First Trailer for Creepy Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Descendent’ with Ross Marquand
by Alex Billington
July 8, 2025
Source: YouTube
“I just want to protect my family…” “From what?!” RLJE Films has revealed an official trailer for an indie sci-fi horror thriller titled Descendent, marking the feature directorial debut of director Peter Cilella. It’s produced by the sci-fi indie filmmakers Benson & Moorhead and recently premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival a few months ago. The film is ready for release starting this August for anyone curious. A troubled Los Angeles school guard, haunted by a family tragedy, experiences strange visions after a mysterious light appears in the sky. As his wife’s due date approaches, he also races to face his demons before his growing obsession consumes him. This looks like it’s paying homage to the classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, with creepy faces of strangers and weird alien visions. Starring Ross Marquand and Sarah Bolger as the main couple. Early reviews state: “Strong performances from Marquand and Bolger buoy this strong sci-fi allegory that tackles the oft-ignored subject of men’s mental health smartly.” If you’re intrigued check it out.
Here’s the first official trailer for Peter Cilella’s film Descendent, direct from YouTube:
Set in Los Angeles, Descendent follows Sean Bruner (Ross Marquand), a school security guard 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 eerie 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. Descendent is written and directed by American indie filmmaker Peter Cilella, making his feature directorial debut after one other short film previously. Produced by David Lawson Jr., Caleb Ward, and fellow indie sci-fi filmmakers Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead. This initially premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year. RLJE Films will debut Cilella’s Descendent in select US theaters on August 8th, 2025, then on VOD starting August 15th later this summer. Intrigued?
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