So Fades the Light (2025) is a haunting thriller directed by Rob Cousineau and Chris Rosik, with a screenplay by Cousineau. The film tells the story of Sun, a woman who was once worshiped as a child by a mysterious cult. Sun is living on the road and trying to get away from her past. She has strong memories and trauma that she hasn’t dealt with. After 15 years, she goes back to the remote compound where it all began, but she doesn’t know that The Reverend, the cult’s former leader, is also on his way back.
The cast is led by Kiley Lotz as Sun, with Ny’Ea Reynolds playing Autumn. D. Duke Solomon portrays the enigmatic Reverend. Other key cast members include William Swift as Morgan, D. Lou as Tony, Anika Pyle as Patti, as Julian, and Naya Moreno as Liz.
SO FADES THE LIGHT MOVIE STORY
Sun, played by Kiley Lotz, is a young girl who was born into the Iron and Fire Ministry, a dangerous religious cult. SO FADES THE LIGHT tells her scary story. The cult, which is led by the controlling Reverend (D. Duke Solomon), is a mix of violent survivalist ideas and extreme religious fundamentalism. Sun grows up in this closed-off and harsh community, cut off from the rest of the world.
When a SWAT team raids the cult compound and kills dozens of members and jails the Reverend, her life will never be the same again. One of the few people who made it is Sun. After that, she stops being seen by anyone. Her upbringing and the violent end of the only world she had ever known left her traumatized and alone.
After fifteen years, Sun lives by herself in a camper van and the memories of her childhood keep coming back to haunt her. She decides to go back to the site of the compound, which has been abandoned, to find closure. She wants to face her past and finally figure out what caused her trauma.
Sun doesn’t know this, but the Reverend was just let out of jail. By his own free will, he is also making his way back to the compound. The empty grounds, which were once the center of their shared past, become the place where they will have to face their inevitable and intense reunion.
In between flashbacks to Sun’s childhood in the cult and the events of the raid, the movie shows her inner struggle as the story goes on. Her journey is not only physical, but also very emotional, as she faces the fear and mental damage that the Reverend and his teachings caused her.
WHERE WAS SO FADES THE LIGHT FILMED?
The chilling atmosphere and isolated setting of So Fades the Light come to life through several real-life locations in the state of Michigan. Filming for the movie concluded in September 2023, and principal photography was wrapped by December 2023.
ALMONT, MICHIGAN
One of the key filming locations was Almont, a small village in Lapeer County, Michigan. The quiet rural environment made it an ideal choice for scenes set near the isolated cult compound. With its secluded roads, wide-open landscapes, and natural beauty, Almont provided a haunting atmosphere that aligned perfectly with Sun’s psychological journey. The rustic setting captured the sense of abandonment and history that the filmmakers were aiming to portray.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Detroit served as another major filming location, offering both contrast and depth to the story. Urban scenes, including those depicting Sun’s life on the run, were filmed in and around the city. The gritty yet historic backdrop of Detroit added realism to Sun’s transitional moments. In particular, one standout location was Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
OLD ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH – DETROIT
Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church, located in the Greektown district of Detroit, played an important role in the film’s production. Constructed in 1884, this church is the third-oldest Roman Catholic church in the city and was Detroit’s first German parish. Designed by local architect Peter Dederich, the church is known for its Pisan Romanesque architecture, which includes a richly detailed interior and historic stonework. The spiritual weight of the church’s history and its solemn interior made it a powerful setting for several key scenes involving Sun’s past and her connection to the cult.
WHITE CHAPEL, MICHIGAN
White Chapel, Michigan, also served as a filming location. Though exact scenes filmed there haven’t been disclosed, the location likely stood in for important ceremonial or religious settings. Its calm, reverent ambiance complemented the film’s thematic exploration of belief, manipulation, and redemption.
SO FADES THE LIGHT is a true Michigan-based production that captures the mood of psychological trauma through the state’s rich variety of rural and urban landscapes.
SO FADES THE LIGHT TRAILER
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