ACTOR ATTACHMENTS
Shannon Purser (Stranger Things)
Emmy Award nominee Shannon Purser, beloved for her breakout role as Barb in Netflix's global hit Stranger Things, is attached to star as the youngest sisterwife, Hannah.
Additional recognizable talent is currently in negotiations for the remaining lead roles.
LOGLINE
Three sisterwives escape the horrors of a fundamentalist cult, only to be hunted by a demonic force intent on dragging them home.
TEAM
WRITER & DIRECTOR: Summera Howell
Award-winning writer, director, and actress Summera Howell is a UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television graduate whose work has been recognized by the Black List/Women in Film and the SmashCut CineLab Fellowship. Known for crafting visually striking, emotionally grounded stories centered on the female experience, Howell brings a distinctive creative voice to The Teaching. Her directing and writing credits include Charlese, Avowed, and The Gall.
PRODUCERS: Lisa Lee, John Will, Jiarui Guo, Mello Media
The producing team brings together extensive experience across independent film development, production, and financing, with collective credits spanning Academy Award-winning films, major studios, prestige television, and internationally recognized film festivals.
KEY DETAILS
GENRE: Supernatural Horror
SUBGENRE: Psychological Horror / Elevated Horror
STATUS: Development
CURRENT FINANCING: Raising equity financing.
THEMES: Religious extremism, coercive control, female empowerment, survival, trauma, and resilience.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Fans of elevated horror, psychological thrillers, and socially conscious genre filmmaking.
WHY INVEST
Within independent film, horror has long been considered the industry's most dependable commercial genre. Produced on disciplined budgets and supported by some of the most loyal audiences in cinema, elevated horror continues to demonstrate remarkable commercial resilience while consistently generating breakout successes.
The Teaching combines that proven market strength with timely cultural themes and sophisticated storytelling. Set against the backdrop of a fundamentalist cult, the film explores abuse, coercive control, and female resilience through the lens of supernatural horror. By pairing emotionally grounded characters with psychological suspense, The Teaching is positioned to appeal to both devoted horror fans and audiences drawn to elevated, character-driven genre filmmaking.
Supported by an accomplished producing team whose collective work includes Academy Award-winning films and premieres at Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Toronto, and SXSW, The Teaching also benefits from the creative vision of award-winning writer/director Summera Howell. Recognized as a finalist for the prestigious Sundance Labs, the project offers investors the opportunity to participate in a genre with a long history of commercial performance, backed by an experienced creative team and a story that feels both timely and unforgettable.
STORY
Three sisterwives escape the brutal control of a secluded fundamentalist cult, believing they've finally found freedom. Taking refuge with a former cult member, Esther, Beth, and Hannah struggle to adapt to a world they've never known while confronting the emotional scars left by years of abuse.
Their hope is short-lived when the cult's terrifying boogeyman begins hunting them, determined to drag them back to the only life they've ever known. As supernatural terror closes in, each woman must confront her deepest fears and reclaim her own strength before the darkness consumes them.
Blending psychological horror with deeply human storytelling, The Teaching explores survival, sisterhood, and the courage required to break free from the past.