A powerful story of guilt, addiction, and the courage to choose redemption.

Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself.

Film Overview

Title: Spiraling

Writer/Director: Angela Caito

Genre: Faith-Based Drama

Target Audience: Ages 15+, faith-driven viewers, addiction and recovery advocates, indie film lovers

Status: In development with completed proof of concept

Planned Filming Location: Tri-Cities, Tennessee

Projected Release Date: TBD

Logline:

A broken young man haunted by addiction and loss finds hope in the people he least expects including his childhood love, a fiery nurse, and the estranged uncle he thought had given up on him.

Synopsis

Spiraling is a raw, emotional story of Kevin Ashbury, a young man trapped in the devastating grip of addiction and guilt following the tragic death of his family. As he spirals out of control, Kevin’s path toward redemption begins when he reconnects with Stacy, a childhood love who never stopped believing in him, and Nurse Wilma, a spunky yet compassionate caregiver who reminds him of his worth. Along the way, Kevin must also confront the broken relationship with his Uncle Stanley, a man hardened by his own grief but still clinging to hope for Kevin’s recovery. Set in the foothills of Tennessee, the film explores faith, forgiveness, and the powerful choice to begin again.

Proof of Concept

Watch a scene from the Spiraling proof of concept shot in Bristol, TN:

Note: This proof-of-concept was produced to help convey the film’s visual style, tone, and dramatic stakes. As development progresses, the cast has evolved to include additional talent better suited for the full production.

Spiraling Short Promo Video Featuring Actor Justus Dahlinger

This short promotional teaser introduces the actor now cast as Kevin. While the video includes no dialogue, it conveys the emotion, energy, and presence he brings to the role.

Together, these videos offer a glimpse into Spiraling’s past and future including its emotional core and the strength of its new lead.

Director’s Statement

I’m often asked what inspired me to write Spiraling. The answer is simple and complicated at the same time. Addiction touches nearly every family in some way, and while Spiraling is a completely fictional story, it is rooted in emotional truths that are very real.

In 2014, I witnessed someone I loved lose a battle with addiction, grief, and unhealed trauma. Loving him meant setting painful boundaries while still holding onto hope that he would choose recovery. From a distance, I saw how easily addiction can hide behind talent, charm, and a convincing smile, and how difficult it is for others to recognize the truth until it’s too late. That experience is not the story of Spiraling, but it deeply shaped my understanding of how quickly life can unravel when pain goes untreated.

What stayed with me most were the questions. How does someone reach a breaking point where escape feels easier than healing? What happens when guilt and grief are allowed to spiral instead of being faced? And what does redemption look like when someone believes they are beyond saving? Spiraling was born from those questions, not from any one person or real-life event.

This film is not a retelling of anyone’s life. It is a fictional narrative created to explore addiction, faith, and the possibility of redemption. If the story feels real, it’s because the emotions are. And if it resonates, my hope is that it reminds people that asking for help is not weakness, that pain does not define who we are, and that as long as we are here, it is never too late to choose a different path.

~ Angela Caito ~

About Angela Caito

Angela Caito is an American screenwriter, film producer, author, and content writer based in Johnson City, Tennessee. Her storytelling career began at age thirteen when she received a Smith Corona typewriter and started writing short plays for neighborhood children to perform. What began as childhood imagination evolved into a lifelong passion for writing stories that inspire, challenge, and move audiences.

Caito’s creative journey has included theater and film, with her early work featured at the Savannah Theatre and Gainesville Repertory Theatre. She also gained valuable on-set experience with films including Something to Talk About and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, both shot in the South.

As a production coordinator and co-founder of 3 City Production Coordination, she’s worked with the Discovery Channel and Netflix. In 2024, she launched Spiraling Film Productions LLC, producing the promo for Spiraling, a faith-driven story of addiction and redemption.

Caito also owns Writing Mind, a writing and content strategy business established in 1991. Her work continues to blend heart, honesty, and human connection.

Angela Caito- Director’s Vision

Spiraling is a character-driven drama designed for audiences seeking emotionally honest stories with purpose. The film approaches addiction through a human lens, focusing on the internal cost of avoidance, grief, and guilt rather than shock value or spectacle. By grounding the story in realism and restraint, the film invites empathy without sensationalism, making it accessible to both faith-leaning and general audiences.

Visually, the film maintains a contained, intimate aesthetic that supports performance and story while remaining production efficient. The camera stays close, emphasizing authenticity and emotional connection, allowing viewers to experience the protagonist’s internal struggle rather than simply observe it. The tone is serious but not hopeless, confronting darkness while intentionally leaving room for redemption.

From a market perspective, Spiraling is positioned for festivals, limited theatrical runs, and streaming platforms that value socially relevant, character-focused narratives. The film speaks to audiences impacted by addiction, recovery communities, faith-based viewers, and general drama audiences who connect with stories about second chances and personal reckoning. Its themes are universal, timely, and resonant across demographics.

At its core, Spiraling offers something increasingly sought after in today’s market, and that is a grounded, emotionally compelling story with meaning. It is not a message film, but it is a film with something to say. This is a film that treats its subject matter with respect, trusts the audience, and leaves them with the understanding that healing is possible, even when the path forward feels uncertain.

Why This Film, Why Now

Addiction continues to impact families across every demographic, with opioid-related deaths and substance-use disorders remaining a national crisis. Yet many portrayals of addiction either sensationalize the struggle or reduce it to statistics, leaving little room for empathy, accountability, or hope. Spiraling enters the conversation with a grounded, character-driven approach that reflects the emotional reality behind the numbers.

Audiences are increasingly drawn to intimate, socially relevant films that explore real human stakes. Character-focused dramas with authenticity and purpose are finding renewed visibility through festivals, limited theatrical releases, and streaming platforms seeking meaningful content that resonates beyond entertainment. Spiraling aligns with this shift by offering a story that is timely, relatable, and emotionally honest.

This film speaks directly to a broad audience that includes those affected by addiction, recovery communities, faith-leaning viewers, and general drama audiences searching for stories about redemption and second chances. In a moment when conversations around mental health, grief, and accountability are more open than ever, Spiraling offers a narrative that meets audiences where they are and leaves them with something to hold onto.

Meet Our Team

Actors

Production Company:

Production Notes

• Filming in Northeast Tennessee
• Most of our crew is based in TN; We do have producers based in Seattle, Los Angeles, and West Virginia.
• Cast includes Tennessee cast as well as cast from Los Angeles, Seattle, and other out-of-state talent
• Proof of concept filmed in Bristol, TN and Bristol, VA
• Genre-appropriate tone: emotional realism, redemptive arc
• Audience: Faith-based, indie film lovers, recovery communities

Themes and Impact

• Addiction and Recovery
• Faith and Forgiveness
• Second Chances
• Community Healing
• Mental Health Awareness

Why It Matters in Tennessee

• 100% filmed in-state, featuring Tennessee-based crew and a mix of local and out-of-state talent, including professionals from Los Angeles and other regions
• Explores urgent issues affecting Appalachian and Southern communities
• Brings jobs, local revenue, and film industry visibility to the Tri-Cities

Contact Info

Angela Caito Writer/Director, Spiraling Phone: (423) 213-8591

Email: angela@spiralingmovie.com Website: https://spiralingmovie.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spiralingmovie

Legal Disclaimer

All cast and crew listings in this press kit reflect the current development status of Spiraling. Any individual noted as “confirmed” has provided written statements of interest or has signed preliminary agreements. Individuals listed as “in negotiations” or “in discussion” have not yet signed contracts, and their involvement is not guaranteed. No names, likenesses, or contributions are used in paid advertisements without full consent.