The Deliverance: 7 Terrifying Facts About The Netflix Horror Hit Based On A True Story

The Deliverance, the supernatural horror film that gripped Netflix audiences upon its August 2024 release, is more than just a chilling cinematic experience; it is a film steeped in real-life terror and unsettling on-set incidents. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lee Daniels, the movie has quickly become a standout in the horror genre, not only for its star-studded cast, including Andra Day and Glenn Close, but for its direct inspiration from one of the most documented and controversial haunting cases in recent American history: the Latoya Ammons case. Released globally on Netflix on August 30, 2024, after a limited theatrical run, the film delves into the harrowing ordeal of a single mother, Ebony Jackson (played by Andra Day), whose family moves into a new home in Pittsburgh, only to be tormented by demonic forces that specifically target her youngest son, Andre. What makes the narrative particularly compelling—and disturbing—is the chilling reality of the events that inspired the screenplay, as well as the strange, unexplained occurrences that plagued the production itself, prompting the director to hire an on-set spiritual advisor.

The Star-Studded Cast: Biographies and Key Roles in The Deliverance

The film is anchored by powerful performances from a celebrated ensemble cast, bringing a level of dramatic gravitas rarely seen in the supernatural horror genre. The main cast members are all industry heavyweights with impressive backgrounds in film, television, and music.

Andra Day (as Ebony Jackson)

• Birth Name: Cassandra Monique Batie
• Born: December 30, 1984, in Edmonds, Washington, U.S.
• Profession: R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and actress.
• Career Highlights: Day is a Grammy Award-nominated artist known for her hit song "Rise Up." She achieved critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in *The United States vs. Billie Holiday* (2021). Her performance in *The Deliverance* marks a significant move into the horror genre.
• Role in The Deliverance: She plays Ebony Jackson, a single mother and former addict who must fight to save her son, Andre, from a demonic possession. The character is a fictionalized version of the real-life Latoya Ammons.

Glenn Close (as Alberta Jackson)

• Born: March 19, 1947, in Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
• Profession: Actress (Stage, Film, and Television).
• Career Highlights: One of the most decorated actresses of her generation, Close has received numerous accolades, including three Primetime Emmy Awards, three Tony Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. She holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations (eight) without a win. Her iconic roles include Alex Forrest in *Fatal Attraction* and the title role in *Sunset Boulevard*.
• Role in The Deliverance: Close plays Alberta Jackson, Ebony’s mother and a fundamentalist Christian woman who believes the family’s ordeal is a spiritual test. Her character brings a complex layer of religious fervor to the narrative.

Caleb McLaughlin (as Nathaniel 'Nate' Jackson)

• Born: October 13, 2001, in Carmel, New York, U.S.
• Profession: Actor.
• Career Highlights: McLaughlin gained international recognition for his breakout role as Lucas Sinclair in the globally successful Netflix science fiction series *Stranger Things*. He began his career on Broadway, playing Young Simba in *The Lion King*.
• Role in The Deliverance: He portrays Nathaniel 'Nate' Jackson, Ebony's oldest son, who struggles to comprehend the horrifying events unfolding in their new home. His presence links the film to the *Stranger Things* universe, a major Netflix entity.

The True Haunting: Unpacking the Latoya Ammons "Demon House" Case

The most compelling aspect of *The Deliverance* is its foundation in the chilling, real-life case of Latoya Ammons, often dubbed the "Demon House" haunting. The film takes significant artistic license, changing the family name to Jackson and relocating the setting from Gary, Indiana, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but the core events remain terrifyingly similar. The Gary, Indiana Haunting. In 2011, Latoya Ammons, her mother Rosa Campbell, and her three children moved into a rental home in Gary, Indiana. According to Ammons, the haunting began almost immediately, with unexplainable phenomena escalating from footsteps and slamming doors to much more sinister events. Escalation of Phenomena. The alleged demonic activity reached a terrifying pitch, reportedly involving the children being physically thrown and levitated. Ammons claimed to have witnessed her 12-year-old daughter floating above her bed and her 9-year-old son walking backward up a wall and ceiling. These shocking claims were not just confined to the family; they were later corroborated by multiple independent entities. Official Involvement and Documentation. What set the Ammons case apart from typical ghost stories was the involvement of official state authorities. The claims were investigated by the Gary Police Department, the Department of Child Services (DCS), and even a local Catholic priest, Father Michael Maginot. A DCS report detailed the levitation and wall-walking incidents, and the police captain who investigated the case, Charles Austin, initially dismissed the claims but later became convinced after witnessing strange occurrences himself, including a photo of a shadowy figure. Father Maginot performed multiple exorcisms on Latoya Ammons. The house was eventually demolished in 2016. The story gained massive media attention, with the property becoming known as the "200 Demon House" or "Ammons House." Lee Daniels' film expertly leverages the documented and public nature of this real-life exorcism case to create a deep sense of dread and realism.

Eerie Coincidences: The Strange Happenings on The Deliverance Set

The production of *The Deliverance* was reportedly plagued by a series of unsettling and strange incidents that mirrored the demonic themes of the film, adding a meta-layer of horror to the entire project. Director Lee Daniels and cast members have openly discussed the eerie atmosphere surrounding the Pittsburgh filming locations. The Director's Ordeal. Lee Daniels himself confirmed that the set experienced a string of misfortunes and unexplained events. The director revealed that his own sister, Girly Daniels, who was involved in the production, died unexpectedly just days after the start of filming. Daniels also mentioned that some crew members were hospitalized due to mysterious illnesses and mishaps. These incidents led Daniels to believe that the film was cursed or spiritually affected by its subject matter. The On-Set Deliverer. To combat the growing sense of dread and the string of bad luck, Daniels took the extraordinary step of hiring a "deliverer," essentially an on-set exorcist or spiritual advisor, to bless the set and provide spiritual protection for the cast and crew. This is a highly unusual step for a major Hollywood production and speaks volumes about the palpable fear and anxiety felt by those involved. A Dog's Fate. Perhaps the most widely reported and heartbreaking incident was the death of a dog belonging to a crew member. Director Daniels confirmed that the dog died under strange circumstances during the filming, further fueling the rumors of a supernatural presence on the set. The combination of personal tragedy, unexplainable illnesses, and the death of a beloved pet convinced many involved that the film was truly cursed, bringing the horror of the Latoya Ammons case into their own lives. The movie’s success on Netflix is a testament to the powerful combination of a terrifying, well-documented true story, a high-caliber cast, and the viral nature of the behind-the-scenes rumors. *The Deliverance* stands as a powerful entry into the modern exorcism subgenre, utilizing topical entities such as the Latoya Ammons case and the cinematic authority of Lee Daniels to create an unforgettable supernatural thriller.