Alien Abduction Thriller ‘Descendent’ Looks A Mind-Bending Psychological Sci-Fi Watch the Trailer

Descendent, a psychological science fiction thriller set in modern-day Los Angeles, is set to hit theaters with a limited release on August 8, 2025, before expanding nationwide and landing on VOD platforms on August 15. The film follows Sean Bruner, a school security officer whose quiet life begins to unravel after a strange encounter beneath the night sky.

Sean, played by Ross Marquand (The Walking Dead), is expecting his first child with his wife Andrea, played by Sarah Bolger (Mayans M.C.). But what should be a hopeful time quickly turns ominous after Sean experiences a mysterious light while on duty. He later awakens in a hospital with no memory of what happened and a disturbing new ability: he begins compulsively sketching eerie, hyper-detailed images of alien figures and arid, barren landscapes.

Produced by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Moon Knight) along with David Lawson Jr., Descendent marks the directorial debut of Peter Cilella, who also penned the screenplay. The film made its first appearance at SXSW earlier this year and drew early attention for its blending of psychological horror, sci-fi mystery, and character-driven drama.

An official synopsis describes the story as follows: “Set in present-day Los Angeles, Descendent follows Sean Bruner, a school security guard who is haunted by childhood trauma while preparing for the birth of his first child with his wife, Andrea. After a beam of light appears in the sky during a late-night shift, Sean wakes up in the hospital with an inexplicable talent for vivid, unsettling drawings of extraterrestrials and desert landscapes. As his visions blur the line between dreams and reality, Sean’s grip on sanity unravels. With time running out, he must confront his fears to escape his family’s tragic legacy.”

Cilella’s approach looks to lean into a slow-burn narrative, placing emotional tension at the core of a sci-fi mystery that grows more unnerving with each reveal. The film is set against the sprawling, often isolating backdrop of Los Angeles, a city where in this film the skies hold secrets and the past refuses to stay buried.

Descendent will be distributed by RLJE Films. You can catch it in select theaters beginning August 8 before its wide release a week later on August 15. You can watch the trailer below.

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