The Deliverance, which opens with a title card claiming its inspiration from true events, follows the struggles of the Jackson family from Pittsburgh as they confront a demonic possession that threatens to tear them apart. Directed by Lee Daniels, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Elijah Bynum and David Coggeshall, this new horror film showcases a dramatization of the alleged haunting of the Ammons family in Gary, Indiana, in 2011. The film had a limited theatrical release on August 16 and became available on Netflix on August 30.
Andra Day stars as Ebony Jackson, a character based on Latoya Ammons, a mother of three who reported various supernatural incidents such as swarms of flies and mysterious noises after relocating with her family to a rental house in Gary, which is now infamously known as the Demon House of Indiana.
The haunting case of the Ammons family, as detailed by an investigation published in 2014, recounts how Latoya Ammons believed her family members, then aged 7, 9, and 12, were possessed by demons in their new home. Ammons expressed her experiences, while being cautious about the involvement of her children and allowed the publication to access her medical and psychological records.
According to Ammons, unusual occurrences began in December 2011, with her mother, Rosa Campbell, noting the abnormal presence of flies despite winter conditions. As months passed, the reported incidents intensified, with Ammons claiming her children experienced levitation, were thrown across rooms, and spoke in strange voices. The case drew attention from local authorities and social services, investigating the circumstances.
Despite the troubling accounts, skepticism emerged surrounding the claims of demonic possession. In April 2012, an anonymous report prompted an investigation concerning alleged child abuse. A psychologist’s assessment of Ammons’ youngest son suggested his accounts were inconsistent and indicated a troubling influence from his mother.
In June 2012, Rev. Michael Maginot performed three major exorcisms on Ammons, leading to her eventual regaining custody of her children later that year after fulfilling the requirements set forth by social services.
The Carolina Street rental property, once home to the Ammons family, was said by its landlord to have no previous issues but later gained notoriety through a documentary about the case.
The Deliverance takes creative liberties with the real story, particularly concerning the exorcism aspect. Daniels described his film as a “faith-based thriller,” focusing on the perspective of an African American woman. He spoke briefly with Ammons during the filmmaking process but chose to interpret her story through his creative lens.
Significant changes from the real events include altering the ethnic background of Ammons’ mother and modifying the portrayal of the deliverance rituals. The film presents the ritual in a family’s home rather than in a church, emphasizing the broader spiritual transformation rather than solely focusing on exorcising a demon.