Director Lee Daniels has shared some unsettling details about the production of his new Netflix horror movie, The Deliverance, which is inspired by a true story.


The film stars Andra Day, Glenn Close, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Mo’Nique and centers on Ebony Jackson (Day), a struggling single mother who relocates her family to escape their past. However, strange occurrences in their new home catch the attention of Child Protective Services, leading to a harrowing fight for both her life and her children's souls.


Inspired by a 2014 Indianapolis Star article, “The Exorcisms of Latoya Ammons,” the film recounts the eerie experiences of a mother who claimed that she and her three children were plagued by shadowy figures and swarms of black flies.


In a recent Sirius XM interview with his cast, Daniels revealed he took extra precautions on set to ward off supernatural disturbances, including organizing prayer circles.


“Things happened that were beyond explanation,” Daniels recounted. “I wasn’t going to let these incidents impact the production, and I needed to protect myself as well.”



He also shared a chilling coincidence involving his sister, who has been a lucky charm on all his films. “She was in a scene with Glenn Close and gave a particular attitude. Two days later, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. My dog also died on set,” he said.


Mo’Nique, who plays a social worker in the film, revealed she faced health issues after filming a particularly intense scene. “During one outdoor scene, I had to deal with heavy wind effects, and I struggled to breathe,” she said. “Afterward, my thyroid was seriously affected. It was a lot of strange occurrences on the set.”


Such eerie incidents are not uncommon in the horror genre. The legacy of supernatural disturbances on film sets dates back to the 1973 classic *The Exorcist*, where cast and crew faced numerous misfortunes, including the death of Linda Blair’s grandfather and a devastating fire that destroyed part of the set, prompting a real exorcism.


'The Deliverance' is now streaming on Netflix.