Netflix's disturbing new series 'Devil in Ohio' is inspired by real life

"Devil in Ohio" centers on psychiatrist Dr. Suzanne Mathis (Deschanel) as she temporarily harbors a teenager and begins to experience unusual and disturbing events in her home. The script definitely seems to be based on real life, but it's not entirely drawn from a singular true story. With "Devil in Ohio" hitting Netflix September 2, let's explore the inspiration behind the streamer's spooky new series.

What is "Devil in Ohio" about?

Suzanne Mathis is working in a hospital as a psychiatrist when she meets Mae, a mysterious young teenager who seems to have no records or connection to the real world. The only thing Suzanne knows about Mae is that she suffered trauma, so she allows the girl to stay with her family while waiting to be placed in foster care. Suzanne does her best to integrate Mae into normal life and acclimate her to her family, but soon enough strange things start happening that interfere with the Mathise's daily life. To her surprise, Suzanne discovers that Mae has escaped from a dangerous cult but hasn't completely abandoned the group.

The inspiration for "Devil in Ohio"

Polatin, showrunner and author of "Devil in Ohio," told The Columbus Dispatch in a recent interview that producer Rachel Miller was the first person to discover the true story that inspired the book. “When my producer Rachel Miller heard this true story, which took place in Ohio, she told it to me. I knew I had to tell it. I decided to start with a book. fictionalized the story to creatively free myself, and I thought it would be interesting to tell it to a YA (young adult) audience because the girl is in her mid-teens,” Polatin explained to the publication. .

During her interview with The Columbus Dispatch, Polatin didn't divulge what specific incident the book series is based on, but she did explain the creative process behind creating the plot. "The bones of the story are true and happened, and I wanted to take that as a starting point. It's inspired by real events, but it's not a documentary. It's just another kind of storytelling. For that, I felt the best outlet would be to creatively free it and fictionalize the details and let it take on a life of its own," she said.

Are there any real cases that mirror "Devil in Ohio"?

While the exact st...