“The Deliverance” has joined the lineup of films centered around demonic possessions, similar to classics like “The Exorcist” and “The Amityville Horror.”
The film opens with a statement indicating that it is inspired by true events. Directed by Lee Daniels and featuring performances from Andra Day and Glenn Close, “The Deliverance” reinterprets the experiences of Latoya Ammons, her three children aged 12 to 8, and her mother Rosa Campbell, which allegedly took place in Indiana in 2011.
In an interview, Day shared that she did not speak directly to Ammons while preparing for her role. However, she mentioned that Daniels had chosen not to have her do so in order to allow the character to develop its own unique identity, leading to the decision to change the character’s name from Latoya to Ebony.
Day conducted extensive research on Ammons and her family’s ordeal. Reports from the Indianapolis Star detail the family’s experiences, along with statements from various witnesses, including Ammons, Campbell, former Gary police Capt. Charles Austin, and a Department of Child Services (DCS) manager who investigated the claims. The DCS reports, filed in April 2012, offer insight into the unsettling events that unfolded.
Day recounted instances where the children were reported to have levitated, interacted with invisible entities, and exhibited strange behaviors. Medical staff documented unsettling incidents, such as a child reportedly making growling noises and showing signs of being thrown across a room without physical contact.
Following the reports of supernatural occurrences, DCS stepped in, citing safety concerns and ultimately placing the children in protective custody. Ammons later reached out to Father Mike Maginot, who conducted exorcisms on the family, corroborated by police officers and a DCS case manager.
After separating from her children, Ammons and her mother moved to Indianapolis. They were eventually reunited in November 2012, at which point progress was reported in their family therapy, with no further incidents of demonic activity reported.
In the aftermath, Ammons expressed the emotional distress of being separated from her children after enduring traumatic experiences together. A follow-up article noted that the house where the reported events occurred was purchased by Zak Bagans, host of “Ghost Adventures,” who later demolished it, citing a presence within the home that defied explanation.