During the production of Lee Daniels’ Netflix horror film The Deliverance, the set was plagued by a series of unsettling incidents, despite efforts to ward off bad luck. In a recent interview with SiriusXM’s Bevy Smith, Daniels shared insights into the challenges faced while filming.
Daniels revealed that he attempted to protect the set with prayer circles, inspired by stories from the sets of classic horror films like The Exorcist and Poltergeist. However, his efforts were not enough to prevent a string of unfortunate events, including the hospitalization of one of his stars and the tragic death of his dog.
He acknowledged that while the prayer sessions were “really beautiful,” they did not stop the misfortunes. “Things happen, and I was not gonna let things happen on my set, and also I needed it for me,” Daniels explained. Despite his best efforts, significant challenges arose during the making of The Deliverance.
Daniels also shared a poignant story about his sister, who has been a good luck charm on every film he has directed. Tragically, after filming a scene with Glenn Close, she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Additionally, he spoke about the death of his dog during production.
Mo’Nique, one of the film’s stars, recounted her own difficult experience on set. She revealed that she had to be hospitalized while filming. “Mr. Daniels had me doing a scene, okay? And we’re outside,” Mo’Nique explained. “The demon was supposed to be on top of the building, so they kept blowing this — I mean, at one point I’m like, ‘Lee, do we have this because I can’t breathe.’ They kept blowing. He was like, ‘One more time. One more time.’ When I finished, my thyroid was just sick. I was like, ‘What kind of situation is this?’ It was a lot happening with The Deliverance.”
Many cast members, including Glenn Close, had never participated in prayer circles before. Close described the experience as incredible and noted that it was her first time praying in a circle on a film set. Daniels would announce the prayer sessions, allowing everyone to choose whether or not to join. “It made no difference whether everyone came or not,” she said.
The Deliverance follows a family in Indiana who experiences strange, demonic occurrences, leading them to believe their home is a portal to hell. The film’s intense subject matter may have contributed to the unsettling atmosphere during production. Despite the challenges, the cast and crew remained committed, and Daniels hopes the final product will resonate with audiences.
As the release date approaches, fans are eager to see how the film translates the eerie experiences of its production into a captivating story.
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