Chase Infiniti is officially stepping into the horror arena. The rising star has signed on to lead Portrait of God, a supernatural horror-thriller set up at Lionsgate - and if that title alone doesn't get your pulse moving, the premise absolutely will.
Per the announcement, the film centers on a religious young woman who is forced to reckon with her faith after she begins analyzing a provocative painting of God. That's the whole logline, and honestly, it's enough. Art that stares back. Belief put under a microscope. A girl whose entire spiritual foundation might crack because of what she sees on a canvas. Horror has always loved a good crisis of faith, and Portrait of God sounds like it's aiming straight for that sweet spot between psychological dread and full-on supernatural terror.
For those keeping score at home, the project shares its name with a 2022 short film directed by Dylan Clark, which ran a tight seven minutes and starred Sydney Brumfield as Mia Reilly, with Clark himself appearing as the Figure in the painting. That short also featured Juha Kizilbas as Jeremy, along with voice work from Ali Dusinberre, Anthony Misiano, Carina Gouws, John Martin, and Kristina Molina. Now Clark is back in the director's chair as the concept gets the full feature treatment - an origin story that horror fans have watched play out time and time again, from Lights Out to Smile to Hereditary's long shadow over the genre.
Lionsgate picking this up is no small vote of confidence. The studio has been aggressive about courting fresh horror voices and turning buzzworthy shorts into theatrical events, and pairing a filmmaker with a proven micro-budget proof of concept alongside a fast-rising lead is exactly the kind of math that makes executives smile. Chase Infiniti, meanwhile, gets a genuine showcase. Leading a horror film is a rite of passage for a certain tier of young actor right now - it's how you prove you can carry a movie, sell terror with nothing but your face, and pick up a fanbase that will follow you anywhere. If Portrait of God lands, Infiniti doesn't just get a hit. She gets a franchise-friendly calling card.
The timing is also worth noting. Horror remains one of the few reliable genres at the box office, and faith-based horror specifically has carved out a fascinating lane - movies that treat belief sincerely while also weaponizing it for scares. Portrait of God sits right at that intersection. A girl, her religion, and a painting that asks a question she isn't ready to answer. That's fertile ground for a filmmaker who already proved he could make the idea work in miniature. Now he has a bigger canvas. Literally.
Details beyond the core premise are still being kept under wraps - no release date, no supporting cast announcements, no word yet on whether the feature will expand the short's story or reimagine it entirely. But the bones are strong, and Lionsgate clearly sees something worth betting on. A provocative painting of God is the kind of image that lingers in your head long after the credits roll. That's the whole game in horror.
Expect casting news and a production timeline to trickle out over the coming months. For now, consider this your early warning: Portrait of God is coming, and it's bringing a very uncomfortable question with it. What do you do when the thing you believe in looks back at you from the wall?
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
