Lee Daniels, known for his acclaimed works, has a personal favorite: “The Exorcist.” However, when he set out to create his own film about possession, his mother firmly disapproved.

After his success with “Precious” in 2009, Daniels felt compelled to explore the unsettling true narrative of Latoya Ammons, who reported her children were tormented by demons. Yet, his mother warned him, stating, “You lay everything bare, and it’s on screen. Spirits can attach to you, and I don’t want you involved with this film,” which he shares with YSL News.

Despite veering towards other projects like “The Butler” and the series “Empire,” Ammons’ bizarre story lingered in Daniels’ mind, eventually culminating in the creation of “The Deliverance,” now available on Netflix.

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Daniels describes this era as “dark,” and instead of making a standard horror film, he envisioned “a faith-based thriller” aimed at encouraging viewers to connect with a higher force. “Be it Buddha, Allah, Jesus Christ, or even self-love, it’s imperative we learn that to seek peace. Tomorrow is never guaranteed,” he states.

Here, Daniels discusses the chilling realities blended with fiction in “Deliverance,” which tells the story of a mother battling both personal and supernatural challenges.

‘The Deliverance’ Starts with a Fly Infestation Like Latoya Ammons’ Experience

The troubles for Ammons began with an infestation of black flies in their rental home, leading to strange noises and sightings of a dark figure. Similarly, “The Deliverance” kicks off with seemingly simple issues like bugs and foul smells from the basement, growing into more frightening happenings. However, Daniels takes time to explore the strained relationship between alcoholic mother Ebony (Andra Day), her three kids, and her sick mother, Alberta (Glenn Close), before diving into the supernatural elements.

This approach initially puzzled Netflix, according to Daniels. “They weren’t quite on board at first because they were expecting more jump scares. I’m not skilled in that style; my focus has to be on the story.” He emphasizes the importance of portraying a more profound narrative about the nature of abuse present within Ebony’s family, where violence and dysfunction are evident.

“You might think it’s ‘Precious,’ but then it takes a different turn.”

A Young Boy Crawls Up a Wall Backwards – It Really Happened

In the film, Ebony’s youngest son, Andre (Anthony B. Jenkins), is the first to demonstrate signs of demonic possession, soon followed by his older siblings, Nate (Caleb McLaughlin) and Shante (Demi Singleton). This ultimately leads to troubling incidents at school and home, resulting in their hospitalization.

Disturbing moments in the film are based on true events, such as a shocking scene where Andre crawls up a hospital wall backward. In the movie, a child services agent named Cynthia (Mo’Nique) witnesses this occurrence—reflecting a real-life incident where Ammons’ mother and even a nurse corroborated seeing her son perform this inexplicable act, which was affirmed by a social worker to a judge in court. “This really happened,” Daniels stresses. “It’s too bizarre to fabricate.”

In both Reality and ‘The Deliverance,’ Children Were Separated from Their Mother

Ammons faced an investigation from child services for potential child abuse or neglect. Although she was determined to be of “sound mind,” her children were taken away without a court directive. In 2014, she told the Indianapolis Star, “We had endured so much and fought hard for our lives.” This story parallels the emotional journey depicted in “The Deliverance.”

“Such situations occur,” remarks Daniels, who has been a guardian to his brother’s children since they were just three days old, and now they are 28. “Numerous children are separated from their families, sometimes for justifiable reasons, and other times not. In this case, the removal of her children was unfounded. She battles the system for her children while simultaneously confronting a demon in her home. It’s a distinctive, real story to share.”

Glenn Close’s character differs from the actual grandmother

In the creation of the film, Daniels altered the names and location. Ammons’ “demon house” was situated in Gary, Indiana, whereas Ebony’s family resides in Pittsburgh. Additionally, the casting of Close as Alberta diverged from reality: unlike Ammons’ mother, Alberta is a white woman with a complicated relationship with her daughter Ebony, who is searching for redemption later in life after finding faith.

“I aim to amplify voices that often go unheard and to portray faces not frequently seen,” explains Daniels. “Many white women I encountered in my youth inspired this homage. A lot of African Americans have yet to see this character represented on screen and can really connect with her.”

The mother seeks help from deliverance ministers for both film and real-life victories

In the film, Ebony finds crucial support from Rev. Bernice James (played by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), a deliverance minister who expels evil spirits, which is different from an exorcist focused on possession. Although the real deliverer for Ammons was male, Daniels insisted on casting Aunjanue, knowing there were women in this role. He notes that Ammons consulted various types of “healers,” even including a Catholic exorcist, although the scene with an exorcist did not make it into the final version of the movie.

Initially skeptical about Ammons’ account, Daniels later changed his perspective after their conversation, doing additional research. His mother even recounted experiences of similar events. “These occurrences can be difficult,” he reflects, emphasizing that he had a deliverer on set daily after learning about the strange happenings tied to the productions of “Poltergeist” and “The Exorcist.” He quips, “Not today, Satan!”