'The Deliverance,' inspired by an infamous Indiana haunting, hits Netflix
Editor's note: This story was originally published in July. It has been updated to show the film's release.
"The Deliverance," a film directed by Lee Daniels and loosely based on one of Indiana's most notorious supernatural cases, is now in theaters and on Netflix.
The film — which stars Andra Day, Glenn Close, Mo'Nique, Omar Epps and Caleb McLaughlin (whom you'll recognize from "Stranger Things," based in the fictional Hawkins, Indiana) — was released in select theaters Aug. 16 and on streaming Aug. 30.
The film's trailer notes the story was inspired by true events: the experiences of Latoya Ammons, who shared her story with IndyStar in 2014.
Read our review: 'The Deliverance' brings Indiana haunting to life with nuanced story, strong performances
Watch 'The Deliverance' trailer
Who is Latoya Ammons?
In 2011 Ammons moved her family into a rental home in Gary, Indiana, and immediately began noticing strange things happening. Swarms of black flies in the screened-in porch in the middle of December. The sounds of footsteps and doors opening in the middle of the night. Ammons said her children levitated and climbed walls. Eventually, someone reported her to the Indiana Department of Child Services, alleging Ammons suffered from a mental illness and she was neglecting the children. The children were performing for her, the anonymous caller alleged, and she was encouraging their behavior.
But a nurse and police officers witnessed a bizarre incident at an area hospital in which Ammons' youngest boy appeared to be "lifted and thrown into the wall with nobody touching him," according to a DCS report. An agency caseworker also wrote in an official report that she witnessed a 9-year-old walk backwards up a wall and flip over his grandmother from the ceiling.
Eventually, the family was exorcised by a Merrillville priest.
Ammons' former home was the subject of a 2018 documentary, "Demon House," featuring Zak Bagans, host and producer of the Travel Channel's "Ghost Adventures." The home was demolished in 2016 as part of the documentary's production.
Read our 2014 story: The exorcisms of Latoya Ammons
What is Netflix's 'The Deliverance' about?
Here's the plot synopsis shared on Tudum, Netflix's partner news site: "Ebony Jackson, a struggling single mother fighting her personal demons, moves her family into a new home for a fresh start. But when strange occurrences inside the home raise the suspicions of Child Protective Services and threaten to tear the family apart, Ebony soon finds herself locked in a battle for her life and the souls of her children."
Tudum describes the film as "a genre-defying take on darkness, possession, and finding a higher power."
'The Deliverance': How to watch
The movie will be released in select theaters Aug. 16 and will be available to stream on Netflix on Aug. 30.
Afraid you'll miss it? Netflix users can search "The Deliverance" within the app/site and set a reminder for its release. You'll then get a notification in the app when the movie is released and it'll display in your My List watchlist.
Looking for things to do? Our newsletter has the best concerts, art, shows and more — and the stories behind them
Contact IndyStar pop culture reporter Holly Hays at [email protected]. Follow her on X/Twitter: @hollyvhays.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 'The Deliverance,' inspired by Indiana's Ammons haunting, hits Netflix
