A deranged ex-soldier's mission of 'cleansing' spins into chaos in this gritty splatter shocker.
DELIRIUM
Explores the limits to which the human mind can be stretched.
An ex-soldier is hired by local right-wingers as a vigilante to clean up criminals and street people. However, he freaks out and starts killing off everybody.
Quick Answer
Delirium is a 1979 American action-horror-thriller film directed by Peter Maris about a psychotic former soldier hired by a vigilante council to rid the city of vagrants, only to spiral out of control.
Programmer's Pick
If you like your vigilante justice with a side of pitchforks and full-throttle sleaze, Delirium lays it on thick. Peter Maris pulls no punches, tossing a Vietnam vet into a stew of right-wing paranoia and letting the bodies (and nudity) stack up. Not for the faint of heart—or the firmly law-abiding.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
Delirium is notable for its inclusion on the infamous 'Video Nasties' list, marking it as a significant example of films targeted by UK censorship authorities during the home video scare of the era.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The film features a shadowy right-wing committee outsourcing justice to a dangerously unstable ex-soldier.
Expect pitchforks, meat cleavers, and plenty of blood as Delirium goes hard on its splatter credentials.
Labeled a 'video nasty,' Delirium's blend of violence and nudity put it on the radar of censors and collectors alike.
Female full frontal and topless nudity—plus a shower room scene—promise exploitation fans the genre's trademark excess.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Vigilante council hires ex-soldier
Psychotic former soldier
Violent killings escalate across the city
Urban streets
Questions from the Vault
When was Delirium released? +
Delirium was released in 1979.
Who directed Delirium? +
Delirium was directed by Peter Maris.
How long is Delirium? +
Delirium has a runtime of 90 minutes.
What genre is Delirium? +
Delirium is an action, horror, and thriller film.
Where can I watch Delirium? +
Delirium is available to watch on SassyFlix.
How does the vigilante council operate in Delirium? +
The vigilante council, led by Eric Stem, employs Charlie Gunther to eradicate the city's vagrants and criminals, granting him broad and violent discretion until his actions spiral out of their control.
