New Christianity
Genre: Horror/Drama
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Writer: Alex Conn
Cast: Noah Jupe, Finn Wolfhard, Olivia Rodrigo, Brooklynn Prince, Madison Hu, David Cross, Cheryl Hines, JB Smoove, Jason Alexander
Plot: Caleb (Noah Jupe) first notices James (Finn Wolfhard) during a quiet lunch period in the cafeteria. James is tall, gaunt, and pale, with piercing blue eyes that seem to see into people’s souls. He sits alone, scribbling in a leather-bound notebook. When a teacher (Jason Alexander)asks James to introduce himself in history class, he speaks with unsettling conviction: “God has spoken to me. He has sent me to lead you to the truth.”
At first, Caleb and his best friend, Mia (Olivia Rodrigo) dismiss James’s claims as a ploy for attention. But within days, students begin to gravitate toward him. James performs what some believe are small miracles: he seems to predict pop quizzes, a fire alarm goes off moments after he warns of “impending danger,” and a classmate claims James cured her chronic migraines by placing a hand on her forehead. Whispers about James being a prophet spread through the school.
James begins hosting gatherings in the school auditorium after hours, calling them “sermons.” His message is radical: the current interpretation of Christianity, he says, has been corrupted. He introduces New Christianity, a “pure and modernized faith.” His teachings emphasize personal sacrifice, unquestioning loyalty, and the idea that he is God’s chosen messenger. Students who attend his sermons become zealously devoted, adopting James’s strict guidelines for behavior, dress, and speech. They cut ties with those who refuse to join, referring to outsiders as “Unclean.”
Caleb reluctantly attends one of James’s sermons at Mia’s insistence. The gathering is dimly lit, with James standing under a single spotlight. His voice is hypnotic as he speaks of divine visions, the sins of modern society, and a coming reckoning. Caleb notices how the audience seems entranced, nodding along and even weeping. A girl named Hannah (Madison Hu) steps forward, offering her smartphone as a “sacrifice” to prove her devotion. James accepts it, smashing the device with a hammer and declaring her “purified.”
Afterward, Caleb tells Mia he finds James’s teachings unsettling, but Mia brushes him off, claiming James gives people hope. Over the next few weeks, more students join New Christianity. The group’s presence becomes visible: members wear wooden necklaces carved into a symbol James created, stop participating in extracurricular activities, and spend their free time with James, reciting prayers or chanting verses he’s written.
Caleb grows increasingly alienated as even Mia starts pulling away. She encourages him to “open his heart” to James’s teachings. Meanwhile, parents and teachers express concern, but James deflects criticism with charm and biblical references. The principal (JB Smoove), fearing backlash, refuses to intervene, saying James has the right to practice his beliefs.
Caleb begins noticing disturbing changes in the New Christianity members. They become secretive and aggressive, speaking in cryptic phrases about “purification” and “ascending to the Kingdom.” James starts targeting vulnerable students, those struggling with grief, loneliness, or identity crises, drawing them deeper into his fold.
One night, Caleb overhears his younger sister, Emma (Brooklynn Prince), talking on the phone about joining the group. Panicked, Caleb tries to dissuade her, but she accuses him of being “blinded by sin.” Desperate to understand, Caleb sneaks into another sermon, hiding in the shadows. He witnesses James performing a chilling ritual: a student is made to confess their “sins” before the group. James places his hands on the student’s head, and they collapse, writhing on the floor. The audience cheers, calling it a “rebirth.”
Disturbed, Caleb confronts Mia, but she accuses him of being judgmental. Their argument escalates when Caleb calls James a fraud. Mia slaps him and storms off, leaving Caleb alone and more isolated than ever.
James’s sermons grow darker. He speaks of an impending apocalypse and claims that only his followers will be saved. He begins encouraging extreme acts of devotion, including self-harm and estrangement from non-believing family members. Caleb notices that several students have disappeared from school, their absences dismissed by vague explanations about illness or family emergencies.
Meanwhile, Caleb’s parents (David Cross & Cheryl Hines), like many in town, are skeptical but dismiss the group as a harmless phase. One night, Caleb discovers Emma sneaking out to meet James. He follows her to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, where he finds dozens of students gathered around a bonfire. James stands at the center, wearing a white robe smeared with ash. The group chants in unison, their voices low and haunting.
Caleb’s worst fears are confirmed when James orders a “purging” ritual. A student, trembling with fear, is dragged forward. James accuses them of doubting his teachings and commands the group to “cleanse the impurity.” The scene devolves into chaos as the crowd screams and lunges toward the student. Caleb intervenes, pulling the victim to safety and exposing himself in the process. James locks eyes with Caleb, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
Caleb flees with the victim, who reveals they were planning to leave the group but were caught. The two go to the police, but their story is dismissed as a teenage exaggeration. Frustrated, Caleb decides to expose James himself. He sneaks into the warehouse during the day and finds James’s notebook, filled with ramblings about power, control, and a “final sacrifice.”
That evening, Caleb gathers enough courage to confront James during a sermon. Standing before the crowd, he accuses James of manipulation and brainwashing. For a moment, the room is silent. Then, James begins laughing, a low, menacing sound that sends chills through Caleb.
“You don’t understand, Caleb,” James says, his voice calm but deadly. “This is bigger than you. Bigger than all of us. God speaks through me, and you are standing in the way of His plan.”
The followers, now fully indoctrinated, close in on Caleb. He fights his way out, narrowly escaping the mob. In the chaos, the warehouse catches fire, and James and his followers vanish into the night.
Months later, Caleb tries to return to a normal life, but the scars of what he witnessed remain. The school is quieter, many students still missing. James’s name is never spoken, and the warehouse fire is ruled accidental. Caleb finds solace in writing, documenting the events in hopes of warning others.
One day, Caleb receives a package containing a wooden necklace—the symbol of New Christianity. Attached is a note: “You cannot escape the truth. He will return.”
The camera pans out as Caleb looks over his shoulder, the shadows in his room growing darker.
Fade to black.
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