Mark Laita, the film’s director, had a memorable first meeting with the Whittaker family. The movie revolves around four individuals who go into a remote area of Georgia, where they encounter some redneck hillbillies who don’t have teeth.
His portrayal of the Whittakers, who are uneducated and inbred, is not entirely accurate. Like the film’s simple mountain inhabitants, they live in isolation and are not part of society. There is also no evidence indicating that they share similar sadistic or violent tendencies.
Through a grant from the film’s producers, Laita was able to visit the Whittakers’ home in West Virginia’s Odd, which is a rural community. He was guided by a police officer. During a podcast episode of Koncrete KLIPS, he discussed his experience and described the family’s environment.
According to the Daily Star, Laita and his group came across a country road that turns into a dirt road. They then pass a shack and a trailer. Suddenly, a group of people started barking at them.
One of the individuals involved in the incident reportedly screamed and ran away after seeing Laita. He also kicked a garbage container. Laita eventually found three siblings and their cousin inside a squalid home, where they lived with several dogs.
Some of the family members spoke in grunts and squeals, and they were constantly beset by mental and physical health issues. Laita noted that they didn’t interact with people outside of their immediate neighborhood. At first, they weren’t welcoming, and Laita was threatened when he attempted to take photos of the family.
Laita posted videos on his YouTube channel warning the people who might try to disturb or mock the family. He also noted that they would be chased away if they do. After agreeing to allow him to take photos, the Whittakers placed a portrait of a deceased relative in the casket.
According to Laita, the people in the area knew the Whittakers, and they would often try to mock them. He noted that their neighbors did not like the people who come to try and disturb them. Following his first visit, Laita continued to keep in touch with them.
In 2020, Laita returned to the Whittakers to shoot a documentary about the Inbred family. The captivating documentary, which quickly became a hit on his YouTube channel, featured the lives of Ray, Betty, and Lorraine. It also delved into the mystery surrounding their health conditions and their origins.
One of the family’s brothers, Freddie, passed away due to heart problems. Although Betty was mum about the past, she confirmed in a follow-up video that her parents were both first cousins.
Through his efforts, Laita was able to raise enough money to help the Whittakers purchase a new property. However, after he claimed that the family had been lying to him, things started to sour.
Earlier this year, Laita stated that Larry, who was 67 years old, had passed away. He then started a fundraising drive to help the family with the funeral expenses. However, after he was mistakenly declared dead, his fans discovered that he was still alive. In a video titled “The Death Of Larry Whittaker,” Larry can be seen talking about his supposed demise.
Mark, who was Larry’s friend, gave him $700 to help him move to North Carolina and start a new life with his new girlfriend, BJ. Unfortunately, he later learned that he had not taken her there and kept the money. In a video update for Spring 2024, Mark talked to Jason, Larry’s cousin.
During the interview, Jason admitted that he had been in rehab. Mark then stated that he was the only person in the family who was honest with him.
