Descendent

I saw the reviews and thought I'd give it a go but its clearly inflated. There is no way this movie should be over 3 stars.

The acting, music and cinematography is actually pretty good but the storyline is terrible. You keep expecting something (anything) to happen and it doesn't. Its a slow burn to nothing.

Don't waste your time watching this.

Stumbling upon the 2025 movie "Descendent" by random chance, and it being a movie that I had never actually heard about, of course I opted to sit down and watch it.

Writer Peter Cilella, whom also directed the movie, put together a script that was more of a psychological drama of a man's descent into madness, than it was a movie about alien abductions. So I was a bit disappointed, to say the least. The pacing of the narrative was sluggish, and that combined with the general lack of alien contents was the reason why my interest in the movie was struggling to remain.

Ross Marquand was actually the only familiar face on the cast list for me. The acting performances in the movie were certainly good, and Ross Marquand does an excellent job of portraying Sean's descend into madness and delusion.

The movie is not one that makes use of a whole lot of special effects. But then again, it didn't really need special effects to deliver the narrative.

Now, if you sit down to watch "Descendent" hoping it is a movie that wholesomely delves into the concept of alien abductions, then chances are that you will be sorely disappointed with the movie, much like I was. But if you sit down to watch it as a psychological drama about a man's slow and steady descent into madness, then you're in for quite a treat.

My rating of writer and director Peter Cilella's 2025 movie "Descendent" lands on a generous four out of ten stars.

Good title. Music/soundtrack engaging. Premise, recognizable. Execution - complete let down.

Although the actors do very well with the script, it is indeed the script that lets everyone down. I do not mind open ended films when a theme points to a couple different conclusions, but there really is no theme other than what is suggested in the title.

The story pretends to be leading you into a descent into madness, and yet, on what foundation does the main character's madness hinge? Suggestive with no real follow through is not a story, and does not follow even the classic storytelling model. There was a chance 3/4 through the film to open up to some real possibilities, but every time the story got to that point, the director changed scene, leaving the audience stuck with nothing.

I gave this 3 stars for the actors ability to make their scenes engaging, and the music. The writing failed (and I taught writing for 20 years), and the direction was down a path to nowhere.

First off the wife is insufferable, I could understand the suicidal thoughts living with her.

Secondly, the anti gun nonsense is wild. Dude is supposed to be a security guard and you're telling me he doesn't already own a gun. Then you have the friend who already owns guns tell him he doesn't need one. AND THEN it just randomly goes off, did he clip his badge to the trigger wtf happened there?

The spooky stuff was done well, the effects were good. Still didn't finish it.

Sometimes horror doesn't need to come at you with claws and fangs-it just needs to crawl under your skin and set up camp. Descendent is exactly that kind of movie: unnerving, cerebral, and quietly relentless. The filmmakers-who've already proven they know how to twist a genre inside out-once again deliver something that feels fresh, risky, and memorable.

At its core, Descendent isn't just an alien film; it's a slow-burn psychological spiral dressed up in eerie sci-fi clothing. Instead of cheap jump scares, the directors lean into atmosphere and dread, pulling the audience into Sean's fractured reality. That choice pays off in spades-watching his unraveling is more chilling than any monster reveal could ever be. It's the kind of horror that doesn't just make you flinch; it lingers like static in the back of your mind.

The movie also has a lot on its mind, and it's not shy about showing it. It takes aim at gender roles, toxic masculinity, and the fragility of identity, wrapping those themes inside an abduction framework. Somehow, that balancing act works. Rather than spoon-feeding the audience, the writers let the metaphors breathe, making Descendent less about "what's happening" and more about "what it means." That's where the real unease sets in-when you realize the horror isn't just external, it's internal.

Now, let's be honest: the film isn't perfect. Its psychological lean sometimes overshadows the more traditional sci-fi elements, and there are places where you wish certain characters got more space to shine. But even in those moments, you can see the intent, and that ambition is what makes it compelling. This isn't a movie interested in playing it safe. It's swinging for something bigger, and most of those swings connect.

Performance-wise, the cast does heavy lifting. The lead actor brings just the right blend of paranoia and vulnerability, making Sean feel like someone you could know, which makes watching his collapse all the more uncomfortable. The supporting players hold their own too, grounding the stranger elements of the story with sharp, believable emotion. The directors also deserve serious credit for keeping the film visually tight-bleak, moody, and just disorienting enough to keep you on edge.

What impressed me most, though, is how this film fits into the larger body of work from these writers and directors. They've carved out a space where horror isn't just about scares-it's about reflection. They have a knack for finding the overlap between terror and truth, and Descendent continues that trend beautifully. It's the kind of film that reminds you why this subgenre is so exciting right now.

In short: Descendent may leave a few threads dangling, but that's part of its charm. It's bold, unnerving, and refuses to hold your hand. Fans of smart, atmospheric horror will find plenty to chew on here-and probably a few sleepless nights, too.