Rising horror star Montana Mager is set to terrify audiences in Phil Herman’s upcoming feature A Soldier’s Descent. Known for his magnetic screen presence and raw intensity, Mager is quickly emerging as one of horror’s hottest new talents.
Mager will portray Fred, one of the campers whose storyline takes a chilling turn as the film explores trauma, fear, and survival. With recent roles in What’s Wrong Wendy? and The Last Sleepover, Mager continues to prove he can bring emotional depth and edge to every character he plays.
Mager joins an already powerhouse lineup of genre names, including:
Andrew Pierson (Return of the Living Dead: Trash’s Revenge, Witchcraft XVII: The Initiation, Witchcraft XVIII: The Lanterne of Light)
Jennifer Banko (Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Barb Wire, Pacific Palisades, Sunset Beach)
Kaitlyn Trentham (The Jester 2)
J. Gaven Wilde (The Righteous Gemstones, The Black Phone, Halloween Kills)
Laurene Landon (Airplane II: The Sequel, Maniac Cop)
Sandy Johnson (Halloween)
Kristina Lafser (Bad Apples, Witchcraft XVIII: The Lanterne of Light)
Directed by Carissa Pierson, A Soldier’s Descent is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about independent horror projects in recent years — and not just for its scares. In addition to the high-profile cast, over 15 Veterans are involved in the production, lending authenticity and emotional weight to the film’s exploration of military trauma and its psychological aftermath.
“This isn’t horror for the sake of horror,” Pierson says. “We’re shining a light on real pain, real loss, and the invisible battles Veterans fight every day. It’s terrifying, yes — but it’s also brutally honest, and it demands to be felt.”
The film has already been fully shot and is currently in post-production, moving closer to delivering its intense, emotionally charged story to audiences.
A Soldier’s Descent isn’t just another slasher — it’s a historic first for horror. The film dives deep into issues like PTSD, survivor’s guilt, veteran suicide, substance abuse, and domestic violence, presenting them with unflinching honesty. With 22 Veterans tragically taking their own lives every day, the story confronts these crises head-on, merging true-to-life trauma with slasher intensity to create something both terrifying and deeply human.
The film is written by horror veteran Phil Herman, whose career spans over 30 years of chilling, edge-of-your-seat storytelling. Herman’s unmatched mastery of the genre ensures every scene crackles with intensity, suspense, and emotional weight, delivering a slasher that is not only brutally terrifying but also historically and thematically significant — a film that pushes horror into bold, uncharted territory.
With its powerhouse ensemble, veteran involvement, and fearless storytelling, A Soldier’s Descent is poised to redefine what horror can be — shocking, emotional, and brutally real.
