EXCLUSIVE: Uncharted Entertainment will launch sales on horror thriller Ascendant, starring stalwarts Richard Brake and KateLynn E. Newberry, at the EFM.
Brake plays a charismatic madman who leads a doomsday cult, with his demonstrations of his claimed mystic powers, ranging from seemingly telekinetically lighting candles to setting human sacrifices on fire. Newberry co-stars as a woman who infiltrates the cult in search of her missing sister.
Brake’s recent credits include Mayor of Kingstown and home invasion franchise The Strangers, while he is also a regular collaborator with horror auteur Rob Zombie. Newberry was seen recently in The Virginia Bitches and Frenzy Moon with other credits including Meat and Devour.
“Richard [Brake] makes Jim Jones blush with this masterful and absolutely terrifying turn as a megalomaniac cult leader,” said writer and director Phil Blattenberger, referring to the instigator of the 1978 Jonestown massacre.
Ascendant is self-taught director Blattenberger’s fourth film after Point Man, Condor’s List and Laws of Man.
He revealed that he wrote the screenplay in Ukraine during Russian air raids in 2025 and had attempted to channel the “unwavering tension into the fabric of story.” The film features several high-profile human burn stunts from prolific veteran fire stunt coordinator Paul E. Short.
The ensemble cast also includes Kat Conner Sterling, Chase Gutzmore, Corinne Britti, Paul de Havilland, Jacob Keohane, and newcomer Kristyna Kucirkova.
Daniel Troyer, the film’s cinematographer, also served as its editor. Spiral Cabin Productions produced in association with Configuration8 and Rogue 4 Films.
Blattenberger and Troyer lead as producers with Jacob Keohane and Michael Alexander. Executive Producers include de Havilland, Dustin Kincaid, John Abeyta, Serica Abeyta, Michael Sean Decker, Nathan Thomas, Frederic Poag, and Kevin Overton.
Brake is represented by Markham Froggat & Irwin and Main Title Entertainment, Newberry is represented by Privilege Talent, Gutzmore is represented by Atlanta Models and Talent, Britti is represented by St8rm Management, and Kat Conner Sterling is repped by DDO Artists Agency.
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