The Aviary Trailer: Malin Akerman Escapes A Cult

Today we have a new trailer from Saban Films for the upcoming title "The Aviary." The film stars Malin Akerman and Lorenza Izzo as Jillian and Blair, respectively. They are members of a cult called Skylight who are trying to escape the clutches of cult leader Seth (Chris Messina). As they run away from the desert campus called The Aviary, they start seeing visions of a mysterious woman (who appears to be Sandrine Holt playing the role of Delilah). They're going in the wrong direction, hearing odd noises like cellphones despite the fact that Seth took theirs, and being pulled back into the dark places of their minds. 

Monsters and demons in horror films don't scare me the way psychological stuff does, and this trailer is full of that. I know brainwashing isn't really a thing, but psychological conditioning is. I am going to be thinking about this one for a while. "The Aviary" is written and directed by Chris Cullari and Jennifer Raite. Watch the trailer below. 

'You're not Seth — you're the Devil!'

Here is the synopsis for "The Aviary:"

Malin Akerman and Chris Messina star in the twisted journey of two women's desperate flee to escape the clutches of Skylight, an insidious cult. Lured in by the promise of "freedom" in the isolated desert campus called "The Aviary", Jillian (Akerman) and Blair (Lorenzo Izzo) join forces to escape in hopes of real freedom. Consumed by fear and paranoia, they can't shake the feeling that they are being followed by the cult's leader, Seth (Messina), a man as seductive as he is controlling. The more distance the pair gains from the cult, the more Seth holds control of their minds. With supplies dwindling and their senses failing, Jillian and Blair are faced with a horrifying question: how do you run from an enemy who lives inside your head?

From the trailer we learn that Blair wasn't sure it was a cult at all, but Jillian absolutely is. She feels they had to leave before someone got killed, and from the flashes of memory, it certainly feels like that was going to happen. Jillian has stolen Seth's laptop, and they weren't the only ones running. Are they being pulled back in by some supernatural power? Is it all in their minds? Is someone stalking them? What is the deal with Seth's crazy mask and the oddly-colored fire? Who wrote the note that has Jillian's handwriting? I'd better get some warm milk and lavender oil to keep away the bad dreams tonight. (Note: Don't tell me that doesn't work because what other option do I have?)

"The Aviary" will hit theaters and VOD on April 29, 2022.