'The Deliverance' Everything We Know About the Lee Daniels' Horror Movie

Quick Links

The Deliverance is an upcoming horror movie directed by Lee Daniels from a screenplay he co-wrote along with Elijah Bynum (Magazine Dreams) and David Coggeshall (Orphan: First Kill). Daniels made his directorial debut in 2005 with Shadowboxer, quickly followed by his Academy Award-winning film Precious. Most recently, Daniels produced and directed the 2021 biographical drama, The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

The movie went on to receive multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe for Andra Day for “Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama,” and a Grammy for “Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.” The film also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Day.

Now, Lee Daniels has been busy working on his latest movie, delving into the realm of horror. This article will tell you everything you need to know about The Deliverance.

Andra Day on Why She Tried Turning Down Playing Billie Holiday Multiple Times

Plus, why Holiday was part of the genesis of the Civil Rights movement.

When and Where Can You Watch ‘The Deliverance’?

Netflix hasn’t revealed an official release date yet, but the movie will be released exclusively on the streaming platform. Filming took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania between February 2022 and September 2022, making it only a matter of time before we get more information about an official release date. Considering that the streamer has already unveiled their film lineup for the remainder of the year, chances are that The Deliverance will not premiere until some time in 2024.

Since the movie is considered an “event horror” film, like The Conjuring franchise, a release date in October would be ideal, but horror movies don’t need to be restricted to only one month of the year.

Is There a Trailer for ‘The Deliverance’?

Not yet, but there should be one coming soon, as the film is currently in post-production and Netflix will likely be releasing trailers for upcoming additions to its streaming platform in the coming months.

What Is ‘The Deliverance’ About?

Based on the accounts of an alleged haunting and demonic possession that occurred in Gary, Indiana in 2011, The Deliverance offers a deeper dive into the story of the Ammons Haunting. The story gained nationwide attention, with many of the occurrences being corroborated by child protective services, the Gary police department, and the local hospital staff. This film is set in Pennsylvania instead of Indiana and was filmed in Pittsburgh, but the story remains the same regardless of location.

After moving into a new home, Latoya Ammons, her mother, and her three children immediately begin to experience questionably supernatural occurrences, including black flies swarming the house, sounds of footsteps on the stairs while everybody is asleep, and shadowy figures lurking around the home. At one point in time, Latoya’s 12-year-old daughter supposedly levitated above her bed during a sleepover. Latoya’s mother, Rosa Campbell, also claims to have been choked by an unseen entity. Ammons’ young son allegedly had a seizure during which his eyes rolled back into his head and he growled “It’s time to die… I will kill you,” during the episode.

After these supernatural events escalate, Latoya and her family become convinced that their house is some kind of gateway, or portal, to the underworld. They reach out to others in the community, including physicians and psychics, but their claims are summarily dismissed. They then turn to a priest for help. The priest arrives and confirms the family’s belief that they are being tormented by evil spirits, but the Ammons family is still under heavy scrutiny from the police and the Department of Child Services.

Who’s in the Cast of ‘The Deliverance’?

Andra Day, who previously worked with Lee Daniels as the titular character in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, will take the lead role again in The Deliverance. The singer and actress will be playing Ebony, the mother of the children who purportedly became possessed during the haunting events in their home. Mo’Nique (Precious) will take the role of the social worker who tries to help the family and takes part in several exorcism attempts with them. Octavia Spencer (Ma) was originally cast as this character but had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts with her Apple TV+ series, Truth Be Told. Mo’Nique only stepped in as Spencer’s replacement after she and director Lee Daniels ended their 13-year feud over her treatment by him while working together on Precious.

Academy Award-nominated actress Glenn Close (Hillbilly Elegy) joined the cast in February 2022, shortly after Netflix won the distribution rights for The Deliverance in a brief auction in January. Close will be playing a character named Morgan, but further details about her involvement with the family have yet to be revealed. Tasha Smith (Empire) will be playing a woman named Asia. Omar Epps (House), Rob Morgan (Don’t Look Up), Academy Award Nominee Anjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Demi Singleton are also included in the cast with undisclosed roles. Singleton and Ellis-Taylor previously worked together in the sports biopic, King Richard. Miss Lawrence (Bros) is also joining the cast in an undisclosed role.

Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin will likely be playing one of Ebony’s children, his character’s name has not been revealed yet. Joining him is Anthony B. Jenkins (Florida Man) who is most likely going to portray McLaughlin’s younger sibling. Based on her age, it would appear that Demi Singleton could be the third and oldest sibling in the household. Lastly, James William O’Halloran (Before It Ends) is making an appearance as none other than Satan himself.

Who Is Making 'The Deliverance'?

As previously mentioned, Lee Daniels is directing the horror film from a script he co-wrote with Elijah Bynum and David Coggeshall. Daniels is also producing the film alongside Todd Crites, Jackson Nguyen, Tucker Tooley (The United States vs. Billie Holiday), and Pamela Oas Williams (The Butler). Eli Arenson (Lamb) serves as the film's cinematographer with Stan Salfas (War for the Planet of the Apes) serving as the editor.

What Can You Watch While You Wait?

There is no shortage of possession/exorcism films available to watch nowadays, but many fall through the cracks when there are so many options! One exceptional international movie stands out among the competition:

Veronica (2017) - Set in Madrid during the early 90s, the film features a 15-year-old girl who accidentally invites a malevolent spirit into her life after holding a séance with her two friends and an Ouija board. Her father recently passed away, and she now lives in the working district of Madrid with her mother and three younger siblings, which makes her seem like an easy target for an insidious demon. The film has a prequel that will be coming to Netflix on October 27 called Sister Death which follows a nun who is tormented by the same entity that appears in Veronica.

Watch on Netflix

Eli (2019) - If you’re not a huge fan of having to read subtitles (unless you’re fluent in Spanish), another highly recommended option to watch would be the 2019 film Eli. Although not overtly advertised as a demonic possession movie, you’ll soon discover that not everything is always as it seems. Eli is about a young boy who suffers from severe allergic reactions to the outside world and his parents who are desperate to find a cure. They bring him to a specialized facility that claims to be able to treat him, but he isn’t so sure about some of the unorthodox methods they use. Starring Kelly Reilly (A Haunting In Venice), Lili Taylor (The Conjuring), Charlie Shotwell (John and the Hole), and Sadie Sink (Stranger Things), this movie will certainly keep you guessing, but the reveal in the end is worth the mind games.