Exclusive: ‘Wraith,’ a New Horror Film, ‘Will Not Insult Your Values’

Filmmaker Michael O. Sajbel had a unique inspiration for his new film, “Wraith.”

When his 13-year-old daughter and a friend were interested in watching a horror movie one night, he discovered there was little content out there that was not filled with vulgar language, crude content and questionable messages.

So he set out to make the movie he wished he could have offered his daughter as a choice to watch that night. “Wraith” is a horror film that has been described as “life-affirming.”

The film follows the Lukens family as they face a possible haunting in their home while the mother is pregnant.

Though Sajbel likes to stay mum on specific story details, the film is described as a pro-life endeavor. He sees the picture as affirming of his Christian faith.

“My worldview as a director seeps through almost everything I do,” he told LifeZette in an exclusive interview.

Check out the trailer for Sajbel’s film below: 

Sajbel was excited to work in the horror/thriller genre because he saw “a bit of a gap” that modern content wasn’t filling. There were no films between Disney-like content and harder, R-rated movies (not that Disney movies aren’t sometimes darker than they appear at first blush). He set out to fill the void while also making a film that promoted faith.

With pictures on his résumé like “One Night with the King” and “Zamperini: Still Carrying the Torch” — a film about World War II hero and evangelist Louis Zamperini — Sajbel has always been pushing his faith through his work, and he continues to do so with “Wraith.”

However, he also knows as a filmmaker that the most important quality of every movie is its entertainment value.

“Christians should be making films at the highest level of quality to the secular world,” said Sajbel, who resides in Wisconsin. 

No matter the message of the film, “it’s got to be entertaining.” That is the “open portal” to whatever message the filmmaker wants to share. 

To help make his film more cinematic and accessible, Sajbel tried to score a big name to help bring his screenplay to life. He eventually landed veteran actor and artist Lance Henriksen (pictured above), one of Hollywood’s most experienced and diversified actors. The many works Henriksen has starred in include Ridley Scott’s “Alien,” James Cameron’s “The Terminator,” and television’s “Millennium.”

Sajbel admits he was “blessed” to get Henriksen to play Father Ehrlich, a man who decides to help the Luken family by using his faith in God to battle the haunted house’s entity.

Much to Sajbel’s surprise, Henriksen had more personal knowledge of his role than the director originally imagined. At one point, he told Sajbel he had grown up in a Catholic orphanage in New York City.

Sajbel describes his star as a “generous, giving soul” and confirms the actor is “definitely a favorite” wherever they go to promote “Wraith.”

How many other ghost stories put out by Hollywood have positive things to say about faith?

Star power and faith messages aside, Sajbel reaffirms his film is meant, above all, to be a compelling ghost story.

“Everyone’s consuming entertainment,” Sajbel said — which is why he feels it’s so important for Christians to deliver their messages through film.

He has a point. How many other ghost stories put out by Hollywood have positive things to say about faith? Sajbel promises, “It will not insult your values.”

“Wraith” is available on VOD now.

PopZette editor Zachary Leeman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter.