Based on a true case out of Gary, Indiana, with demonic posession witnessed by police officers, doctors, and a social worker, this is the story of Latoya Ammons (Ebony in this version) and her three children who all experienced strange and violent incidents in their home which escalated over time. I was very much looking forward to this movie, after reading so much about the true story. But-despite some amazing acting from Day, Close, and a couple others-this version initially showed promise, dragged quite a bit in the middle, then rallied in the end for an overall so-so experience.
When very rough-around-the-edges Ebony (Andra Day) and her three children move to a new home with her mother Alberta (Glenn Close), who is fighting cancer and has recently “found Jesus,” all is not rainbows and roses. Ebony has a drinking problem and is a harsh mother and daughter, money is more than tight, and weird noises keep coming from the basement. When the youngest boy, Andre, starts talking to seemingly no one and wandering the house at night in a trance, Ebony angrily tells him to stop. Meanwhile, a social worker (Mo’Nique) stops in regularly to check on the kids, asking where all their bruises are coming from, and another unknown woman is often sitting in her car at the curb watching the house from the street.
As more and more odd and then violent occurrences take place in the house and then at school to the children, other social workers become involved, as well as the woman in the car. But no one seems to believe Ebony when she says she is not hurting her kids, and the kids don’t have memories of what has been happening. With the demon taking greater posession over time, Ebony must figure out a way to help both herself and her kids if she is to keep her family together, keep them all safe, and rid them all of this demon before it’s too late.
- Top Scare: Hospital
- Heartbeats: 1 1/2 out of 5
- Gore Factor: 2 1/4 out of 5
- Scare Factor: 2 1/4 out of 5
- Recommended for: 16 and up
