Trailer for Sci-Fi Thriller DESCENDENT Teases a Mind-Bending Alien Mystery
RLJE Films has released the trailer for Descendent, a cerebral looking indie sci-fi thriller that marks the feature directorial debut of Peter Cilella.
The story centers on a haunted Los Angeles school security guard named Sean Bruner (played by The Walking Dead’s Ross Marquand), who begins experiencing unsettling visions after a strange beam of light appears in the night sky.
As he prepares for the birth of his first child with his wife Andrea (Sarah Bolger), Sean’s mind begins to fracture, and reality starts slipping through his fingers.
The synopsis reads: “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.”
There’s a clear Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibe running through the trailer, from distorted faces to creeping paranoia.
The film made its premiere earlier this year at SXSW 2025 and is heading to theaters on August 8, 2025, followed by a VOD release on August 15th.