You might not know it, but The Deliverance, Netflix’s latest horror film about demonic possession, is based on true events. If you’ve already seen it or plan to watch it this weekend, prepare yourself for a story that’s even scarier than fiction.
Netflix’s The Deliverance is based on the chilling true story of the Ammons family, who reportedly experienced paranormal activity and demonic possessions in their Indiana home.
The True Story Behind The Deliverance
The film follows Ebony Jackson, a single mother who moves her family to a new community for a fresh start. But what she doesn’t realize is that their new home is inhabited by a dark entity intent on destroying them, one by one, in the most terrifying ways.
Now that you know the plot, let’s dive into the real-life story that inspired it.
In November 2011, Latoya Ammons, her mother Rosa Campbell, and her three children moved into a rented home in Gary, Indiana. Soon after moving in, they began noticing strange occurrences—footsteps in the basement, doors opening on their own—but things escalated quickly.
Latoya’s son became the target of disturbing events, such as being attacked by objects and even levitating during the night, according to reports. The family turned to their local church, where they were told the house was haunted and advised to seek a spiritual cleansing.
The paranormal activity was so extreme that it caught the attention of social workers and medical personnel, who witnessed some of the phenomena firsthand. Their testimonies, along with police records, were used as references for the film. In one chilling incident, a social worker claimed to have seen one of the children walk backward up a wall.
Additionally, the Gary, Indiana Police Department conducted an investigation and captured photographs that reportedly showed eerie figures and shadows in the home.
The family was forced to sleep in a hotel, but could not move due to financial difficulty.
The local priest, Reverend Michael Maginot, stated he found the demons were torturing the children.
The director of the movie said that the story sat with him forever.
“We had never seen this story, through this lens of this African American woman, onscreen, and I just felt we’re in such dark times, and I don’t think people really know how dark of times we are in. And I felt like I needed to get reconnected to my higher power.”
