Skeet Ulrich is heading back into horror, and this time he is stepping into a very different kind of villain role.
The Scream star has signed on to play an enigmatic and manipulative cult leader in the upcoming psychological horror film Deify. Neal McDonough will star opposite him as the prosecutor trying to bring him down.
And based on the premise, this one could get dark fast.
What Is Deify About?
Deify centers on a cult leader who is put on trial after his devoted followers are burned alive. Ulrich plays the leader at the center of the case, a man who pleads insanity and claims that the commands he followed came directly from God.
McDonough plays the assistant attorney general and prosecuting attorney, described as someone who strongly believes in the criminal justice system.
That setup gives the movie an interesting mix of courtroom thriller and psychological horror.
Instead of simply watching a cult unravel from the outside, the story appears to put the audience directly into the aftermath and the question of whether Ulrich’s character is insane, manipulative, genuinely convinced of his beliefs, or some combination of all three.
Skeet Ulrich as a Cult Leader Feels Like a Good Fit
Ulrich is still best known to horror fans as Billy Loomis from the original Scream, but this is a very different kind of role.
Billy was dangerous because he could hide in plain sight.
A cult leader works in a similar way.
Charm matters.
Trust matters.
Control matters.
The scariest part is not always what the character does himself. Sometimes it is what he can convince other people to do for him.
Ulrich has always had the ability to play characters who are likable one minute and unsettling the next, which makes this casting especially interesting.
The Story Has Real-World Inspiration
According to reporting on the project, parts of the screenplay were inspired by events surrounding the 1993 Waco standoff involving members of the Branch Davidians and federal law enforcement.
That does not mean Deify is a direct recreation of Waco.
Instead, the real event appears to have influenced elements of the story and its exploration of belief, control and the consequences of following a charismatic leader.
That kind of real-world inspiration could give the movie a much heavier tone than a traditional supernatural horror film.
Who Is Making Deify?
The film comes from brothers Carmelo Chimera and Nicholas Chimera, with Nicholas Chimera writing the screenplay.
The project is set to shoot in Chicago, although a production start date has not yet been announced.
Producers include Jordan Gianeschi, Jacob Rice and Mike Manning. Neal McDonough and Ruvé McDonough are also attached as executive producers.
At this point, there is no confirmed release date.
The Horror Feed Take
This one has our attention.
Cult horror works best when the threat is not just some monster hiding in the dark.
It is the idea that one person can convince an entire group of people to surrender their judgment and follow them into something terrible.
Putting Skeet Ulrich in the center of that kind of story makes a lot of sense.
Add in Neal McDonough on the opposite side of the courtroom and Deify could end up being one of those smaller psychological horror movies that sneaks up on people.
There is still a lot we do not know about the film, but the casting alone is enough to put it on our radar.
