Performance & Direction: The Delta Review
Last updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Delta (1997) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.3/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Delta features a noteworthy lineup led by Shayne Gray . Supported by the likes of Thang Chan and Rachel Zan Huss , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Delta (1997) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.3/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: The Delta
Quick Plot Summary: The Delta is a Drama film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: The Delta
Ending Breakdown: The Delta attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Delta reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Delta?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Drama films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Top Cast: The Delta
All Cast & Crew →Where to Watch The Delta Online?
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MUBI Amazon ChannelThe Delta Parents Guide & Age Rating
1997 AdvisoryWondering about The Delta age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Delta is 85 minutes (1h 25m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.3/10, and global collection metrics, The Delta stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1997 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Delta worth watching?
The Delta is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 5.3/10 and stands as a AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Delta parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Delta identifies it as NR. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Delta?
The total duration of The Delta is 85 minutes, which is approximately 1h 25m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Delta
The handsome "Lincoln" (Shayne Gray) has a decent life, plenty of money and a girlfriend "Monica" (Rachel Zan Huss) but he also has a secret. When she declines to put out one evening, he heads to a cruising area of Memphis where he initially encounters a daddy figure before meeting "Minh". He's a Vietnamese man who is almost the antithesis of "Lincoln". His mother quite recently arrived in the USA, his father was an American soldier - they split up and he's now living with some fellow Vietnamese. They two men chat but "Minh" isn't so keen to go straight for the sex; he wants to get to know his new friend a little. To that end, they take his father's boat and a different kind of cruise on the delta; have a beer and set off some fireworks. It's that latter activity that annoys the police and sends "Minh" feeing into the forest. Has he something to hide? Well the tail end of the film enlightens us a little to the true nature of this man. I did like the concept here, but I'm afraid the acting is pretty nondescript and for a film that relies heavily on conversation, the audio mix makes much of the dialogue inaudible and that proves quite irritating after a while. I think it might have made for a better short feature. Condensing it's more potent aspects into an hour or so might have given it more punch, but as it is - it's too slow and thinly strung out.
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.







