Lee Daniels, the acclaimed director known for his work on Precious and The United States vs. Billie Holiday, has recently shared unsettling details about the eerie occurrences that transpired during the filming of his latest Netflix horror movie, The Deliverance. The film, which is based on a true story, stars Andra Day, Glenn Close, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Mo'Nique, and it delves into the terrifying experiences of a family haunted by malevolent forces.
The Deliverance centers on Ebony Jackson (played by Andra Day), a struggling single mother seeking a fresh start for her family. However, their new home soon becomes the site of strange and terrifying events, drawing the attention of Child Protective Services and plunging Ebony into a desperate battle to protect her children from an unseen evil.
Daniels, who has a deep respect for the spiritual realm, initially hesitated to take on the project. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he revealed that he had first heard about the true story behind the film, which involves Latoya Ammons and her children, after making Precious. Despite being intrigued, Daniels chose to steer clear of the project at first.
"I felt that I didn’t want to do another story about abuse," Daniels explained. "This woman was abusing her kids—or what defines as abuse, because she was hitting the kids. And two, I know how I work. I’m an open portal. And I know what I demand. And I know the spirit works through me. So what kind of spirits do I want on me?"
Despite his initial reluctance, the story of The Deliverance stayed with Daniels for years. He eventually felt compelled to tell the tale, especially through the lens of an African American woman—a perspective that he felt was crucial to explore in these challenging times. "I just felt we’re in such dark times, and I don’t think people really know how dark of times we are in," Daniels said. "And I felt like I needed to get reconnected to my higher power."
However, the decision to move forward with the film came with its own set of challenges. During the production, several strange and tragic events occurred, leading Daniels to organize prayer circles on set in an attempt to ward off any supernatural forces. Despite these precautions, unsettling incidents continued to unfold.
"My sister is in every movie that I’ve ever done as my good luck charm," Daniels shared in an interview with Sirius XM. "She was in the scene with Glenn in the chemo scene, and two days later, after being in the chemo scene, she was diagnosed with lung cancer—literally. My dog died on the set."
The cast and crew were not immune to the eerie atmosphere either. Mo'Nique, who plays a social worker in the film, revealed that she was hospitalized after filming one particularly intense scene. The production also faced other disruptions, including unexpected deaths of cast members' family members and a sudden electrical fire that destroyed part of the set, prompting a priest to be called in to perform an exorcism.
The Deliverance, which debuted on Netflix on August 30, is based on a 2014 Indianapolis Star article titled "The Exorcisms of Latoya Ammons," detailing the real-life haunting of Ammons and her three children by shadowy figures and swarms of black flies. For fans of horror films like The Exorcist, this new movie promises to be a chilling addition to their watchlist.
Lee Daniels' experience on the set of The Deliverance is a stark reminder of the power of the stories we choose to tell and the potential consequences of delving into the unknown. As viewers tune in to watch this harrowing tale, they may find themselves wondering just how much of what they see on screen could be a reflection of real, unseen forces at play.
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