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Modern-Day Documented Possession Story

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This possession story may seem like your ordinary tale of a family teetering on the edge of heaven and hell, and to some unbelievable; the stuff of movies, right?

But what makes this story so unique is the third-party accounts of government officials, especially the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), and health care professionals who documented their experiences to the horror of millions.

With the recent re-introduction of “The Exorcist” on Fox, stories about demonic possession may become more popular in the coming months.

Often dismissed as hoaxes or people suffering from mental illness, possession stories are often left to Hollywood bastardizations and special effects which enhance, perhaps embellish the terrifying accounts of other-worldly beings that take control of innocent people causing them to act in uncontrollable and sometimes violent ways.

Accounts of this phenomena have been around for centuries, in fact the William Peter Blatty novel on which “The Exorcist” is based, was culled from first-hand accounts which made headlines in the late 40’s about a little boy named Roland Doe.

But modern times have been devoid of such scary tales depicting, in detail, the aggressive nature of those spiritual squatters of the human soul.

Or have they?

Not according to The Indianapolis Star newspaper which in 2014, ran a piece about the Latoya Ammons family who claim that evil forces were at play when they moved into their small home on Carolina Street in Gary, Indiana.

The story became so renown that Ghost Adventures host and documentarian Zak Bagans bought the house for $35,000 after nobody else would go near it, and strangely demolished the property in early 2016.

The Indianapolis publication was so in-depth with evidence and testimony that even skeptic’s hearts were swayed to believe the account of the 9-year-old who crawled up the walls and onto the ceiling.

As incredible as that may seem, what makes this tale so chilling is the accounts laid out in full detail by a Police Chief, Child Protective Services agent, psychologists, family members and a Catholic priest.

It all started in 2011, when LaToya Ammons moved her family into a new rental: a one-story home in a quiet neighborhood.

Things weren’t right from the start.

Ammons recalls in the article, when they initially moved in, a swarm of flies attacked the closed-in porch area despite the chilly wintry conditions.

“This is not normal,” Ammons’ mother, Rosa Campbell, said in the story. “We killed them and killed them and killed them, but they kept coming back.”

After that, things only got creepier. Ammons says that sometimes after midnight she could hear disembodied footsteps making their way up the creaky basement stairs and opening the door into the kitchen.

Scared out of slumber by a large dark figure one night, Latoya leaped from her bed to see who, or what, was in her house, only to find nothing but wet bootprints on the floor.

On another night as the family was grieving the loss of a friend, Latoya heard the screams of her twelve-year-old coming from the bedroom, “Mama! Mama!”

They got to their feet and swung open the door to find the child unresponsive, levitating above the bed.

“I thought,’What’s going on?'” Campbell said.”‘Why is this happening?'”

Eventually LaToya contacted her church which made suggestions about how to protect the family using oil and crucifixes.

The distraught mother reached out to mediums and clairvoyants who warned that her home was resident to over 200 demons.

Not willing to move, LaToya followed the instructions of the clairvoyants who said she should make an altar, burn sage and sulfur in an effort to drive the spirits out.

This seemed to work for only three days, but things were going to get a whole lot worse.

The forces began to possess all three children, making their eyes bulge from their sockets, changing their voices from child-like to low growls with evil grins.

The presence even attacked LaToya, who said she would convulse and lose control of motor activity, “You can tell it’s different, something supernatural,” she said in the article.

Physical violence by invisible hands once threw the 7-year-old across the room.

And the 12-year-old, when questioned by mental health professionals said voices would tell her they were going to kill her and she would never see her family again.

A trip to the family physician proved that whatever force was attacking the family could travel with them.

Medical staff reported seeing LaToya’s younger son, “lifted and thrown into the wall with nobody touching him.”

Dr. Geoffrey Onyeukwu said, “Everybody was … they couldn’t figure out exactly what was happening,”

This behavior incited someone to call the DCS, accusing LaToya of battering her children.

Case worker Valerie Washington investigated the claims, but found no evidence of abuse; no bruises or marks.

However during the mental exam, the two brothers began speaking in growls and one attacked his grandmother.

What happened next would make this case unique.

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The House of Demons: look closely at the second window to the right.

While in the room the 12-year-old, according to the grandmother and Washington, crawled up the wall backwards.

When asked to corroborate the story, the DCS case worker said it didn’t quite happen that way, it may have been more terrifying by her account.

She recalls the boy actually, “glided backward on the floor, wall and ceiling.”

The next day, while at a follow-up visit to the hospital, DCS removed the children from LaToya’s care saying, “All of the children were expericing (sic) spiritual and emotional distress.” Washington wrote.

It was then that the hospital Chaplain called Rev. Michael Maginot, who served as the priest at St. Stephen, Martyr Parish, in Merrillville.

Rev. Maginot was surprised when the Chaplain asked him to perform an exorcism on the family’s home.

After a brief visit to the house, Rev. Maginot was convinced it was infested with not just demons, but ghosts.

He left after blessing the house, telling LaToya and her mother to leave at once, which they did briefly only to return for a routine DCS inspection.

Officers caught strange voices on their malfunctioning voices recorders as they interviewed the women during the investigation.

They also took photographs of the house which when further investigated revealed a face.

Charles Austin, the Gary police captain reported that images taken of the house with his iPhone shows dark silhouettes throughout,

Once Austin left the house strange things began to happen to him, his radio malfunctioned, his garage door would not open even though there was power everywhere else and the seats in his car kept moving back and forth on their own.

Later, a mechanic would say that the motor on the driver-side had malfunctioned.

Sadly, perhaps not believing Washington’s previous report, DCS removed the children from LaToya’s home, saying that she was neglecting them, keeping them from school.

The mother tried to reason with the workers, “the spirits would make them sick, or they would be up all night without sleep.”

An evaluation by a DCS psychologist would determine that the 7-year-old did not suffer from a psychotic disorder, rather, “This appears to be an unfortunate and sad case of a child who has been induced into a delusional system perpetuated by his mother and potentially reinforced.”

LaToya was told by the DCS that she needed to find a job and move away from the “demonically possessed” house.

While she tried to meet all of their expectations, she and police would continue to investigate the house for clues as to what exactly was happening.

Chief Austin also returned, this time with two other officers and one K9 unit in tow.

Rev. Maginot also joined the small force and instructed the officers to dig up a small section under the stairs where he thought a pentagram might be drawn.

Although they didn’t find the symbol, the did find and document a “pink press-on fingernail, a white pair of panties, a political shirt pin, a lid for a small cooking pan, socks with the bottoms cut off below the ankles, candy wrappers and a heavy metal object that looked like a weight for a drapery cord,”

Taking over for Washington as DCS case manager, Samantha Ilac went to the Ammons’ home as well, she reported seeing a strange liquid dripping in the basement that felt slippery and sticky between her fingers.

She also began to feel her pinky grow cold and experienced a panic attack.

The band of people witnessed a strange oil dripping from one of the slated blinds which they wiped away, thinking it might have been something used by the family in one of their rituals, but upon returning they found more, despite the room having been sealed off.

As night approached Chief Austin said he was leaving because he did not want to remain in the house after dark.

After reaching out to other priests about doing a ritual for a minor exorcism — Rev. Maginot was denied to do a church-sanctioned rite — he was joined by two police officers and Ilic once again.

The ritual took two hours and consisted of prayers and appeals to cast out the malevolent forces.

Upon leaving Ilic says she felt something was going on, “”We felt like someone was in the room with you, someone breathing down your neck.”

Misfortunes fell upon the DCS worker after she left that day: she was burned, then suffered broken hand, foot and ribs all at different times in a 30-day period.

“I had friends who wouldn’t talk to me because they believed that something had attached itself to me,” Ilic said.

After that night, Rev. Maginot went on to perform three more exorcisms in the house, but since he was finally granted permission by the Bishop to perform them this time, they were a lot more powerful and could be directed toward the Ammons.

He performed two in English and one in Latin in June of 2012.

He had asked LaToya to look up the names of demons on the internet, ones she thought might be causing the problems.

He said knowing those names would give him power over them. The Reverend also did research of his own and came up with the name Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies.

Pressing his crucifix against LaToya’s head he commanded that the demon leave the woman, and could feel the spirits grip weaken.

LaToya says there was pain, but not in the typical sense, “I was hurting all over from the inside out,” she said. “I’m trying to do my best and be strong.”

Rev. Maginot went to a retreat before the third exorcism to consult with a fellow church official who wrote down the name of a demon and sealed it in an envelope around which she surrounded blessed salt.

LaToya called the Maginot one night complaining of bad dreams. He incinerated the envelope but kept the ashes to burn once again in the sanctity of the church.

After that, LaToya said the activity stopped.

The children were returned to LaToya Ammons who had since moved to Indiana, and her old landlord, Charles Reed, says there haven’t been any reports of activity from any other tenants at the single-story house on Carolina Street.

“I thought I heard it all,” said Reed. “This was a new one to me. My belief system has a hard time jumping over that bridge.”

ammons4

LaToya now lives happily and without fear of demonic intrusions, she says it was the power of God, not psychologists who saved her family, and that skeptics should not be judgmental.

“When you hear something like this,” she said, “don’t assume it’s not real because I’ve lived it. I know it’s real.”

But the story isn’t over.

In 2014 reality ghost hunting reality show host Zak Bagans, of Travel Channels “Ghost Adventures,” became intrigued with the Ammons’ story and bought the house to film a documentary called “Demon House.”

ammons5

It was reported that the film makers, Bagans included, got spooked and left the dwelling.

Then in January 2016, without warning the host razed the structure.

The finished documentary, according to IMDB has a TBD release date.

You can read the full The Indianapolis Star article HERE

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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