The final season ofStranger Thingshas yet to air, but Caleb McLaughlin is already ready to bring audiences a new kind of spooky story. This time it’s a thrilling Audible Original,Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi, which just released today and marks the young but prolific actor’saudio drama debut. Created by Nyasha Hatendi (Casual), the story follows the Wallace family as they travel to a luxury game reserve in Zimbabwe, where spirits demand respect and take revenge when it’s not given.
McLaughlin voices Dashon Wallace, a teen who goes from unwilling to participate in his family vacation to unwittingly desecrating hallowed ground. His careless actions awaken an entity known as the Mbirwi, leading to a clash of supernatural horrors and family trauma that lasts a gripping 3 hours and 48 minutes — all presented in Dolby Atmos surround sound. In addition to McLaughlin,Sacrilegealso boasts the vocal talents of Jessica Mikayla, Christina Elmore, Kevin Carroll, Tapiwa Mutingwende,Mayfair Witches' Tongayi Chirisa, and many more.
ScreenRantis pleased to present an exclusive excerpt fromSacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi, featuring Dashon’s introduction to his “MTV Cribs-type crazy” housing and skepticism regarding “the laws of nature in this part of the world.” Listen to the full clip below:
Sacrilege: Curse Of The Mbirwi Highlights Caleb McLaughlin’s Evolution As A Performer
Leading An Audible Original Is No Ordinary Feat
In the clip above, Dashon is welcomed into his thatched roof room, which he calls a “luxury mud hut.” Despite his amazement at his jungle surroundings, he is less than impressed by his hostess' warning not to interfere with the wild animals. She reminds him and his sister not to ignore the signs (“They are not a joke,” she adds), but he merely laughs it off. Little does he know, his ignorance in that moment will soon have dire consequences…
McLaughlin may have grown (both physically and as an actor) before a global audience across4 seasons ofStranger Things, but his work on the newest Audible Original has allowed him to stretch his acting muscles in new and unprecedented ways. While he has shone as part of an ensemble cast while playing Lucas Sinclair, and has played important roles in movies such asConcrete Cowboy,Sacrilegerepresents his first unmistakable leading role, and he handles it with aplomb.
While the clip above may not showcase the psychological thriller aspect of Hatendi’s story, it perfectly sets the scene for the lessons Dashon must learn. McLaughlin’s supernatural journey inSacrilegeis amplified by the lush sound design, which makes the possessed wildlife and shape-shifting horrors of the Zimbabwean wilderness feel all the more real. These are heady themes thatSacrilege: The Curse of the Mbirwiis dealing with, ranging from African-American identity and the African diaspora to the universal instincts of survival and sacrifice, but the above excerpt proves that humor is just as important to the narrative.
Sacrilege: The Curse of the Mbirwiis now available on Audible:learn more here.
