SPOILER ALERT: This article discusses plot points in "The Deliverance," now streaming on Netflix.

With films like "Precious," "The Paperboy" and "The Butler," Lee Daniels is one of Hollywood's most adventurous directors — but many fans were surprised to learn that his latest film, "The Deliverance," was a horror film. Daniels has a reputation for making dramas, and while there are supernatural elements to "The Deliverance," they're set squarely in a family story based on true events. In the film, Ebony (Andra Day) is a single mother caring for her three children (Caleb McLaughlin, Demi Singleton and Anthony B. Jenkins) and ailing mother (Glenn Close) in a new home that seems to be haunted. As the family is tormented by demons, Ebony must also confront a social worker (Mo'Nique) who becomes increasingly concerned about the children. The story is based on the notorious "Demon House" case in Gary, Indiana, and Ebony is based on Latoya Ammons, the matriarch of that family.

Daniels, who directed the film from a script by David Coggeshall and Elijah Bynum, spoke to Variety about the film's spirituality, Close's unique role and why he doesn't think he'll ever make another horror film.

Right after "Precious," I got offered this script and I didn't want to do it. I felt like it was too similar to "Precious" because there was abuse in it. Also, my mom talked me out of it because she really believed that I was an open portal for all kinds of energies, and she really felt that if I did that, something bad would happen to me. But the story stuck with me. We're in a dark time right now and I try to tell stories that I think are relevant to the time or the place that we're in, and for me it was really about finding a higher power. It wasn't the jump scare that Netflix originally wanted me to do.