Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- eerie
- foreboding
- paranoid
- late night horror viewing
- 1980s horror marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a mixed but atmospheric supernatural horror work elevated by Wes Craven’s direction, restrained performances, music, and suspense despite muddled writing and uneven originality.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Martha is surrounded by an Amish-like Hittite community whose rituals and hostility turn the farm into a threatening social space.
The Hittites’ strict beliefs and accusations against Martha drive the film’s conflict and supernatural suspicion.
The farm, tractor accident, and countryside setting transform familiar agricultural imagery into ominous horror motifs.
The mysterious death, sect accusations, and competing interpretations of the incubus create uncertainty about what is causing the danger.
Films like Deadly Blessing, and why
The Wicker Man
supernatural rural horror, religious unease, and isolated community suspicion
The Witch
folk horror atmosphere, occult menace, and conflict between outsiders and a closed religious community
The Entity
1980s supernatural horror, escalating paranoia, and a vulnerable protagonist facing an unexplained threat
The Sentinel
religious horror, psychological instability, and a mysterious supernatural presence invading domestic life
Movie Details
- Director
- Wes Craven
- Release Date
- 1981-08-14
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 5.5 / 10 (211)
Cast
- Maren Jensen
- Sharon Stone
- Susan Buckner
- Jeff East
- Colleen Riley
- Douglas Barr
- Lisa Hartman
- Lois Nettleton
- Ernest Borgnine
- Michael Berryman
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Deadly Blessing about?
- A grieving widow is terrorized by an Amish-like sect whose religious suspicions conceal a potentially supernatural threat.
- What is Deadly Blessing like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Deadly Blessing as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Deadly Blessing violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Deadly Blessing as moderate.
- What did critics think of Deadly Blessing?
- Critics broadly found the film a mixed but atmospheric supernatural horror work elevated by Wes Craven’s direction, restrained performances, music, and suspense despite muddled writing and uneven originality.
- Which films are like Deadly Blessing?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wicker Man, The Witch, The Entity, and The Sentinel.
- How long is Deadly Blessing?
- Deadly Blessing runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Deadly Blessing?
- In United States, Deadly Blessing is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
