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In Blood Star, we meet Bobbie, a young lady whose daring journey through the New Mexico desert is both a desire for freedom and an escape from her past. Britni Camacho portrays Bobbie as a multifaceted character—a petty thief pondering a return to an abusive partner.

This internal conflict and her external problems create a captivating narrative that combines personal crises and societal commentary. As she drives her vintage Ford Mustang, the open road becomes a metaphor for her turbulent mental condition, reflecting larger themes of autonomy and vulnerability.

Bobbie’s interactions with Sheriff Bilstein, played by John Schwab, spark the film’s rising tension. Their interactions begin with a routine traffic stop and gradually escalate into a terrifying game of cat and mouse. Bilstein’s predatory behavior reveals a disturbing undercurrent of misogyny, turning what should have been a normal journey into a desperate struggle for survival.

Key moments,...

As Grimmfest 2024 comes to a close, one film that is set to leave a lasting impression is Blood Star, a raw and suspenseful desert noir that fits perfectly into the festival’s Fear on Four Wheels strand. Today, we’re talking to the film’s writer and director, Lawrence Jacomelli, whose gritty debut film is to premiere to UK audiences at this year’s festival. Blood Star is a high-octane thrill ride that blends the relentless cat-and-mouse tension of Red Rock West and Breakdown with an unflinching social commentary inspired by real-life injustices like the tragic cases of Sarah Everard and George Floyd. It features a chilling performance by John Schwab as the psychopathic sheriff, Bilstein, whose badge grants him unbridled power to terrorize the vulnerable, and Britni Camacho, whose portrayal of a resilient Latina petty thief showcases an indomitable spirit as she fights to survive.

Lawrence Jacomelli may be a first-time director,...

Vintage-car driver is chased through New Mexico by a small-town sheriff in Lawrence Jacomelli’s snappily shot debut

Kicking off with tearaway Bobbie (Britni Camacho) zooming across the New Mexico badlands in her vintage Ford back to her no-good boyfriend, this film rides a two-lane blacktop straight for the heart of classic Americana. British director Lawrence Jacomelli dons the appropriate outlaw squint for this cat-and-mouse thriller – one that’s capable of picking out a sharp composition, too – but ultimately his debut is too disjointed to hit top gear.

Ignoring her sister’s warnings about reconciling with her violent partner, Bobbie stops for petrol and brushes off the skeezy pestering of Sheriff Bilstein (John Schwab), but the purse-lipped lawman picks her up down the road for speeding and supposedly damaging his siren. They cut a deal for her to reimburse him for the damage – and our suspicions that something dodgy is...

One of the many films we’re excited about seeing in the coming weeks is the dark survival thriller Blood Star. The film is set to make its UK debut at Grimmfest on 6th October, followed by a digital release across major platforms the very next day, 7th October. Directed by Lawrence Jacomelli and featuring a gripping performance by Britni Camacho (I’m A Virgo), this tense thriller promises to deliver a nerve-wracking cat-and-mouse chase with a powerful message. The film also stars John Schwab (Master of the Air), Sydney Brumfield, and Travis Lincoln Cox.

Blood Star follows the story of Bobbi Torres (Camacho), a young woman driving through the desert to reunite with her abusive boyfriend. Her plans are violently interrupted when a small-town Sheriff, played by Schwab, shoots her off the road, triggering a deadly game of survival. What ensues is a high-stakes chase through the barren landscape,...

Everyone's flying out to swinging Berlin this week to take part in the annual European Film Market. Our friends at Raven Banner have let us know that they're representing Lawrence Jacomelli’s feature debut Blood Star at the market. Blood Star is Jacomelli's feature debut. He produced and co-wrote the screenplay with George Kelly, based off a story written by Victoria Hinks Taylor. John Schwab plays the malevolent sheriff. Newcomer Britni Camacho plays his highway-bound prey. Raven Banner has acquired Lawrence Jacomelli’s feature debut Blood Star, in which a young woman must play a deadly game of cat and mouse with a crooked sheriff if she ever wants to leave the desert alive. The film stars John Schwab (Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan) and newcomer...

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Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for No Hard Feelings, I’m a Virgo and Downey’s Dream Cars.

Downey’s Dream Cars premiere

Robert Downey Jr. made a rare red carpet appearance to debut his new Max series at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on June 16.

Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey

No Hard Feelings premiere

Jennifer Lawrence joined director Gene Stupnitsky and co-stars Andrew Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Hasan Minhaj, Kyle Mooney, Scott MacArthur, Zach McClarnon, Jordan Mendoza, Matthew Nozska, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Amalia Yoo at the New York premiere of their new comedy on Tuesday.

John Phillips, Laura Benanti, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Gene Stupnitsky, Natalie Morales, Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Feldman and Matthew Broderick Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Feldman

I’m a Virgo premiere

Stars Jharrel Jerome, Brett Gray,...