ASCENT FROM DARKNESS
limited SERIES
JOSH FRANER
MICHAEL LEEHAN / jonni hare
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STARRING
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SYNOPSIS / AFTER TWO DECADES OF SERVING SATAN THROUGH BLOOD RITUALS AND A MURDEROUS ASSIGNMENT, A MAN FACES A CHOICE — REMAIN CONSUMED BY DARKNESS OR RISK EVERYTHING TO BREAK FREE.
THIS IS THE GRIPPING TRUE STORY OF MICHAEL LEEHAN’S ASCENT, NAVIGATING BLURRED LINES BETWEEN THE PSYCHOTIC AND SUPERNATURAL.
The Series
This three-part miniseries explores the complexities of a former Satanist, Michael Leehan, and his unique ability to tap into the supernatural realm for guidance. Michael harnesses these abilities for personal gain but to also uses them to hurt people for over two decades.
As he progressed and obtained more power through blood sacrifices and rituals, he became increasingly detached from society, and his life began to deteriorate rapidly. He begins to question what is real and what is in his mind.
His friends and family realize there is a supernatural battle taking place for his life. Eventually, Michael reaches a breaking point. He has a choice to continue to serve darkness or risk everything to break free and discover true love and light.
At times Michael looks like the villain but as we peel back the layers of who he is, it makes us question our perception of morality. As we dive deeper into his story, it’s revealed that he was abused and nearly drowned as a child by his grandmother, a self-proclaimed witch, who stated that he would serve darkness for the rest of his life.
However, Michael begins using his unique abilities to help others. One of the people whom he helped was Jonni Hare. Jonni’s daughter, Christina, went missing from a Plano, TX parking garage late one night in 2014. Christina captured national news media headlines and amassed a massive search party. Michael was brought on to help solve the case. By tapping into the Spiritual realm, He was able to pinpoint the exact course of events to the very detail and he determines that Christina was murdered.
Despite an upward turn towards the light, Michael slips back into the dark side and takes on a murderous assignment to take out a well-known preacher. Michael plots a course of action on how to take him out. Our story climaxes with Michael bringing a gun into a church sanctuary, ready to pull the trigger. Through a course of supernatural events, he can’t fire the gun and in a twist of fate, the church security staff demonstrate love and forgiveness - the first time that Michael has ever experienced something like this in his life.
This is the supernatural true tale as told by Michael’s friends, foes, and Michael himself.
the satanist next door
Michael Leehan looks normal by all outward appearances, but he’s no ordinary man: he’s elusive, intelligent, multi-layered, and evasive.
On the surface, Micael lives an ordinary life. He’s a successful small business owner in Oklahoma and resides in the suburbs. The type of guy who waves at neighbors in the cul-de-sac as he cleans out the gutters. But at night, Michael ushers in a deeper level of darkness, a more sinister collaboration with evil. Michael quickly gains power and moves up the ranks in evil’s army with commitment, discipline, and drive.
Michael uses this power to start manipulating people: seducing women, leaving satanic bibles in churches, infiltrating bible studies, and plotting to kill his ex-wife’s husband. He ends up in prison where he gains even more power. He has nothing to lose, which allows him a dangerous type of freedom.
eyewitness accounts
Michael's tales of utilizing the supernatural may seem bizarre and far-fetched until they are cross-referenced by eyewitnesses: his friends and family.
Jim Kimbrough recounts Leehan was led to a bible study one night at his house. Jim says that Michael told him that he had active instructions and coordinates like a GPS system, telling him which freeway exits to take and which streets to turn on. Michael knocks on the door and arrives as a stranger to the bible study group. He begins actively targeting people as they are praying. Kimbrough suddenly feels an invisible vice-grip sensation on his forehead as Michael attempts to disrupt the meeting. Later that night as Jim walks Michael outside, Michael leans against his truck and suddenly undulations in his arm surface. Jim describes the bizarre visual as seeing a trapped beetle crawling under Michael's skin.
Ralph Ascerno recounts hearing fifty-mile-per-hour winds in his Las Vegas, Nevada house one night as Michael stays with him. His wife wakes up saying that something has pushed her. Ralph gets up out of bed, looks through the window, and finds the palm trees outside perfectly calm.
a missing person
On August 29, 2014, Christina Morris walked back to her car parked in a Plano, Texas parking garage. It's early in the morning, 3 am, after a night out drinking with friends. A surveillance camera shows Christina walking with a man in black pants and long sleeves. Enrique Arochi leaves the parking garage that night but Christina doesn't.
Christina's mom, Jonni Hare, is frustrated with the slow response of the police. Her daughter can't be found anywhere as time begins to draw out. Through the suggestion of one of her friends, Jonni reluctantly contacts Michael Leehan, a man who "sees things and hears things" much like a psychic.
Although Jonni is skeptical, Leehan asks her to bring an article of Christina's clothing and to meet him in the parking garage where Christiana was last seen. Leehan writes down an eye-raising list of 40 details related to the kidnapping of her daughter. Michael tells her that her daughter has been murdered and all evidence points to Enrique Arochi, who coincidentally has a similar backstory to Leehan. Jonni now is presented with a choice that tests her own beliefs: either trust Michael is telling the truth or write him off as a psychopath.
Am i a BAD PERSON?
In ASCENT FROM DARKNESS, we not only uncover "how" Michael Leehan operated but "why" he did the things he did. The clues he left behind that motivated his intentions.
Is a person bad if all they’ve ever known is bad?
This is the question posed as we journey through the series. A layered reality is revealed as we peel back the onion of Michael’s story and viewers may find their own sense of morality questioned.
TONE AND STYLE
ASCENT FROM DARKNESS will have a stylized lived-in, slightly dated and faded look to it. Not exactly modern, not quite old. Timeless in a way that you can’t quite put your finger on it. Much like “No Country For Old Men” feels faded yet invites intrigue.
“The Imposter” is a reference that balances a nice mix of cinematic interviews that seamlessly fit with integrated dramatic narrative re-enactments.
“Sound of Metal” and the HBO Series “I Know This Much Is True” provide similar faded aesthetics.
The series looks feels cinematic and premium, yet gritty in a way that invites a certain edge because of the characters and substance.
CAUSES AND TOPICS :
EXPLORING INTERSECTIONs OF mental health, IDENTITY, redemption, FORGIVENESS, and spiritual capability.
