In the world of horror cinema, few things are as chilling as the idea that the horrors depicted on screen could spill over into real life. This unsettling thought haunted director Lee Daniels as he embarked on the production of his latest horror movie, The Deliverance. Inspired by a true story, this Netflix horror film, released on August 30, 2024, tells the eerie tale of a family in Indianapolis who believed their child was possessed by a demon. But the real horror began not on the screen, but behind the scenes, as the production became shrouded in a series of terrifying and inexplicable events.
Director Lee Daniels’ Precautionary Measures
Daniels, a seasoned director known for his work on Precious and The United States vs. Billie Holiday, was no stranger to intense and emotionally charged projects. However, The Deliverance was different. Drawing inspiration from the true story of Latoya Ammons and her family’s terrifying experiences with alleged demonic possession, Daniels couldn’t shake the feeling that the film might be cursed, much like the infamous 1977 horror classic, The Exorcist.
Fearing that his production might be plagued by similar misfortunes, Daniels took extraordinary precautions. He organized prayer circles on set, hoping to ward off any supernatural forces that might disrupt the filming. In a SiriusXM panel, Daniels confessed, “Things happen, and I was not gonna let things happen on my set, and also I needed it for me.”
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Despite these precautions, strange and disturbing incidents began to unfold. In a chilling parallel to the movie’s plot, the line between fiction and reality blurred as cast members and even the director himself experienced a string of misfortunes. Daniels’ beloved dog died unexpectedly during the production, a loss that deeply affected him. In another unsettling twist, a close family member who appeared in a scene with Glenn Close was diagnosed with lung cancer just days after filming a chemotherapy scene.
But the troubles didn’t end there. Mo’Nique, who plays a social worker in the film, recounted her own harrowing experience. After filming a particularly intense scene involving a demonic presence, she found herself struggling to breathe, with her thyroid swelling to an alarming size. She was later hospitalized, leaving her questioning the eerie occurrences on set. “What kind of shit is this?” she wondered aloud during the SiriusXM panel.
The Real-Life Horror Behind ‘The Deliverance’
The Deliverance is more than just a horror movie; it’s a cinematic retelling of real-life events that took place in Gary, Indiana, over a decade ago. The story centers around Latoya Ammons, her mother Rosa Campbell, and Ammons’ three children. In November 2011, the family moved into a rental home where they began experiencing a series of terrifying events that defied explanation.
The family reported hearing mysterious footsteps at night, doors creaking open on their own, and even witnessed shadowy figures lurking in their home. But these unsettling occurrences were just the beginning. As the months went by, the incidents escalated to nightmarish levels. The children reportedly levitated above their beds, were thrown across rooms by unseen forces, and began speaking in deep, unnatural voices. Desperate for help, Ammons and her mother reached out to local churches, but most refused to get involved.
Desperation Leads to Exorcism
With nowhere else to turn, Ammons and Campbell sought the advice of a clairvoyant, who confirmed their worst fears: the house was infested with evil spirits. Following the clairvoyant’s instructions, they set up an altar in the basement and performed rituals in a bid to cleanse the house. But instead of relief, their situation took an even darker turn.
The family claimed that demons began possessing Ammons and her children. Their eyes would bulge, sinister smiles would spread across their faces, and their voices would deepen during these episodes. The horror reached a climax when Ammons’ youngest son was reportedly thrown against a wall by an unseen force during a visit to their family physician, Dr. Geoffrey Onyeukwu. The terrifying event led to the involvement of police and the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), who initially suspected that the children were being abused or that Ammons was suffering from mental illness.
A Child Walks Up a Wall
As DCS family case manager Valerie Washington investigated the case, she witnessed something that defied all logic. During a meeting with Ammons, her 7-year-old son reportedly growled, locked his hands around his older brother’s throat, and then performed a feat that seemed impossible: he walked backward up a wall, flipped over his grandmother, and landed on his feet. This spine-chilling event was corroborated by medical staff and police officers who were present, leaving everyone involved deeply shaken.
The situation grew so dire that a hospital chaplain contacted Reverend Michael Maginot to perform an exorcism on the 9-year-old boy. Maginot conducted three major exorcisms on Ammons and blessed her new home after the family moved out of the haunted house.
Life After the Horror
In November 2012, after months of terrifying experiences, Ammons regained custody of her children. The family had moved to a new home in Indianapolis, and the DCS case plan noted that they had made significant progress. The report also mentioned that the family had not experienced any further issues with demonic presences since relocating. The nightmare seemed to be over, but the scars of their ordeal remained.
Their former home, which had become the site of so much horror, was eventually sold for $35,000. The new tenants, however, wanted nothing to do with the house’s dark past and refused all media inquiries.
Where Is Latoya Ammons Now?
As for Latoya Ammons and her family, little is known about their current lives. Director Lee Daniels, who spoke with Ammons during the early stages of The Deliverance production, described her as being at peace with her past. Despite the changes he made to her story for the film, Daniels was deeply affected by the true events that inspired his movie.
The Haunting Legacy of ‘The Deliverance
The Deliverance is more than just a horror film; it’s a chilling reminder of the real-life events that inspired it. The story of Latoya Ammons and her family serves as a stark example of how the boundaries between the supernatural and reality can sometimes blur, leaving those involved questioning everything they thought they knew.
As the film continues to captivate audiences on Netflix, the eerie events that unfolded during its production will likely linger in the minds of those who hear them. Whether or not The Deliverance was truly cursed, the fear and uncertainty that plagued its cast and crew are undeniable, adding an extra layer of terror to an already haunting tale.
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