The film details the journey of Nate, a teenager at a Pennsylvania school, living in the back of his car until he is arrested for a break-in, prompting one of his teachers, Mr. Stan Deen, to bail him out, offer him a roof over his head, and to eventually become his surrogate father.

Nate Deen told the Washington Examiner that he began writing the first draft of the film’s script 11 years ago and worked with Angel Studios to bring his story to life. He described the process of bringing his story to the big screen as an “incredible journey.”

“Brave the Dark is my true story of my life when I was in high school, and then some back story of when I was a young child,” Deen told the Washington Examiner. “And, just really, it’s a story about redemption and hope and, just, we can all be better, and we can get through the hard things, too.”

Deen stated that he was able to see the film’s production process from the very beginning, noting how this is rare in the film industry, and is “thrilled” with how it came out. He added that the film’s director, Damian Harris, aimed to make it “very authentic.” Deen expressed hope that viewers will leave theaters feeling they had seen “the most real film.”

The film stars Nicholas Hamilton as Nate and Jared Harris as Stan Deen, the latter actor also being the director’s brother. In casting the two leads of the film, Nate Deen recalled how he had met with the director of the film while going over the script, prompting Harris to share Deen’s script with his brother, who “fell in love with the character of Stan.” 

Deen also expressed hope that viewers of Brave the Dark are inspired to become “like a Stan Deen in their community” that wants to see others succeed, recalling how his surrogate father was “such an amazing human being” of great character and integrity.

“Also, for the young people who might be struggling out there, to not give up, right?” Deen stated. “Thankfully, I didn’t have to go through it all alone, and that’s what I would encourage them to do: Don’t do it alone. Find someone to talk to, a coach, a teacher, a parent, an uncle, an aunt, somebody that you can share and that you can trust to share what you’re going through.”

Brave the Dark releases in theaters on Jan. 24.

Angel Studios is no stranger to bringing true stories to life, as its biggest film, Sound of Freedom, detailed the true story of Tim Ballard quitting his job at the Department of Homeland Security to rescue children overseas from human trafficking. The film became the biggest surprise hit of 2023, grossing over $184 million in North America and hauling a global total of $250 million.

The studio also recently released Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin., which told the true story of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his opposition to his country and church’s embracement of antisemitism in the 1930s and 1940s. The film opened to roughly $5 million in November and proceeded to gross over $12 million globally.