New Movies: Resurrection Road (2025) by Ashley Cahill: Union Soldiers Face Vampires in the Civil War South
- dailyentertainment95
- Jun 6
- 7 min read
"Resurrection Road" is a unique blend of American Civil War drama, action, and horror, written and directed by Ashley Cahill. The film throws six Black Union soldiers on a perilous mission to destroy a Confederate fort in Arkansas, only for them to discover that the wilderness holds a far more terrifying secret: vampires. Starring Malcolm Goodwin, Triana Browne, and Michael Madsen, the film explores themes of war, race, and survival against the supernatural. It was released to select theaters and on VOD/digital platforms by Saban Films on June 6, 2025.
Summary Short
Ashley Cahill's "Resurrection Road" (2025) is a Civil War action-horror film where an elite squad of six Black Union soldiers, led by the ex-slave Barabbas (Malcolm Goodwin), is sent on a suicide mission to infiltrate a Confederate fort in the Arkansas wilderness. Their objective to destroy long-range guns takes a horrifying turn when they encounter vampires. With the help of an indigenous woman, Tsula (Triana Browne), they fight for survival against both human and supernatural foes. The film was released by Saban Films on June 6, 2025, in select theaters and on VOD/digital.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27000642/
About movie: https://www.sabanfilms.com/
Link to watch: https://athome.fandango.com/content/browse/details/Resurrection-Road/4216164?cmp=rt_leaderboard
Detailed Summary
"Resurrection Road" transports audiences back to the American Civil War in the 19th century, but with a horrifying twist. The film is written and directed by Ashley Cahill, known for his independent features like "First Person: A Film About Love." This project takes a bold step into genre blending, fusing historical drama with action and supernatural horror.
The narrative focuses on an elite squad of six Black Union soldiers, primarily formerly enslaved men, led by Barabbas, nicknamed Skip (Malcolm Goodwin, known from "Reacher" and "iZombie"). Their mission, given by a demanding Union officer, is a "suicide mission": infiltrate a heavily guarded Confederate fort named Fort Defiance, hidden deep in the Arkansas wilderness, bordering Native American territory. Their objective is to destroy the fort's long-range guns, a strategic move to shift the tide of the war.
However, as the soldiers venture deeper into the treacherous woods, they realize that legends of evil spirits are horrifyingly true. They encounter vampires, a sinister secret buried within the heart of the forest that has claimed previous teams sent on the same mission. As their numbers dwindle in brutal encounters, the group receives unexpected help from Tsula (Triana Browne), an indigenous woman. Tsula volunteers to assist them, offering her expertise in navigating the perilous land and her knowledge of supernatural lore, particularly the Wyandot accounts of vampire infection.
The film aims to deliver a powerful blend of gritty action and historical horror, exploring not just the brutality of human warfare but also the terrifying unknown. It also attempts to delve into the dynamics within the squad, though some early reviews suggest this aspect could have been more developed. Michael Madsen ("Reservoir Dogs") also features in the cast as the Confederate guerrilla leader Quantrill, who gets "looped" into the supernatural storyline.
"Resurrection Road" was released by Saban Films to select theaters and on VOD/digital platforms on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Plot Summary
The Mission: Six Black Union soldiers, led by Barabbas, are sent on a seemingly suicidal mission to infiltrate Confederate Fort Defiance in the Arkansas wilderness to destroy its guns.
Supernatural Encounter: As they navigate the treacherous woods, they discover that the area is infested with vampires, a dark secret previously unknown to the Union.
Unexpected Alliance: As the squad faces heavy losses, they are aided by Tsula, an indigenous woman who possesses knowledge of the land and supernatural lore.
Fight for Survival: The soldiers must battle both the Confederate forces and the relentless vampires, using their military training and Tsula's unique insights.
Confronting the Fort: Their journey culminates in a brutal confrontation at Fort Defiance, where they aim to complete their mission and survive the supernatural threat.
Themes: The story weaves together themes of war, race, sacrifice, and survival against overwhelming odds, both human and monstrous.
Director's Vision
Ashley Cahill's vision for "Resurrection Road" was to create a genre-bending historical horror film that injects a terrifying supernatural element into the brutal backdrop of the American Civil War.
Historical Horror Hybrid: Cahill aims to combine the harsh realities of the Civil War, particularly from the perspective of Black Union soldiers, with the visceral fear of a creature feature.
Untapped Potential of the Era: By setting a vampire horror story during the Civil War, Cahill taps into a unique historical period often explored for drama but rarely for outright supernatural horror.
Exploration of Otherness: The film naturally lends itself to themes of "monsters" – both human (Confederates) and supernatural (vampires) – and the fight against oppressive forces.
Gritty Action: The inclusion of "gritty action" suggests a focus on realistic combat alongside the horror elements.
Racial Context: Placing formerly enslaved Black soldiers at the forefront of this fight against both human and supernatural evil adds a layer of commentary on their struggle for freedom and recognition.
Themes
"Resurrection Road" explores several intertwined themes:
Racial Justice & Emancipation: The film highlights the fight of Black Union soldiers, particularly ex-slaves, against their oppressors, amplifying their agency in a historical context.
The Horrors of War: Beyond the supernatural, the film depicts the brutal realities of the Civil War.
Supernatural Evil: The introduction of vampires adds a layer of literal monstrous evil, complementing the historical villainy.
Survival and Resilience: The core struggle of the soldiers is to survive against overwhelming human and supernatural odds.
Interracial/Intercultural Alliance: The unexpected alliance with an indigenous woman, Tsula, highlights cooperation across racial lines against common threats.
Redemption & Purpose: For Barabbas and his men, the mission represents a fight for their own freedom and a greater purpose in the war.
Key Success Factors
"Resurrection Road" is positioned to appeal to niche audiences due to:
Unique Genre Blend: The Civil War horror premise is distinct and can attract fans of both historical fiction and horror.
Diverse Cast & Perspective: Focusing on Black Union soldiers offers a fresh and impactful perspective within Civil War narratives, particularly in the horror genre.
Known Cast Members: Malcolm Goodwin, Jeff Daniel Phillips, and Michael Madsen provide recognizable faces for genre enthusiasts.
Saban Films Distribution: Saban Films is a known distributor for independent and genre films, ensuring a defined release strategy.
Timely Release: A June 6, 2025, release makes it a fresh offering for audiences seeking new horror or action films.
Awards and Nominations
Winner Los Angeles Horror Film Festival Award, 2024
Production Companies
SOne Dollar Studios
Sales Companies
Scatena & Rosner Films
Distribution Companies
Saban Films (United States theatrical and VOD/digital)
Release date on streaming
"Resurrection Road" was released on digital platforms (VOD/On Demand) on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Theatrical Release
"Resurrection Road" had a limited theatrical release in select major markets on Friday, June 6, 2025, simultaneously with its digital/VOD release.
Why to recommend this movie
Unique Concept: The premise of Black Union soldiers fighting vampires in the Civil War is fresh and intriguing.
Genre Blend: Appeals to fans of both historical dramas, action, and horror.
Focus on Black History: Offers a different perspective on the Civil War, centered on the experiences of formerly enslaved soldiers.
Indie Horror/Action: For those who enjoy independent genre films with ambitious ideas.
Why to Watch Movie
If you like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" style genre mash-ups: This offers a similar historical-horror blend.
For fans of Civil War-era stories with a twist: It's not a straightforward historical drama.
If you enjoy vampire lore with new rules: The film reportedly introduces a unique facet to vampire mythology.
To support independent filmmakers: Ashley Cahill's vision is a bold one.
What Movie Trend film is following
"Resurrection Road" follows the trend of "Historical Revisionist Horror" or "Period Horror with a Twist."
Definition: This trend takes established historical periods or well-known narratives and injects supernatural, fantastical, or horror elements, often subverting expectations or adding a dark commentary on the historical context. It allows for creative freedom while leveraging the inherent drama or brutality of the past.
How "Resurrection Road" Fits: It takes the American Civil War and introduces vampires, using the historical setting (and its inherent violence and racial dynamics) as a backdrop for a creature feature. This approach can be seen in other films that blend history with horror (e.g., "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter").
What Big Social Trend is following
The film implicitly aligns with the social trend of "Re-examining Historical Narratives through Marginalized Perspectives," particularly concerning African American history.
Definition of the Trend: There's a growing movement to tell historical stories from the viewpoints of groups traditionally underrepresented or marginalized in mainstream historical accounts (e.g., Black Americans, indigenous peoples, women). This often involves giving agency and a voice to those who were historically oppressed, and sometimes, creatively, reimagining their struggles with genre elements.
How "Resurrection Road" Connects:
Focus on Black Union Soldiers: The film centers on formerly enslaved Black soldiers, giving them heroic and active roles in a period often dominated by white narratives.
Fight Against "Monsters": By having them fight both Confederates (representing oppressive human evil) and literal vampires (supernatural evil), the film metaphorically and literally positions them against overwhelming forces of injustice.
Indigenous Alliance: The inclusion of Tsula, an indigenous woman, further highlights the film's attempt to bring marginalized voices into the narrative, creating a coalition against shared threats.
Final Conclusions
"Resurrection Road" by Ashley Cahill is an ambitious and audacious entry into the Civil War horror subgenre. Released on June 6, 2025, by Saban Films, it dares to combine the brutal historical realities of the American Civil War, specifically the fight of Black Union soldiers, with the terrifying mythology of vampires. While early reviews indicate some challenges in execution, the film's unique premise, its focus on diverse historical perspectives, and its blend of action, drama, and horror make it a noteworthy watch for genre fans. It's a bold attempt to deliver both historical context and supernatural thrills, offering a fresh, albeit potentially flawed, take on the horror genre.
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