Acclaimed actor J. Gaven Wilde, known for his chilling work in HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones, Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone, and David Gordon Green’s Halloween Kills, is joining the brutal horror of A Soldier’s Descent.
He joins a powerhouse ensemble led by breakout horror star Andrew Pierson (Return of the Living Dead: Trash’s Revenge, Witchcraft XVII: The Initiation, Witchcraft XVIII: The Lanterne of Light), cult icon Laurene Landon (Airplane II: The Sequel, Maniac Cop), rising star Kansas Bowling (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), horror legend Sandy Johnson (Halloween), and Joseph Poliquin (Five Nights at Freddy’s, American Horror Story), followed by Kristina Lafser (Bad Apples, Witchcraft XVIII: The Lanterne of Light). Together, they tell a story about what happens to a man when everything is taken from him—and the horrifying lengths he will go when pushed beyond the edge.
“Gaven has an intensity and depth that’s rare,” says director Carissa Pierson. “He brings a terrifying authenticity to the role that makes the horror feel real, grounded, and utterly unforgettable. I can’t wait for audiences to experience what he’s doing in this film.”
Directed by Carissa Pierson, A Soldier’s Descent is a relentless, brutal horror slasher that doesn’t shy away from difficult truths. The film tackles real-world topics—PTSD, the lasting scars of war, and the struggle of soldiers returning to civilian life—in a raw, unfiltered, and respectful way, showing the terrifying consequences of trauma with unflinching intensity.
Filming begins this November in North Carolina at locations steeped in tension, including the Madison Dry Goods Country Store and Museum (28 Days Haunted) and the Myers House NC, a life-size replica of Michael Myers’ childhood home.
With a screenplay by Phil Herman and Steven Morris as Assistant Director, A Soldier’s Descent promises to be one of the most brutal, groundbreaking horror films in recent memory—gritty, merciless, and unforgettable.