Systemic

In 1912, white mobs set fire to black churches and black-owned businesses in Forsyth County, GA. eventually, the entire black population was driven out, and the area remained all-white for 75 years. "Systemic" begins with a video snippet from The Oprah Winfrey Show in Cumming, GA, 1987, during the largest civil rights protest in United States history. In Atlanta, Reggie, a black man dealing with a personal crisis involving his daughter Lexis' demonic possession, declines an invitation to join the protest. Despite Prophetess Aniyah's exorcism attempt, Lexis threatens to set her parents on fire, a threat that becomes a reality, leading to Aniyah shooting Lexis. Fast forward to the present day; where we meet Ronnie Miller, a black doctor living in Cumming. Ronnie experiences terrifying events at home and desperately attempts to spread a curse for his salvation. The unexpected presence of a child prevents him from completing the ritual of saying Beelzebub three times in front of a Ring doorbell, leading to his untimely demise. His sister Cora, a law student, moves into his house with her niece Erika and daughter Brooklyn, determined to uncover the truth about his death, which was ruled a suicide. As the family settles into their new home, eerie occurrences begin. Cora’s quest for answers about Ronnie’s death leads her to their neighbor Lauren, who witnessed Ronnie’s death on her Ring doorbell. Meanwhile, her girls adjust to their new surroundings - Erika befriends two girls at school while Brooklyn befriends Lily (Lauren’s daughter) but experiences terrifying events. Cora struggles to find work and gets therapy for her family due to the stress of their move and the death of her brother. The family's lives take a terrifying turn when not only Brooklyn, but Erika starts experiencing horrifying visions and encounters with a demonic entity. Cora visits Ethel Hayes, one of two surviving members of the first black family to move back to Forsyth County in 1987, seeking answers about the strange happenings surrounding her family. Ethel reveals her tragic past involving racial violence which she believes led to the drowning of her daughter and grandsons, but nothing supernatural about it. Brooklyn's behavior drastically changes. Cora takes protective measures against the forces threatening her family. She seeks help from Lauren who refers Father Robert from her church to her. Despite his cleansing ritual at their house, Brooklyn continues experiencing horrifying visions. She is suspended at school after drawing a vulgar sketch, and her escalated behavior at home suggests demonic possession. Cora seeks help from Prophetess Aniyah, who reveals that the demon possessing Brooklyn is one she fought over 30 years ago. In a tense exorcism, the demon taunts Erika and Cora, revealing dark secrets from their past. Despite the demon's provocations, Erika and Cora refuse to give in, expressing their love for Brooklyn and encouraging her to resist the demon's control. Aniyah, using her faith and the power of prayer, commands the demon to leave Brooklyn's body. Brooklyn convulses violently, and a swarm of flies emerges from her mouth, disappearing into a black hole in the floor. Brooklyn falls unconscious, but regains consciousness, thanking Erika for saving her. Cora learns from the investigation of Erika and her friend that Lauren has a recording from the night her brother died, it wasn’t a suicide! Cora confronts Lauren, revealing her involvement in the demonic possession and the deaths of numerous people, including her brother Ronnie. Cora warns Lauren that she cursed her house, leaving Lauren in terror as she sees a demonic figure out her peripheral emerging from the shadows behind her inside her home.