedonism...

[Xstal · 5/10 · 26 June 2020]

... have a tough time establishing a base to grow as they are mistaken for heretics in 17th century England by Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition disguised as puritanical nutters - undeliver'd!

Less Is More

[JoshuaMercott · 8/10 · 12 March 2022]

An elegant yesteryear style of storytelling pervaded this curious movie, which was surprisingly captivating for me because I'd just randomly chosen to see it without any rhyme or reason. Written and directed by Thomas Clay, "The Delivered" (original name: "Fanny Lye Deliver'd") contained a literary flavour with a generous dose of suspense.

The tale harkened back to the mid-1600s (1657, to be precise) when puritanical Christianity set a tone that today will feel antiquated and bizarre. A couple of fugitives - Thomas Ashbury (played by Freddie Fox) and Rebecca Henshaw (Tanya Reynolds, who also narrated select portions of the film) - were on the run and ended up finding shelter on the Lye farm.

Before long, John Lye (played by Charles Dance), Fanny Lye (played by Maxine Peake), and their young son Arthur Lye (played by Zak Adams) found their mundane lives turned upside down. Both Thomas and Rebecca were 'living in sin', meaning they were open with their sexual desires for more than each other. This was taboo in the 1600s where puritanism was paramount. Repressed homemaker Fanny Lye felt her desires reach out toward Thomas but she tried to suppress them lest she 'sin'. The mild sexual tension between them added to the suspense in "The Delivered".

With the threat of the sheriff coming a-calling one morning, Thomas and Rebecca found themselves desperately planning to evade and then escape the Lye farm without being arrested. The High Sheriff for the Council of State (played by Peter McDonald) was hell bent on bringing the 'licentious heretics' to what he believed was god's justice.

The Lye family, on the other hand, had no clue they were even harbouring fugitives. By the time they learned the truth, circumstances turned drastic. Thomas and Rebecca had little choice but to threaten the Lyes if only to ensure their own safety under their roof.

The debate that ensued between Thomas and John about sin and purity was meaningful in all the right ways. It called to mind a prime tenet believed by the adherents of Thelema: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law", a quote later made infamous by the notorious occultist Aleister Crowley.

Changes were soon enforced on the farm. Something tugged at my heartstrings throughout the Lyes' ordeal, such was the brilliance of Clay's direction. Desire and depravity rose to the occasion, and made the movie strangely captivating.

Each character's motives in the movie remained adequately hidden as complex human emotions came into play. The film aptly captured multiple layers of the human heart without sugarcoating it with sentimental fluff. When the tables turned, the story still held fast to its thread of suspense and rolled its way to a satisfying, if punishing, finish.

In addition to writing and directing, Thomas Clay also handled musical scoring for the movie. He did great work all round. Michael O'Connor's costume design was noteworthy. Superb work on art direction, set decoration, and production design as well. The hair-makeup team did an adequate job for "The Delivered" - some inconsistences observed here and there, like with the back of Thomas Ashbury's head. All crew did good work in the movie. The cast was outstanding.

I was surprised I enjoyed the film as much as I did. It was interesting to note how seamless it all was. Each artist gave an immersive performance, and the tone was on point with the time and practices of the 1600s. Freedom from repression and pursuit of redemption were a few underlying themes that prevailed in the script. With "The Delivered" Thomas Clay proved that less is indeed more.

Disappointing

[creer-720-461537 · 3/10 · 29 November 2022]

I found it hard work. Some of the speaking scenes within the farmhouse seemed far too actorly, complete with Shakespearian stances. Not Mr Dance of course, he's very good.

I don't know why it saw fit to tie a love cult heresy with Quakerism. Or quite why the villainous pseudo cavalier was quite so villainous. His assistant thug was cartoonish.

The woman's voice over predicted things that didn't really come to pass - Dance's character was not as enfeebled by the end as it led you to think would occur.

Beautifully filmed and lit though.

If you want a book about free love heresies, set a little earlier, read 'Q' by 'Luther Blissett'. Bonus is it comes with a great story.

Worth the watch!

[historybuffalli · 27 June 2020]

I attempt to watch all the historical films no matter how bad they are due to my love for history. I saw some articles about the films journey and struggles to get it filmed edited and released. I was hoping that the journey of making Fanny Lye was as good as the end product. It was! Though the story felt rushed at one small section, and the sheriff contrasts heavily with other characters, the film provides high historical accuracy in an area cinema has rarely covered. It was a blast to watch and the almost 2 hour runtime somehow felt way shorter. Fox provided such a vibrant cunning show and his chemistry on-screen with Charles Dance was something amazing!!!! I can see where some reviews are coming from with negativity as the film is no where near the sort of expectations a historical film tells, no super ordinary humans, just a regular 1600s family. But this film deserves a chance to be watched and a chance for an open mind to experience an era that you will probably never watch or hear of for many years in the future.

Another reason to hate British history

[contactmaz · 3/10 · 27 June 2020]

This was... oh so boring... It had the makings of a great film with some great scenery, but the film was so slow and the plot was so weak. Whether a true story or not, definitely give this a miss. It had potential but failed miserably.

Gentle Light Illuminates a Life of Toil and Repression

[francispisano-02767 · 8/10 · 28 August 2021]

The light that falls on John Lye's farm is diffuse, a gentle glow that passes through mist, It enters widows, softly illuminating Fanny Lye as she attends to household tasks. The imagery presented by director Thomas Clay and cinematographer Giorgos Arvanitis recalls paintings of Millet and Vermeer. While Millet's laborers sow the fields in ways suggesting contentment, and Vermeer's women appear touched by grace, the toils of Fanny (Maxine Peake) are attended by neither sentimentality nor joy.

Any sense of contentment is dispelled by an expository voice over and revelatory closeups. Fanny kneels on a hardwood floor as John lashes a switch across her back, her hands rigorously twist cloth in a wash basin. And the lovely woods and hills that surround her do not indicate an insular existence as much as an isolated one. There are no sign lines of the world beyond the stands of the trees and crests.

When youthful strangers, Thomas (Freddie Fox) and Rebecca (Tanya Reynolds) arrive, they assimilate into the family, bringing touches of levity to the Lye's young son Arthur and glimpses of liberation to Fanny. Both are interrupted by corporal punishment whenever John's notions of decorum are disturbed.

Rebecca lightens some of Fanny's burdens and Thomas emits whips of sensuality, these supported by the slow glide of Arvanitis's camera through the kitchen window to the exterior. As the fields of vision expand so, too, does the prospect of Fanny's freedom. Arvanitis also enables the audience to watch the characters like a stealthy observer, employing takes that gently pass around trees and structures to unimpeded views of the men felling trees and the women completing chores. The graceful movement of the still cam incrementally exposes challenges to John's constrictive Puritan values.

Ideologies eventually clash.

The competing perspectives, each supported by scriptural passages, struggle for dominance, the power shifting like the fortunes of the forces still fighting to control post civil war England. The battle illustrates a harsh truth: once any dogma takes control, ugly aspects of self righteousness and revenge are manifested.

In witnessing the struggle, Fanny is mostly silent as Peake's expressive face registers inner conflict, tightening at the possibility of pain for John or Arthur and relaxing at the prospect of freedom. As John, Charles Dance subtlety indicates his emotions in ways indicative of his mastery of screen acting-a slight tuck of the chin conveys disapproval, a quick blink, fear. Fox is best when his Thomas cajoles and charms, less so when he is charged with emotion. Reynolds adeptly projects both rustic ingenuousness and joyful licentiousness.

Beauty is present throughout the film. The first image of Rebecca is a closeup of her eyes, large and soft as those in a da Vinci portrait. And the pastoral beauty of the surroundings is consistently present. When violence intrudes, it plays out both suddenly and through gruesome struggle, unnerving audiences largely inured to depictions of injury and death. If Fanny's liberation is to come, barriers can be breached only by destruction and agony.

Sorry it didn't do it for me

[jt-01311 · 3/10 · 8 May 2021]

I was looking forward to watching this. Maybe I'm missing something. I just could not stick with it. Especially after seeing some high reviews.

Unusually good

[philipp-harland · 9/10 · 27 June 2020]

The trailer was very different to what the film was. I still enjoyed it with the good performances from Dance Peake Fox Reynolds and the young boy. Sometimes I felt as if there should have been more, a bit more build up, a bit more of a longer journey but I was still pleased. The score was great too, their were some patterns I noticed but wasn't too sure what the patterns meant. I truly think however this is one of the better period dramas I have seen in a while.

Dark Comedy

[bilingavais · 5/10 · 9 February 2022]

This movie was more of a dark comedy to me (had several good belly laughs). The sheriffs were comedic...more like the evil doctor and his sidekick Igor. I'm happy that I watched it free of charge on Vudu. I would have been irritated if I'd paid $3.99 to see it. Five stars, only because of Hugh Dancy.

8/10!

[ajratesfilms · 28 June 2020]

Very good film but sometimes it navigates away from the focus a bit too much unintentionally. Still loved it!

Horrible Histories meets Hammer Horror meets Blackadder....

[pcray-37830 · 4/10 · 19 December 2023]

Horrible Histories meets Hammer Horror meets Blackadder.... The basic story could have been quite good but the film is so unrealistic as to be more of a pantomime than a drama. Low budget has not allowed for getting anything dirty so all the clothes, house etc are like brand new, nothing grubby as it would obviously have been and everyone looks like they are fresh out of the shower.

The acting is surprisingly ham and the baddies are more like a comedy duo despite being evil.

All in all, a missed opportunity as could have been good with the right budget and the chance to create a realistic dark representation.

Wow-very unexpected

[citron-79623 · 10/10 · 26 June 2020]

This film is not very ordinary-but in a good sense.

I expected something completely different to what I got, and I am glad it was what it was. Some of the shots are random, but I think that may add to the journey as you begin to see all these things around Peake's character, yet you see how one dimensional Fanny is in terms of her day to day life.

I believe the unique craftsmanship of this film causes people to dislike it as it strays away from the norm.

The performances are strong and the journey Fanny embarks on is unravelled and explored beautifully. The score is well put together and utilised effectively.

I recommend this film heavily and believe if you want something that isn't your normal period drama, this is for you.

Everything and nothing

[Leofwine_draca · 2/10 · 1 December 2022]

FANNY LYE DELIVER'D interested me on paper as I'm a big fan of folk horror, but this is A FIELD IN ENGLAND levels of bad. In other words, a micro-budgeted, single location production that tries to be many things at the same time and ends up being nothing. The cod proto-feminist plot is nonsensical and irrelevant, the final text laughable. Instead this feels more like a mini STRAW DOGS re-run but lacking any suspense, tension or indeed good scripting, just actors stuck doing their farmer accents. The only good thing about this is Charles Dance, but I felt a bit sorry to see him in something so far below his talents.

Not so Fanny

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 14 April 2022]

If you live in a family that is quite strict, strangers coming from outside may feel like a welcome (pun intended) distraction. On the other hand, the father (wonderfully played here) may have the best interest in mind and heart, but his harsh and way too restricted views are not helping his wife or "kid".

The outlaws from outside really bring imbalance. Depending on your moral views, your sympathy may sway from one scene to the other. It is ok to feel, you are being given a tough choice. Morally speaking this isn't too easy - but that is what the movie gives you. Something to think about - something to chew on. And questions about what is good and what is bad, that go beyond religion and obvious answers.

Not sure why my previous comment got deleted, but while I had not saved it yet, I will park this somewhere just in case, someone feels the need to be mean - which would bring us to the characters: who is eventually the mean one? Who do you side with? Have you decided yet?

Astonishing

[djalarkin · 10/10 · 29 June 2020]

I viewed this film without reading any reviews, thinking it was a costume drama , it's not! It's a roller coasters of emotions, good and evil are turned on there head, never have I experienced something as conflicting as this, and I was riveted , wonderful acting , amazing setting, and cinematography. This will leave you stunned.

9/10

[john_lubinski · 9/10 · 27 June 2020]

Engaging story with a brilliant cast and an amazing atmosphere. Maxine Peake is terrific in this movie. I don't often agree with professional critics, but in this case I agree with them. It's a great and unique experience.