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Today, Prime Video announced a major development in the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series. The streamer revealed through Deadline that none other than '90s heartthrob James Van Der Beek has joined the cast in a recurring role. The Dawson's Creek and Apartment 23 star will share the screen with the new Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree), but at this point we don't know in how many episodes he will participate. A release date for Elle is yet to be announced.

Per Deadline, Van Der Beek will play the city’s new mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent, Dean Wilson. Since the new series covers Elle Woods' high school years, this may suggest that Dean Wilson and the young girl will go head-to-head on different occasions. In the movie series, Elle became known for not catering to people in positions of power, so the series might show how the future lawyer developed her backbone.

James Van Der Beek is set to recur in Elle, the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series for Prime Video that stars Lexi Minetree in the title role.

The Dawson’s Creek star will recur as the city’s new mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent Dean Wilson.

Created by Laura Kittrell, Elle follows Elle Woods in high school as viewers learn about the life experiences that shaped her. The series is set years before the events in the first movie, which kicked off as Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) graduated from college and headed to Harvard Law to pursue a legal career.

Previously announced castmembers include June Diane Raphael (Elle’s mom Eva), and Tom Everett Scott (Elle’s dad Wyatt), Gabrielle Policano (Liz), Jacob Moskovitz (Miles), Chandler Kinney (Kimberly), and Zac Looker (Dustin), and recurring roles Jessica Belkin (Madison), Logan Shroyer (Josh), Amy Pietz (Donna), Matt Ober...

James Van Der Beek has joined the “Legally Blonde” prequel series at Amazon Prime Video, Variety has learned.

Van Der Beek will appear in a recurring guest star role in the series, which is titled “Elle.” As previously announced, Lexi Minetree will star as Elle Woods during her high school years. The cast also includes series regulars June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Gabrielle Policano, Jacob Moskovitz, Chandler Kinney, and Zac Looker. Recurring cast members are Jessica Belkin, Logan Shroyer, Amy Pietz, Matt Ober, Chloe Wepper, David Burtka, Brad Harde, Kayla Maisonet, and Lisa Yamada.

Van Der Beek will play Dean Wilson, described as “the city’s new Mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent.”

Van Der Beek is no stranger to the world of high school drama, given his breakout roles in the hit WB series “Dawson’s Creek” as well as the beloved high school football film “Varsity Blues.

Elle Woods is heading back to school, and you bet she’s bringing all the sass and glam with her. Fans of the Legally Blonde films will soon be introduced to a younger version of the iconic, pink-loving, quick-witted lawyer in the upcoming prequel series, Elle. The series, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon, who originally brought the character to life in the 2001 romantic comedy classic, now has an official release window. Elle is set to debut this summer, as announced during Prime Video’s upfront presentation in New York City. The news was later confirmed by Witherspoon herself, who took to Instagram to share a first-look image of Lexi Minetree as the young Elle.

"I'm so thrilled to introduce Lexi Minetree as Elle Woods," began the caption on Witherspoon's post. "✨The new star of our TV show Elle! ✨She is stepping into these pink shoes with so much grace, ambition,...

Get ready to bend and snap because Prime Video has officially announced a Summer 2026 release window for its upcoming Legally Blondeprequel series Elle, which stars Lexi Minetree as the teenage version of Reese Witherspoon's Elle Woods, long before she became a Harvard law student to win back her ex-boyfriend. The announcement was made during Prime Video's upfront presentation at New York's Beacon Theatre, an event that saw Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis have a surprise True Liesreunion.

Witherspoon shared a post online to coincide with the release announcement for Prime Video's Elle. The Legally Blonde actress posted a photo on Instagram (seen below), offering a further glimpse of Minetree in the show's titular role following a first-look tease in April. "I'm so thrilled to introduce Lexi Minetree as Elle Woods. The new star of our TV show Elle!" Witherspoon excitedly wrote in the caption, adding, "She is stepping...

Elle, Prime Video‘s upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series, starring Lexi Minetree in the titular role, will launch this summer on the streamer. The premiere window was revealed today during Prime Video’s upfront presentation in New York City.

The series hails from the film franchise’s star Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine banner, part of Candle Media.

Created by Laura Kittrell, Elle follows Elle Woods (Minetree) in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first Legally Blonde film. The series is set years before the events in the first movie, which kicked off as Elle Woods (Witherspoon) graduated from college and headed to Harvard Law to pursue a legal career.

June Diane Raphael (Elle’s mom Eva), and Tom Everett Scott (Elle’s dad Wyatt), Gabrielle Policano...

Great news! Amazon Prime Video's Elle, the Legally Blonde prequel series, started production on April 2, with a the cast spotted filming a scene in Beverly Hills on May 1. There's finally exciting updates to share for the highly anticipated series from Reese Witherspoon.

The coming-of-age series was filming Elle and her high school friends as they walked down Rodeo Drive. A short clip was posted on Spill Sesh TikTok the following day. On May 9, Variety reported that the series had cast five new actors to join the Woods family and high school student casting.

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Elle drops an exciting filming update

The Elle production was spotted filming on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills on May 1. This was the viewers' first glimpse of Elle Woods and her three best friends Madison, Tiffany, and Amber. The behind-the-scenes photo that E! News published...

Amazon Prime Video’s “Legally Blonde” prequel series has added five recurring guest stars, Variety has learned.

Chloe Wepper, David Burtka, Brad Harder, Kayla Maisonet, and Lisa Yamada have all joined the upcoming prequel.

As previously announced, the show will follow Elle Woods during her high school years. Lexi Minetree stars as Elle. Additional cast members include: June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Gabrielle Policano, Jacob Moskovitz, Chandler Kinney, Zac Looker, Jessica Belkin, Logan Shroyer, and Amy Pietz.

Wepper has been cast as Elle’s chemistry teacher and high school cheer team choreographer Ms. Burke. Burtka has been cast as Elle’s neighbor, Chad, while Harder has been cast as Chad’s husband, Charlie. Maisonet and Yamada will play Tiffany and Amber respectively, friends in Elle’s Bel Aire high school circle.

Wepper is repped by Ope Partners. Burtka is repped by Innovative Artists. Harder is repped by Play Management Inc.

Lisa Yamada (The Bold and the Beautiful), Chloe Wepper (The Rookie), David Burtka (How I Met Your Mother), Brad Harder (Supernatural) and Kayla Maisonet (The Rookie) are set for key recurring roles in Elle, Prime Video’s upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series, starring Lexi Minetree as Elle. The series hails from the film franchise’s star Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine banner, part of Candle Media.

Created by Laura Kittrell, Elle follows Elle Woods (Minetree) in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first Legally Blonde film. The series is set years before the events in the first movie, which kicked off as Elle Woods (Witherspoon) graduated from college and headed to Harvard Law to pursue a legal career.

Wepper portrays Ms. Burke, Elle’s chemistry teacher and...

The new Elle Woods is out and about in new set images from the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series. Lexi Minetree, who was handpicked by original star Reese Witherspoon to portray the younger version of the character, is clad head-to-toe in pink in the new images, which come via Backgrid. The prequel series, Elle, is set to stream on Prime Video. The images portray the high-school-aged Woods on a shopping trip with a group of friends, all wearing distinctly 1990s fashions. That's in keeping with the series' timeframe, which will depict the high school years of Woods before the events of the 2001 movie, which saw her head off to law school and prove to be surprisingly adept at jurisprudence.

The film subsequently spawned one theatrical sequel, a failed TV pilot, and a Broadway musical. The role launched Witherspoon to superstardom, and remains one of her most iconic roles. In the images,...

Exclusive: Amy Pietz is joining the upcoming Prime Video series Elle, which is in production. In a series regular role, Pietz will play Donna, the no-nonsense high school secretary.

She joins the previously announced cast of Lexi Minetree as Elle; June Diane Raphael as Elle’s mom, Eva; Tom Everett Scott as Elle’s dad, Wyatt; Gabrielle Policano as Liz; Jacob Moskovitz as Miles; Chandler Kinney as Kimberly; Zac Looker as Dustin; Jessica Belkin as Madison; and Logan Shroyer as Josh.

From creator Laura Kittrell, the series follows Elle Woods in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman in the first Legally Blonde film.

Showrunners Kittrell and Caroline Dries executive produce with Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter of Hello Sunshine and the film’s producer Marc Platt. Jason Moore is directing the first two episodes.

Cch Pounder is the latest familiar face making plans to visit Cape Fear: The NCIS: New Orleans veteran has joined the cast of Apple TV+’s upcoming adaptation, our sister site Variety reports. Details on her role have not been released.

Javier Bardem, Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson are already set to star in the 10-episode series. “In Cape Fear, a storm is coming for happily married attorneys Anna (Adams) and Tom Bowden (Wilson) when Max Cady (Bardem), a notorious killer from their past, gets out of prison,” according to the official synopsis.

More from TVLineCasting News: Chi McBride...

Exclusive: Zac Looker (Geek Girl), Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story: Hotel) and Logan Shroyer (This is Us) have been cast in Prime Video‘s Legally Blonde prequel series Elle.

They join the previously announced cast: Lexi Minetree, who plays Elle; June Diane Raphael as Elle’s mom, Eva; Tom Everett Scott as Elle’s dad, Wyatt; Gabrielle Policano as Liz; Jacob Moskovitz as Miles; and Chandler Kinney as Kimberly.

From creator Laura Kittrell, the series follows Elle Woods in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman in the first Legally Blonde film.

In a series regular role, Looker has been cast as Dustin, Elle’s classmate and sparring partner who cares about social justice and isn’t afraid to challenge authority.

In recurring roles, Belkin has been cast as Elle’s best friend, Madison, and Shroyer as Madison’s cousin and Elle’s crush,...

If you're a horror fan, Shudder is your best friend. It's where I've discovered small films that I had never heard of and would never have seen without finding them on the streaming service. Such was the case with Last Straw, written by Taylor Sardoni and directed by Alan Scott Neal. As a slasher junkie, any movie that involves the synopsis of a killer in a mask attacking a final girl has me hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed Last Straw, from its cinematography and music to its intriguing twist, but what stuck out the most was the portrayal of its final girl. Most slashers follow a very traditional paint-by-numbers approach, and their heroine isn't any different, but Last Straw's Nancy Osborne (Jessica Belkin) isn't your normal final girl. In fact, it's her tough personality that causes the reign of terror that the movie chronicles.

Casting director Alan Scott Neal makes his feature-length debut with “Last Straw (2024),” a chilling slasher that is too high on its own supply. So much so that despite clear signs of brilliance simmering down the surface, you get a distant, often flat-out uninteresting genre exercise that doesn’t know what to do with its gore-filled premise. The result is a disappointing thriller that is too eager to please but never knows what buttons to push and when to move them.

The story follows Nancy (Jessica Belkin), a young, pretty girl who finds out that she is pregnant. From the offset, we are introduced to her as someone who doesn’t care what her life is all about or what she is going to do with the baby that is now growing in her belly. She casually talks about the pregnancy to her best friend Tabitha (Tara Raani), discussing who could possibly be the father.

It may be December, but luckily there’s far more than holiday horror arriving on streaming this month. In addition to a plethora of repertory titles being added across your favorite platforms, December brings a solid number of new release titles that’ll get you caught up on some 2024 horror, from huge theatrical releases to indie gems.

Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in December 2024 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – Max (12/6)

Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice in Warner Bros. Pictures’ comedy, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

The sequel to Tim Burton‘s 1988 cult favorite reunites three generations of Deetz women for another voyage into the Neitherworld the Ghost with the Most. “Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of...

The diner in Hollywood movies has been repeatedly used in a number of ways, although the truth is that, usually, some sort of crime is associated with the particular setting. Alan Scott Neal tries his hand with a crime horror/thriller in “Last Straw”, a film that premiered in Sitges before screening in a number of genre festivals.

Nancy Osborne is a girl in trouble. She is pregnant, although she is not sure who is the father, while her father, completely ignorant of the fact, pressures her to be more responsible now that she has made her manager in the diner he runs. Furthermore, and a bit before the night she is supposed to handle the late shift, a group of troublesome outsiders come to the establishment and start causing trouble, forcing her to pretend she is calling the police. As such, when one of the employees, Jake, starts to...

AllSaints debuted their fragrance collection for a host of celebrities at their Beverly Hills store on Thursday evening (October 3) in Los Angeles.

Notable guests sipped on delicious non-alcoholic Caliwater cactus water all night and included Oliver Trevena (Paradox Effect), Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This), Laysla De Oliveira (Lioness), Austin North (Outer Banks), Chantel Jeffries, Harry Goodwins (The Gentleman), Adelaide Kane (Grey’s Anatomy), Kayla Ewell (Vampire Diaries), Marta Pozzan, Sterling Beaumon, Harry Jowsey (Perfect Match), Jonathan Keltz, Tanner Novlan, Jesse Metcalfe, Andrew Matarazzo, Hayley Law, Claudia Lee, Mia Challis (Outer Banks), Jessica Belkin, Gabriel Chung (May December), Lisa Yamada (Little Fires Everywhere), Joey Graceffa, The Influence’s Ali Lasky, and many more.

The AllSaints fragrances include three unisex scents – Shoreditch Leather, Ravaged Rose and Sunset Riot.

Keep reading to find out about the scents…

Shoreditch Leather

Primal, Sensual, Leather

Inspired by the beauty of an AllSAints leather jacket, we created a...

★★★★

‘Shocking action’

Starburst

★★★★

‘An enticing feature debut’

The Hollywood News

‘Effective home invasion horror’

Dread Central

Last Straw is a raw and relentless home invasion thriller starring Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story), Jeremy Sisto and Taylor Kowalski (Snowfall).

Set over one night in a dusty roadside diner, Last Straw follows Nancy (Belkin), a young waitress working alone on the late shift. As a series of chaotic events spiral out of control, Nancy finds herself in a fight for her life when she is terrorised by a group of masked assailants. No one is who they appear to be, and with nowhere to turn, she must do everything she can to survive the night.

Last Straw has played at genre film festivals around the world including Beyond Fest, Sitges and FrightFest Glasgow, and marks the directorial debut of Alan Scott Neal with a script by Taylor Sardoni.

Last Straw is out...

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Jessica Belkin (Pretty Little Liars) plays a small-town gal on the edge in Last Straw, filmmaker Alan Scott Neals edgy debut horror thriller. Expect plenty of blood and several jaw-dropping twists as Belkins desperate character, Nancy, hangs on for dear life after a group of masked assailants make a surprise visit while shes working the night shift at a rural diner. But Belkin welcomes gritty film and TV roles in stories filled with jump scares and psychological pivots. In a recent MovieWeb interview, the actress shared her love of horror thrillers, noting:

I was a blood-sucking vampire, Wren, on American Horror Story: Hotel. I always had a thing for horror growing up. I was the weird kid that would be like, I love horror. It was a full-circle transition back into horror [with Last Straw]. I remember feeling like this was my first...

"I'm all alone here!" Shout Studios has revealed an official trailer for an indie horror thriller film titled Last Straw, marking the feature directorial debut of up-and-coming filmmaker Alan Scott Neal. The film first premiered at the 2023 Sitges Film Festival in Spain last year, and it also played at both the Paris & Brussels Fantastic Film Festivals - now set for an official VOD release in the US coming up later this week. A young waitress working the overnight shift alone at a rural, roadside diner finds herself in a fight for her life when she’s terrorized by a group of masked assailants. With no one to turn to, she will do everything she can to survive the night, even if it means striking back. This stars Jessica Belkin as Nancy, Taylor Kowalski, Jeremy Sisto, Tara Raani, and Joji Otani-Hansen. Yet another of these a-young-woman-fights-back horror films, where she snaps...

Ahead of its theatrical and digital release on September 20th, we have an exclusive preview of Last Straw just for Daily Dead readers that you can watch right now!

"Get the thrill of your life as the small-town siege horror, Last Straw, hits select theaters and digital on September 20, 2024 from Shout! Studios. Bringing the night shift to a tension-filled breaking point, this sleepy diner-set horror marks the directorial debut from Alan Scott Neal stars Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story: Hotel), Taylor Kowalski (Snowfall) and Jeremy Sisto, with a script by Taylor Sardoni and original score provided by Alan Palomo (Neon Indian).

A young waitress working the overnight shift alone at a rural, roadside diner finds herself in a fight for her life when she’s terrorized by a group of masked assailants. With no one to turn to, she will do everything she can to survive the night, even if it means striking back.

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Jessica Belkin gives an unforgettable performance as a diner employee trapped in her restaurant as it undergoes an attack from vicious men in the night. Everything isn't as it seems, though, and Belkin spoke with MovieWeb's Greg Archer about the twists, turns, and thrillers of her new movie, which is out Sep. 20, 2024, from Shout! Studios.

Her shift alone at a remote diner late one night, a waitress finds herself the target of a group of dangerous intruders in Last Straw, the suspenseful debut feature from director Alan Scott Neal. Starring Jessica Belkin as Nancy, a young woman juggling motherhood, a job she’s come to dislike, and a volatile coworker, Last Straw packs an unsettling punch despite its modest budget.

The story follows Nancy through one very long night at the diner she manages. With most of the staff called out and just one cook left to help, her decision to send the aggressive Jake home sets in motion a chain of events that leaves her isolated and vulnerable.

When masked assailants turn up seeking mayhem, it’s up to Nancy and her wits to endure the ordeal. Running just over 80 taut minutes, Neal skillfully sustains tension as darkness falls and Nancy’s terror rises.

This debut feature from Alan Scott Neal shows plenty of promise, with its classic setup and innovative midpoint switcharound

The first half of this 80-minute roadside diner siege horror plays out almost like a section of an anthology film, calling to mind the nasty little slasher The Gas Station in John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper’s Body Bags project. The opening 40 minutes or so mostly sticks with the same location, and the focus is initially on one character: newly pregnant waitress Nancy (Jessica Belkin), whose dad (Jeremy Sisto) owns a modest diner in the middle of nowhere, and who has put her in charge of that evening’s imminent night shift. It’s not exactly the world’s most enviable nepo baby gig, even if you’re not attempting to suppress mounting waves of nausea, and so Nancy is cranky and in no mood to take any flak from either...

The Last Straw begins with Andrea and Ervin Litkeis achy "You Lied to My Heart" tempting our audial sense. Quick shots of a blood stain on a counter, a bloody arm, and an old yellow phone receiver off the hook follow. What happened? We know its not good. A 911 call tells us: Theres blood everywhere before trailing off. Thats enough of a hook to make us care, then, that were being taken back 24 hours to see how we arrived at this mess in filmmaker Alan Scott Neals impressive debut. Headlined by Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story: Hotel), the inventive thriller tracks Nancy (Belkin), a young waitress whose overnight shift working alone at a rural, roadside diner, quickly turns into the night from hell.

The trouble begins when a group of masked assailants decide to terrorize the joint. Flying solo, Nancy must resort to extreme measures to survive the night. Meaning,...

You can currently catch Gina Gershon in the action comedy film Borderlands. But before she took on that project, she had starred in the 2023 slasher Thanksgiving, which ended up being a box office hit. Now, she's set to star in a new horror movie titled The Designer, so it doesn't look like she is quite done with the horror world just yet.

The Designer is being described as a body horror flick. It comes from American filmmaker Em Johnson, who is writing the script and will also be directing. Johnson is best known for writing and directing the drama film Balloon Animal. Incandescent Entertainment, First Bloom Films, and Hemlock Circle Productions are the production companies behind the new horror film, with Jiarui Guo, Warner Davis, and Katherine Waddell serving as producers.

2020 Sundance Film Festival - "Dinner In America" Premiere | Jerod Harris/GettyImages

Waddell (pictured above) and Johnson had previously worked together on Balloon Animal,...

Exclusive: Gina Gershon (Borderlands), Katherine Waddell (Dinner in America), Ethan Slater (Wicked) and Jesse James Keitel (Queer as Folk) have signed on to star in The Designer, a new body horror feature from writer-director Em Johnson.

The film centers on Gerry (Waddell), whose need for an identity pushes her to join the massive multi-level marketing company, Kismetta, opening her up to a world of chaos that succumbs her to her own delusional reality.

Others in the cast include Michelle Hurd (Star Trek: Picard), Annie Golden (Orange Is the New Black), Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story) and Gwendoline Yeo (Star Wars: The Bad Batch).

Hailing from Incandescent Entertainment, First Bloom Films and Hemlock Circle Productions, the film’s producers are Jiarui Guo (Oh Canada), Warner Davis (The Re-Education of Molly Singer), and Waddell. Yuchuan Cao is serving as co-producer, with WME handling domestic sales.

Currently, Gershon can be seen in Borderlands,...

A night shift in a rural, roadside diner transforms into a harrowing, rage-fueled siege in Last Straw, the feature directorial debut by Alan Scott Neal. A new trailer debuted today, highlighting the intense violence that breaks out.

Shout Studios opens Last Straw in select theaters, VOD, and Digital on September 20, 2024.

In the film, “A young waitress working the overnight shift alone at a rural, roadside diner finds herself in a fight for her life when she’s terrorized by a group of masked assailants. With no one to turn to, she will do everything she can to survive the night, even if it means striking back.”

It stars Jessica Belkin (“American Horror Story”), Jeremy Sisto (“Thirteen”, May, Wrong Turn), and Taylor Kowalski (“Snowfall”), with a script by Taylor Sardoni and original score provided by Alan Palomo (Neon Indian).

“Last Straw is an outlet for revealing what horror awaits when the mask comes off and,...

As the days grow shorter and the air takes on a chill, horror enthusiasts are in for a treat with the upcoming release of Last Straw. This off-kilter take on the home-invasion thriller marks the feature debut of director Alan Scott Neal and stars American Horror Story alum Jessica Belkin. In Last Straw, Belkin portrays Nancy, a young waitress working a lonely late shift at a dusty roadside diner. The film, set to hit select theaters and digital platforms on September 20, promises to be a tension-filled ride from start to finish, and Collider is thrilled to exclusively present the trailer for the movie. Heres what you need to know about this highly anticipated thriller.

Exclusive: Siena Agudong (Resident Evil), Luke Eisner (Tall Girl) and Noah Lomax (The Walking Dead) are among the newest additions to the cast of The Upside of Unrequited, the forthcoming coming-of-age comedy from filmmakers Anna-Elizabeth and Hillary Shakespeare, aka The Shakespeare Sisters.

Other newcomers to the cast include Patrick Luwis (Barbie) and Matthew Sato. As previously announced, Ayvan Williams Jessica Belkin and Savannah Smith will also star.

Based on the book of the same name by New York Times bestselling author Becky Albertalli, The Upside of Unrequited centers on Molly (Williams), an awkward teenager who feels left behind when her twin sister Cassie (Belkin) starts her first relationship with her dream girl Mina (Agudong). In an attempt to get closer to her sister again, Molly lets Cassie set her up with Mina’s best friend Will (Eisner). Molly goes along with it but she’s caught:...

Exclusive: Newcomer Ayvan Williams, Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story) and Savannah Lee Smith (Gossip Girl) are set to lead The Upside of Unrequited, a coming-of-age comedy from Hillary and Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare — aka Shakespeare Sisters — that will go into production this summer.

The Upside of Unrequited adapts the book of the same name by New York Times bestselling author Becky Albertalli, whose first book was adapted into the Fox hit Love, Simon. Belkin and Williams will play 17-year-old fraternal twins Molly and Cassie, who are inseparable but opposites in every way. Molly’s expertise is unrequited love — she’s lived through it 26 times. She crushes hard and often, but always in secret. Meanwhile, Cassie is confident picking up girls. She’s a total player, dashing off to report all the juicy details of her hook-ups to her sister. When the twins’ best friend Olivia gets her first boyfriend and becomes all about the couple,...

The Funeral

Stars: Ahmet Rifat Sungar, Cansu Türedi, Tekin Temel | Directed by Orcun Behram

Cemal, a lonely hearse driver, has been entrusted to secretly transport the body of a murdered young woman, Zeynep, to her parents’ home at their final request. But he hears strange groans from the back of the vehicle during the journey, even though Zeynep hasn’t got a pulse. As her body comes back to life, the moment he sets eyes on her, Cemal falls in love with the undead woman. So he must constantly feed her flesh by committing his own murders, even if it means dealing with the police force’s attempts to capture a serial killer.

The Funeral start strong – our protagonist tasked with keeping a body quiet for 30 days is an intriguing premise and poses a Lot of questions about how and why but all that is left behind when the the supernatural element comes into play.

Some of the best horrors build tension to leave an audience feeling uneasy and Last Straw makes you feel uneasy in the best possible way.

Set in small-town America this marks Alan Scott Neal’s feature directorial debut with Taylor Sardoni writing. We follow Nancy (Jessica Belkin) working late in a diner who comes up against a masked gang determined to terrorise.

With its UK premier at the iconic FrightFest we sit down with Alan & Taylor to talk about the importance of keeping the story grounded, setting of small-town America and more!

You can watch the full interview below:

Last Straw screens at FrightFest on March 9th followed by a Q&a with Alan Scott Neal – tickets available here

The post Alan Scott Neal & Taylor Sardoni on horror-thriller Last Straw, avoiding genre tropes and influence of John Carpenter appeared first on HeyUGuys.

So many stars hit the red carpet for the 2024 Environmental Media Association Awards Gala on Saturday night (January 27) in Los Angeles.

Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder were just two of more than 20 celebrities to attend the gala, which was hosted at Sunset Las Palmas Studios.

Other guests include the likes of Jane Fonda, Laura Dern and Michelle Pfeiffer. Since the event was so star-studded, we pulled together photos so that you can easily scroll them and see who was there and what they were wearing.

Head inside to see all of the photos…

Keep scrolling to see photos of everyone at the 2024 Environmental Media Association Awards Gala…

Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelley

Malin Akerman

Laura Dern

Jane Fonda

Frances Fisher

Cheri Oteri

Drew Scott

Jack Donnelly with Malin Akerman

Marta Pozzan

Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder

Sheryl Crow

Madelaine Petsch

Auliʻi Cravalho

Jessica Belkin

Eli Roth

Frankie Jonas with...

Alison's disappearance and the identity of "A" create fear, enemies, and gripping twists in Pretty Little Liars. Mona helps Alison disappear, showing her manipulative nature and increasing her own social status. Alison's return to Rosewood stirs up anger and uncertainty among her friends, and her relationship with Emily becomes complicated.

One of the key mysteries of Pretty Little Liars is what happened to Alison Dilaurentis (Sasha Pieterse) and why she left Rosewood in the first place. She is considered the 'Queen Bee' of her small town and is known for being a mean character who takes pride in knowing her best friends' secrets and sharing them at awkward times. In the pilot, it appears that Alison has been murdered, but when it is revealed in season 3, episode 24 "A DAngerous GAme", that this isn't true, there are questions surrounding where she has been and what she has been doing.

It’s not the small town diner setting that makes Last Straw – the feature directorial debut by Alan Scott Neal – stand out, though it does give it a fresh angle for its home invasion thrills. It’s the unique narrative structure that not only leans into the prevalent feeling of rage but reframes the visceral violence that ensues. While Last Straw ultimately fails to stick to the landing, the commitment to escalating the tension and violence through rage-fueled characters fascinates all the same.

Twenty-year-old Nancy (Jessica Belkin) feels trapped and fed up with her life. Stuck in a transitionary period post-high school, Nancy tries and fails to care for her dead mother’s beloved car and hangs out with her still-in-high-school best pal Tabitha (Tara Raani). Nancy also happens to be bitter about an unwanted pregnancy, which compounds her frustrations with working at her dad’s (Jeremy Sisto) diner as a waitress-turned-manager.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you mixed the charm of a small-town diner with the suspense of a true crime docu-drama? Well, wonder no more because Alan Scott Neal’s feature film debut, Last Straw, serves up a disturbingly tense thriller that feels like it’s been ripped straight from the headlines of a newspaper that hasn’t even been printed yet.

Let’s start with the juicy bits. The film is set over one fateful night in a dusty roadside diner where our heroine, Nancy (played by Jessica Belkin), is just trying to get through another late shift. But when a group of masked troublemakers decide to make her night a living nightmare, Nancy finds herself in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

“…ripped straight from the headlines of a newspaper that hasn’t even been printed yet.”

The cast is a pitch-perfect ensemble of...

This will be her "last straw." An early teaser trailer has debuted for an indie horror film titled Last Straw, which is premiering at the 2023 Sitges Film Festival coming up in October. It's also set to screen at Beyond Fest in LA as well. Last Straw marks the directorial debut of Alan Scott Neal with a script by Taylor Sardoni, described as "a raw & relentless twist on the home-invasion thriller." Here's the full synopsis: A young waitress, working the night shift all by herself at a rural diner on the side of a back road, will wind up forced to back after being attacked by a group of masked assailants. Completely alone in the face of danger, she will have to confront them all, resorting to violence if necessary, in order to survive. She fights for her life over the course of one, long night. Starring Jessica Belkin as the waitress,...

Beyond Fest 2023 gets underway in LA next week, with all sorts of genre world premieres. Among the line-up at this year’s fest? Alan Scott Neal‘s “Last Straw,” an off-kilter take on the home-invasion thriller starring “American Horror Story” actress Jessica Belkin.

Read More: Fall 2023 Film Preview: 60+ Most Anticipated Movies To Watch

In the new thriller, Belkin stars as Nancy, a waitress terrorized by a group of masked attackers while working the late shift at a roadside dinner.

Continue reading ‘Last Straw’ Teaser: New Thriller Updates The Home Invasion Premise At Beyond Fest 2023 at The Playlist.

Bloody Disgusting has an exclusive look at the teaser trailer for horror thriller Last Straw, which will world premiere at Sitges before making its way to Beyond Fest next month.

Last Straw is an homage to the pressure cooker genre films of yesteryear and is said to be “a raw and relentless twist on the home-invasion thriller that subverts expectations at every turn.”

The story revolves around a young waitress working the late shift alone at a rural roadside diner. Her life takes a terrifying turn when she becomes the target of a group of masked assailants. As the night unfolds she must muster all her strength to survive.

“Last Straw is an outlet for revealing what horror awaits when the mask comes off and, at the same time, an attempt to understand what causes some people to turn towards violence,” says director Alan Scott Neal, making his feature directorial debut.

Bloody Disgusting has a first image from the horror thriller Last Straw, which will world premiere at the Sitges Film Festival before making its way to Beyond Fest next month. Variety reports Blue Finch Films has boarded worldwide sales.

Written by Taylor Sardoni, Last Straw pays homage to the pressure cooker genre films of the past and aims to present a raw and unrelenting twist on the home-invasion thriller.

“The story revolves around a young waitress working the late shift alone at a rural roadside diner. Her life takes a terrifying turn when she becomes the target of a group of masked assailants. As the night unfolds she must muster all her strength to survive.”

This film marks the directorial debut of Alan Scott Neal and the cast includes Jessica Belkin (“American Horror Story”), Jeremy Sisto and Taylor Kowalski (“Snowfall”).

The original score is composed by Alan Palomo of Neon...

Blue Finch Films has boarded worldwide sales on horror-thriller, “Last Straw,” set to have its world premiere at the Sitges Film Festival before making its way to Beyond Fest next month.

Written by Taylor Sardoni, “Last Straw” pays homage to the pressure cooker genre films of the past and aims to present a raw and unrelenting twist on the home-invasion thriller. The story revolves around a young waitress working the late shift alone at a rural roadside diner. Her life takes a terrifying turn when she becomes the target of a group of masked assailants. As the night unfolds she must muster all her strength to survive.

This film marks the directorial debut of Alan Scott Neal and the cast includes Jessica Belkin (“American Horror Story”), Jeremy Sisto (“Thirteen”) and Taylor Kowalski (“Snowfall”). The original score is composed by Alan Palomo of Neon Indian and the cinematography is by Andrey Nikolaev.

Warning: Spoilers for the movie Hunt Club & mentions of sexual assault.From Uncork'd Entertainment, Hunt Club is currently available to watch on Digital, On Demand, and on DVD. The film follows Cassandra, who is lured to a mysterious island by a stranger and his son with the prospect of winning $100k in a competition. But shortly after their arrival, it becomes clear that none of the women will be participating in the way they imagined. Tied up and released as prey for a group of men to hunt, the women must fight for their lives.

However, with more than one trick up her sleeve, Cassandra sets out to prove that females are not to be underestimated. In addition to his role as Conrad, David Lipper serves as a writer and producer for the film. Lipper has worked on multiple projects, with some of his most recent being Death Link and Just Swipe.

Stars: Mena Suvari, Casper Van Dien, Will Peltz, Maya Stojan, Jessica Belkin, Jeremy London, Jason London, David Lipper, Kipp Tribble, Mickey Rourke | Written by David Lipper, John F. Saunders | Directed by Elizabeth Blake-Thomas

After being abandoned at a diner, Cassandra (Mena Suvari) finds herself in the company of the Stetson-wearing Carter (Casper Van Dien) and his son Jackson (Will Peltz). Readying themselves to partake in a traditional hunt, the pair invite their new friend to join them for a chance to win $100,000. Upon arriving at the island, it becomes clear the tradition includes male hunters luring women to become the hunted. Yet not all is as it seems, with Cassandra already knowing the truth.

Writers David Lipper and John Saunders have crafted a new take on The Most Dangerous Game, attempting social commentary in how the hunters are a club of insecure men wishing to reclaim their masculinity. These...

"They brought us here to hunt – us." Uncork'd Entertainment has revealed a trailer for an indie action thriller titled Hunt Club, from a British filmmaker named Elizabeth Blake-Thomas. This is being dumped on VOD / DVD in April if anyone is interested in watching anyway. A gripping story of male hunters who lure women to their island with the chance to win $100K in a hunt, only to discover they are the hunted. But this time they have messed with the wrong girls and discover women can be better hunters than men. The film features a gnarly B-movie cast: Mena Suvari, Maya Stojan, Casper Van Dien, Mickey Rourke, and Jessica Belkin. Rourke and Suvari previously co-starred in Tony Scott's Domino back in '05. "We're extremely stoked to be releasing this very hot tale of survival and revenge, with it’s exciting storyline and an incredibly gritty performance by Mena Suvari in the lead role,...

Last July, we heard that production had wrapped on Hunt Club, a thriller starring Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Mena Suvari (American Beauty), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Maya Stojan (Newness), Will Peltz (13 Minutes), and Jessica Belkin (The Orville). Now The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Hunt Club has secured a distribution deal with Uncork’d Entertainment – and along with that news comes the unveiling of a trailer, which you can watch in the embed above.

Directed by Elizabeth Blake-Thomas (The League of Legend Keepers: Shadows) from a script by David Lipper and John F. Saunders, Hunt Club puts its own twist on Richard Connell’s 1924 short story The Most Dangerous Game by telling the following story: A group of male hunters routinely lure women to their island with the chance to win 100K in a hunt, only to find that they are the hunted. But this time, the...

Hunt Club, the upcoming action thriller starring Oscar nominees Mena Suvari (American Beauty, American Pie) and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler, The Expendables), has found a home in the U.S.

Uncork’d Entertainment has acquired the film — reuniting Suvari and Rourke after they co-starred in Tony Scott’s Domino in 2005 — from director Elizabeth Blake-Thomas (Just Swipe, Maybe I’m Fine), working from a script by David Lipper and John F. Saunders. Lipper and his partner Robert A. Daly Jr. produce through their Latigo Films banner, alongside Mark Lester, Keli Price, and Kipp Tribble. Kimberly Hines executive produces.

Uncork’d has also released the first trailer for the film (below).

Joining Suvari and Rourke in the cast are Maya Stojan (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Casper Van Dien (The Daughter), Will Peltz (13 Minutes), Jessica Belkin (The Orville), Jeremy London (Demigod), Jason London (The Rage : Carrie 2), David Lipper (Frequency) and Kipp Tribble (ReBroken...

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Since his untimely death nearly three years ago, Juice Wrld fans have enjoyed a stream of posthumous releases including Legends Never Die and Fighting Demons. Now, we’re also getting some premium, official Juice Wrld merch from Ksubi — one of the late rapper’s favorite brands — in collaboration with Club 999.

Called Ksubi x Juice Wrld 999, the new launch sees jeans, jackets, hoodies, and tees styled after Juice Wrld’s enduring streetstyle aesthetic.

Exclusive: American Horror Story‘s Jessica Belkin and Watchman‘s Malin Akerman are starring in Nick Wilson’s first time feature directorial Singing in My Sleep.

The pic, reminiscent of Once, follows a talented teenage songwriter (Belkin) who feels stuck living in the shadow of her deceased father’s musical legacy. However, a tribute concert forces her and her free-spirited mother (Akerman) to face his abandonment. The film features five original songs written by multi-platinum, Grammy-winning songwriters Melanie Fontana & Lindgren, known for their collaborations with artists like BTS, Cardi B., Dua Lipa, Halsey, the Chainsmokers, Justin Bieber, and many others.

Gavin Leatherwood also stars. Production recently wrapped around Los Angeles.

“Music has always been at the heart of all my creative ventures and using it to explore the cycle of abandonment within this mother-daughter story resonates with my own journey,” said writer/director Wilson. “Making this film with Bee-Hive Productions,...