Dan Stevens Takes On a Cult in the First Trailer for Netflix’s ‘Apostle’

Netflix has released the official trailer for Gareth Evans’ new film, Apostle. Set in 1905, Apostle tells the story of a prodigal son named Thomas Richardson (Legion’s Dan Stevens) who attempts to save his sister from a religious cult on a nearby island. Once there, Thomas discovers that sinister truth about the community, and he soon becomes the target of the mysterious-yet-vicious cult leader.

Apostle comes from writer and director Gareth Evans, who is no stranger to messed up darkness. Previously, he’s worked on The Raid franchise, as well as V/H/S/2 and the 2009 action drama Merantu. Evans’ newest drama features guest appearances from Michael Sheen, who plays the charismatic leader Prophet Malcolm, and Sierra Burgess Is a Loser’s Kristine Froseth (in what promises to be a very different role).

The trailer is, for lack of a better word, totally fucking batshit. When Thomas first gets to the island, he tries to blend in among Prophet Malcolm’s followers. But the increasingly erratic behavior of the cult — and Malcolm’s harmful practices — makes it difficult for Thomas to stay quiet. “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly, they are ravening wolves,” he warns one woman. Almost immediately, the trailer cuts to a brutal hanging, a man being branded, a human/thing that looks like a clown, and a Saw-like murder device. Did we mention the Apostle trailer is batshit?

Apostle is not for the faint of heart, so if you’re not into psychological thrillers with a lot of blood, stay away. But if you are into gory horror, check out Evans’ film when it hits Netflix on Friday, October 12.