Category: new releases

I Heart Willie: A Dark Twist on the Classic Steamboat Willie

I Heart Willie, a sinister ‘Steamboat Willie’ reimagining sails into theaters for one night only. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Slasher movies, defined by graphic violence and iconic killers, have a unique appeal to audiences through their intense mix of fear and thrill. These films often focus on a masked antagonist who stalks and murders victims, creating an atmosphere of suspense. The anticipation of the next attack, combined with the catharsis of witnessing characters’ survival or demise, taps into primal emotions. Slasher films also play with the audience’s expectations, blending horror with dark humor and occasionally offering social commentary. For many, the genre provides a controlled escape, where viewers face fear in a safe, fictional environment, making the experience both exciting and entertaining.

Exciting news for slasher film fans:

Hewes Pictures is excited to announce the special One Night Only®, release of I Heart Willie, a Steamboat Willie-inspired horror/slasher, coming exclusively to theaters across North America for One Night Only®, February 26th, 2025. Directed by Alejandro G. Alegre, this chilling origin story presents genre fans with a sinister reimagining of one of the most iconic cartoon characters in history, along with one of the most horrifying love stories of the year. (Gold Dust PR, 2025)

The One Night Only® cinema event will be distributed in the United States and Canada by Rubey Entertainment, LLC. Tickets and showtimes are available online.

Synopsis: Popular YouTubers Daniel and Nico are invited to investigate a haunted property drawn by rumors of a malevolent force. The legend centers around a boy born with deformities, resembling a human-mouse hybrid, who inspired Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie. Abused and isolated, the boy, now known as Willie, crafts a bodysuit from the skins of trespassers. Over the years, his gruesome legacy fades into folklore—until a series of disappearances sparks renewed interest. As Daniel and Nico set up for a night of thrills, they unknowingly step into a deadly game of survival.

Produced by longtime collaborators Princeton Holt (2050) and David Vaughn (American Rust),the filmwas written by Vaughn, who also stars as Willie. I Heart Willie also features performances by Maya Luna, Micho Camacho, Sergio Rogalto, and Daniela Porras.

“We’re thrilled to bring I Heart Willie to audiences everywhere,” says executive producer Princeton Holt. “This film was made with the fans in mind, and we can’t wait for it to be an unforgettable experience—packed with scares, thrills, and a great time for everyone. We are confident I Heart Willie will become a cult classic, leaving fans talking long after the credits roll. By the way, speaking of end credits, don’t leave to early, or you might miss something.”

I Heart Willie was filmed 100% on location in Michoacán, Mexico, with local producers Liz Sanchez and Arturo Renteria bringing their unique perspectives to the project. The cast and crew, consisting largely of Mexico City residents, worked tirelessly to bring this dark tale to life. The film premiered to a sold-out audience at the Morbido Film Fest in Mexico City, receiving an encore screening due to overwhelming demand. I Heart Willie went on to win Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Director at various film festivals.

‘El Día Más Triste’ by Alex Cuba: His Most Emotionally Charged Single Yet

Alex Cuba releases his new single right before his new US tour. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Los Angeles, CA. –  ®Grammy Award-winning artist, Alex Cuba releases brand new music in time for Valentine’s Day and coinciding with the launch of a tour of the United States. The Cuban/Canadian singer-songwriter announces the release of the first single for his upcoming 2025 album. (Vesper Public Relations, 2025)

“El Día Más Triste” is about transforming hurt into understanding. Feelings of love are joyous, wondrous events in our lives, spontaneous and beautiful. Its shadow side, those moments of betrayal, hurt and emptiness are no less important in how they create growth and urgency in our lives. “El Día Más Triste” shows the depth of sorrow, the pain of a ruptured relationship, and the process of rumination and inner conflict surrounding the confusion. “Es Amor” (it’s love) Alex remarks in the chorus at the conclusion of his self-reflection. An equally poignant part of our Valentine’s Day celebration is that side of love, that when it is missing, leaves a hole in our hearts.

The video was filmed in Miami with Cuban director Yeandro Tamayo. Warm intimacy invites the viewer into his healing journey through sad moments.

Alex Cuba’s U.S. Tour — No More Empty Words —At the heart of his ability to charm anything that breathes is Alex’s mastery of a deeper, more important language. The dude speaks joy. And it doesn’t’ matter if it’s Tito Puente joy or Stevie Wonder joy; it’s contagious. It shines through songs he’s co-written with Nelly Furtado and Jason Mraz. It’s the north star of his compositions.

Wherever his songs start their journey–in the land of lust, deep affection, or even melancholy–they know where they’re headed. Their path leads to a deep, shimmering gladness that everyone wishes was their native tongue. It’s this undeniable exuberance, expressed with masterful musicianship that has catapulted Alex to the highest levels of global critical acclaim. It’s what led this fiercely independent artist to 2 Juno awards, 4 Latin Grammys, and a 2022 Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album.

Just like his songs elicit “la-la-las” from audiences without a translator, they woo critics without a middleman. The magic he makes with melody and rhythm can’t be held back. Because in the end, whether in times of trouble or celebration, people everywhere want to go where Alex’s songs are going, to an unconditional sense of home, belonging, and bliss.

U.S. TOUR DATES
February 11/12 – Seattle, WA, Jazz Alley
February 14 – Corvallis, OR
February 15 – Portland, OR, Old Church
February 18 – Beverly Hills, CA, Vibrato
February 20 – Oakland, CA, Yoshi’s
March 21 – Mamaroneck, NY, Emelin Theatre
March 22 – Queens, NY, Kupferberg Centre for the Arts
March 23 – Baltimore, MD, Creative Alliance
March 26 – Orlando, FL, Judson’s Live
March 28 – Gainesville, FL, University of Florida
March 29 – Fort Myers, FL, Alliance for the Arts
March 30 – Memphis, TN, Buckman Center for the Arts
April 2 – Decatur, GA, Eddies Attic
April 3 – Birmingham, AL, Alys Stephens Center
April 4 – La Grange, GA, Purelife Studios
April 5 – Cary, NC, Cary Arts Center

Though raised in Artemisa, an hour outside of Havana, Alex Cuba’s artistry is as far-flung as the place he has settled and lived for over fifteen years: Smithers, BC, 14 hours north of Vancouver. His music at once incorporates his roots and is a unique amalgam of styles, having collaborated with artists ranging from Jason Mraz to Ron Sexsmith and Nelly Furtado; and bringing together melodies, pop-soul hooks, and rock chords in songs that may seem to bear little resemblance to traditional Cuban form.

A forward-thinking, indie-minded artist, Alex has amassed a steadily growing following among critics and fans. He has over 20 awards and nominations to his name, including four Latin Grammys, two Juno Awards, and, in 2022, his first Grammy Award from a total of four career Grammy nominations.

Alex carries his Cuba within, incorporating subtle jazz influences gained from his early years as a bass player in Cuba. His tasteful, sophisticated chords and lyrics express his poetry in an undeniably Cuban way. His growing body of work defines a unique musical place in the Latin diaspora.

Media Accolades:
“…Best performance – Alex Cuba.” – National Post
“Staying true to his Spanish language Folk-Funk-Rock hybrid has paid off.” – Billboard
“Wicked guitar, undeniably soulful vocals. His package is simple and he wears it well” – popmatters.com
“He’s like Marvin Gaye singing soul to a new generation” – Boston Globe
“A master at conveying emotions through songs.” – Vancouver Sun
“(Alex) Cuba is a groundbreaking figure, which may say something about the process of giving roots music a cosmopolitan polish” – Nashville Scene
“Sublime is, a consummately crafted and beautiful offering” – Sounds and Colours

Blood Ties and Haunting Secrets: The Chilling World of ‘Listen to Your Sister’

‘Listen to Your Sister’ by Neena Viel. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Neena Viel is a horror writer who lives in a cabin in the Washingtonian woods with her husband and the best dog on the planet. Her passion for philanthropy (almost) rivals her love for ghost stories. For fans of Jordan Peele’s films, Stranger Things, and The Other Black Girl, “Listen To Your Sister”is a laugh-out-loud, deeply terrifying, and big-hearted speculative horror novel from electrifying debut talent Neena Viel. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

“Listen To Your Sister” – Twenty-five year old Calla Williams is struggling since becoming guardian to her brother, Jamie. Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the one who makes sacrifices to keep the family together. Jamie, full of good-natured sixteen-year-old recklessness, is usually off fighting for what matters to him or getting into mischief, often at the same time. Dre, their brother, promised he would help raise Jamie–but now the ink is dry on the paperwork and in classic middle-child fashion, he’s off doing his own thing. And through it all, The Nightmare never stops haunting Calla: recurring images of her brothers dying that she is powerless to stop.

When Jamie’s actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings must go on the run. Taking refuge in a remote cabin that looks like it belongs on a slasher movie poster rather than an AirBNB, the siblings now face a new threat where their lives–and reality–hang in the balance. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened.

“A knockout debut.” -Ashley Winstead

“Incredibly original and seriously scary.” – Nick Medina

“A brilliant fever-dream of a novel that effortlessly dances between horror, literary, and family saga—sure to appeal to fans of Grady Hendrix, Tananarive Due, Mona Awad, and Stephen King.” – Maria Dong

Discover the Dark Secrets of The Baby in the Basket: A New Gothic Horror Movie

The Baby in the Basket is the chilling new gothic horror movie starring Amber Doig-Thorne. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Gothic horror movies captivate audiences with their eerie atmosphere, dark settings, and psychological tension. Set in crumbling mansions, foggy landscapes, or ancient castles, these films evoke a sense of dread and mystery. Themes of isolation, madness, and the supernatural are often explored, blending the fear of the unknown with the human psyche’s darkest corners. The use of vivid imagery, such as shadowy figures and mysterious creatures, intensifies the feeling of vulnerability. Audiences are drawn to gothic horror for its ability to transport them into a world where fear lingers in every corner, offering a thrilling escape into the macabre.

Shepka Productions, in partnership with Flickering Myth, are delighted to announce the release of new chilling, gothic horror The Baby in the Basket. The feature will be available on Digital in the UK and USA, and on DVD (UK only) from February 17th. (Strike Media, 2025)

The Baby in the Basket features a stellar cast of horror favorites including Amber Doig-Thorne (Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey), Michaela Longden (How to Kill Monsters), Elle O’Hara (Cara), Lisa Riesner (No Dogs Allowed) and Nathan Shepka (Dead Before They Wake). Also starring veteran British talent Annabelle Lanyon (Legend), with Maryam d’Abo (The Living Daylights) and Paul Barber (The Full Monty).

It’s 1944 and World War Two rages on. The sisters of St. Augustine’s, a convent on a remote Scottish island, are preparing for an incoming storm. One night a cloaked figure leaves a baby in a basket and disappears, never to be seen again.

The nuns take in the boy, and agree to look after him until the storm passes when they will take the child to the mainland for permanent care. However, after a night under their watch, unsettling things begin to happen with the newest addition to the convent. Sister Agnes (Amber Doig-Thorne) suspects the child is the spawn of Satan, causing her to be locked away for fear that she’s been driven mad by the isolation.

But increasingly strange occurrences lead the sisters to question their faith and everything they believe, they wonder has Sister Agnes fallen victim to the desolation of the remote island setting or was there really weight in her suspicions?

The Baby in the Basket is directed by Nathan Shepka and Andy Crane from a script written by Tom Jolliffe (Cinderella’s Revenge, Renegades). The film is produced by Shepka Productions, Flickering Myth, and Hidden Ridge Productions, in association with Jolliffe Productions and Nerdly UK.

The Baby in the Basket will be available to own or rent on digital download in the UK and US and to own on DVD (for the UK only) from 17th February.

Pre-order your UK copy of the DVD on Amazon or HMV.

The Baby in the Basket still. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
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Groovy Vibes and Twangy Tunes: Joel Timmons’ Psychedelic Surf Country

Joel Timmons takes bad dreams and turns them into rock and roll with new single End of the Empire from his forthcoming new album Psychedelic Surf Country. Photo: Joel Timmons

Charleston, SC – Joel Timmons is a dynamic songwriter, musician, and journeyman. Growing up on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, Timmons developed a deep connection to both music and the ocean, influences that permeate his artistic work. His early years were marked by a passion for surfing and a love for music, cultivated in part by his mother, a photographer and park ranger at Fort Moultrie, a vibrant local arts scene, and a close community of aspiring young musicians. The lead vocalist and guitarist for Sol Driven Train, founded by Timmons and his friends during college in 2000, Timmons also plays guitar with Maya de Vitry and makes music with his life-partner and wife, Shelby Means, under the name Sally & George. Psychedelic Surf Country, out February 7, marks the long-time collaborator’s first solo-work. (IV PR, 2025)

Within the patchwork of Joel Timmons’ debut solo album, Psychedelic Surf Country, lies a kaleidoscopic view of the career sideman and band leader’s striking self-awareness. Both in lyricism and musicality, Timmons has adopted an easy-going and reflective view of the world, creating unencumbered and accessible songs from even the most left-field subjects like lighting old Christmas trees ablaze, the highway patrol K9 who paid his band a visit between tour stops, and the tight jeans and Stetson hats that took over his former neighborhood. But it’s in the heavier subject matter, like his latest single, End of the Empire, where Timmons’ upbeat musical attitude shines.

“My wife, Shelby Means, started writing this song on a small boat in the Virgin Islands while surfers rode waves across a nearby reef,” remembers Timmons. It sounds picturesque, but the initial idea brought about an undercurrent of influence from a wildly different place. “My recurring dreams of doom and nightmares of being hunted by an unknown predator—as well as a sense of apocalyptic loss—figured into the co-write.” Ethereal and dreamy from the onset, End of the Empire floats between images of inescapable crashing waves and desperate hiding, looking for escape, but it might take listeners a couple of passes to recognize these as the song itself feels uplifting and borderline anthemic; a testament to Timmons’ positive spin. With the help of Psychedelic Surf Country producer Maya de Vitry, End of the Empire turns into a huge wash of harmonies and a wall of rhythm section. “The recording ended up being a rocker,” says Timmons, “and the guitar is howling.”

Fans can stream and purchase End of the Empire, check out the premiere on Glide Magazine, listen to Timmons’ previously-released singles, The Swimming Song, Guitars, Guns, and Pickup Trucks, Turbo, and The Bullfighter featuring Shovels & Rope’s Cary Ann Hearst, at their respective links, and pre-order or pre-save Psychedelic Surf Country ahead of its February 7th release.

Psychedelic Surf Country tracklist:
Just A Man
Turbo
The Bullfighter
Guitars, Guns, and Pickup Trucks
Edge of the Empire
Cottage by the Sea
Say It To My Face
The Swimming Song
East Nashville Cowboy
Here We Are
Tryin’

Catch Joel Timmons on Tour:
2/8 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston SC
2/12 – Analog at Hutton Hotel – Nashville TN
2/15 – House Concert – Charleston SC ^
2/28-3/2 – Green Parrot Bar – Key West, FL *
3/15 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston SC *
3/19 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA +
3/20 – Showdown – Portland, OR (co-bill w/ Love, Dean) +
3/22 – The Talent Club – Ashland, OR +
3/26 – The ’58 @ Eastside Bowl – Nashville, TN
4/24 – Parlor Room – Northampton, MA +
5/4 – Sundays on the River – Asheville, NC +
5/23-5/25 – Rooster Walk Festival – Martinsville VA *
5/30 – Party At the Point – Mt Pleasant SC *

  • = with Sol Driven Train
    ^ = with Sally & George
  • = with Maya De Vitry

‘Son of Birmingham’: Randall Woodfin’s Powerful New Release

‘Son of Birmingham: A Memoir’ by Mayor Randall Woodfin. Photo: Barnes & Noble.

Birmingham, AL – “Son of Birmingham,” the highly anticipated memoir by Birmingham’s youngest modern-day mayor, Randall Woodfin, is available now. This gripping narrative weaves together Mayor Woodfin’s life story with his bold vision for a more equitable future, offering an intimate look at the man reshaping the urban South. (Iron City Communications, 2025)

Through candid storytelling, Woodfin shares how his roots in Birmingham, the lessons from Morehouse College, and the beats of Southern hip-hop shaped his journey. From bagging groceries as a teenager to addressing systemic challenges as mayor, “Son of Birmingham” is a call-to-action for servant leadership, resilience, and unity.

Randall Woodfin was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. After earning his degree at Morehouse College and later his law degree at Samford University, he returned home to serve his community. Elected mayor in 2017, Woodfin has been nationally recognized for his progressive leadership, including a keynote speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Key Topics in the Book

  • The journey from grocery store clerk to mayor
  • Southern hip-hop’s influence on leadership and grit
  • Declaring gun violence a public health crisis
  • Building unity across Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods
  • Leading Birmingham through pivotal moments in history

Don’t miss this unforgettable story of hope, resilience, and the power of leadership.

Praise for Son of Birmingham

“Being from the South, I know the power of legacy and tradition. Mayor Randall Woodfin embodies that. Son of Birmingham is a love letter to Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and I’m honored he accredits inspiration to Outkast.” – Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, Grammy-winning member of Outkast

“A love letter to Birmingham and the resilience of its people. Woodfin combines modern hope with timeless wisdom.” – Geoffrey Canada, President of the Harlem Children’s Zone

“Woodfin’s journey fills my heart with hope. His leadership is a blueprint for justice and inclusion.” – Medaria Arradondo, former Minneapolis Police Chief

“Son of Birmingham captures the story of a city in transformation and the leader guiding its evolution. This memoir is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of change.” – Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland

“If Alabama has a chance to overcome its past and reach its potential, it will be because of leaders like Randall Woodfin. Son of Birmingham is a moving memoir of perseverance and progress.” – Roy Wood Jr., Comedian and Journalist

Thrills, Chills, and Heart-Stopping Moments: Experience Never Have I Ever

The thriller Never Have I Ever is now available for streaming. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

When it comes to movies, thrillers captivate moviegoers by blending suspense, mystery, and intense emotional conflict. These films often explore the complexities of the human mind, where perception and reality blur, leaving audiences on edge. The tension stems from characters’ internal struggles, psychological manipulation, and unexpected twists, which keep viewers guessing and engaged. Rather than relying on gore or action, these thrillers build fear through atmosphere, ambiguity, and mind games, tapping into universal anxieties. The appeal lies in the challenge they present, including trying to outwit the story, questioning what’s real, and experiencing a sense of unease long after the credits roll.

Now available for streaming on Fandango at Home is Never Have I Ever.

Directed by Damon Rickard, it stars Andrew Lee Potts, Beatrice Fletcher, and Amber Doig-Thorne. (One Tree Entertainment, 2025)

Never Have I Ever – Sam is already having a bad day but an incident from Sam’s youth resurfaces in ways he couldn’t imagine and starts a series of events that send his life spiraling out of control and embroiling him in an escalating game of cat and mouse.

He is having a terrible day. He is late delivering a screenplay and the threat of being forced to repay his advance looms ominously over him as he simply doesn’t have the money left. But his day goes from bad to worse when a variety of strange things start happening. From simply losing his wallet to seemingly having multiple break-ins to his home. Then a chance encounter whilst drowning his sorrows sends his day in directions he couldn’t possibly have anticipated.

Still from Never Have I Ever. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Last Leg of the Human Table: Cloakroom’s Masterpiece of Introspection and Atmosphere

Cloakroom, L-R Doyle Martin (Lyrics, Guitar), Tim Remis (Drums), Bobby Markos (Bass), announces new album on Closed Casket and shares ‘Bad Larry’ video and single. Photo: Vin Romero, used with permission.

For Cloakroom, an American shoegaze band from Northwest Indiana, the world of modernity is in polycrisis and America has lost its soul. Narrative fetishism is all too usual of a literary mechanism for Cloakroom. If you listen closely you can hear the concern; not just for the teetering social structure but for what it means to be human and the high cost of the human experience. (another side, 2025)

The Indiana three return next month with their next studio album, Last Leg of the Human Table – the follow up to 2022’s post-apocalyptic space western Dissolution Wave, and label debut for Closed Casket Activities. Each song showcases Cloakroom’s genre-bending capabilities and seemingly vast array of influences; whether it be the sampling of the post-disco Detroit group Was (Not Was) or the lifted NASA recording of the humming of Saturn’s rings. Recorded in December of 2023 at Electrical Audio in Chicago and Rec Room Recording in Des Plaines, Illinois, engineer Zac Montez (Whirr, Turnover) aided in smoothing out the rough and turning up the quiet.

Last Leg of the Human Table sees its release on February 28 via Closed Casket. Fans can pre-order/pre-save here.

Pop, shoegaze, doom, post-punk, folk only scratch the surface on Cloakroom’s shortest yet most essential release to date. Its title Last Leg of the Human Table may sound sardonic in its nature, but this group has always found some wonder in the scurrying chaos of modern life. In 37 minutes, the album imbues a sense of responsibility to the listener as if one leg were to falter, the whole table will fall. 

Cloakroom shares the lead single and video “Bad Larry.” Lyricist and guitarist Doyle Martin explains, “It was written about a fabled character out of folklore like ‘Diamond Joe’ composed by Baldwin ‘Butch’ Hawes.. if that’s who even wrote that song first. Bad Larry roams free and wants for nothing; living a life of experience and lives by his own rules and dying on his own terms; a life to vilify or envy.” 

After wrapping an extensive North American tour with Full of Hell last month, Cloakroom has announced a special Chicago album release show happening April 12 at Empty Bottle. More dates and news to come.

Last Leg of the Human Table tracklist:
01 – The Pilot
02 – Ester Wind
03 – On Joy and Unbelieving
04 – Unbelonging
05 – The Lights Are On
06 – Bad Larry
07 – The Story of the Egg
08 – On Joy and Undeserving
09 – Cloverlooper
10 – Turbine Song

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Skeleten Unleashes His Boldest Sound Yet with ‘Let It Grow’—A Glimpse into Mentalized

Skeleten shares ‘Let It Grow’ single from new album Mentalized, out on February 7, 2025. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Eora/Sydney-based artist Skeleten (aka Russell Fitzgibbon) unveils his final single “Let It Grow” from his forthcoming second album, Mentalized, out February 7 via 2MR / Astral People Recordings. (another side, 2025)

Amidst a record absorbed in the ways we’re disconnected from ourselves every day – “mentalized for better or worse” – “Let It Grow” immerses in a dissociative surrender. Over a sensual synth line, Skeleten breathes life into the inexplicable weight of intimate connection. It’s a submission to that feeling of an “it” that cannot be denied. The song hangs heavy in the air, unmoving like the heat of an overpacked club, and the only way out is up.

“‘Let It Grow’ was so natural it just kinda started existing without me even realising it. Which I guess is the whole vibe of the song. Surrender and acceptance??”- Skeleten

“Let It Grow” completes a lineup of adored singles “Deep Scene”, “Love Enemy”, “Viagra,” and “Bodys Chorus” alongside respective remixes by Axel Boman and Spray, in laying the foundations for Mentalized. The releases have earned tastemaker nods from Pitchfork, Stereogum, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, KEXP, KCRW, BBC 6Music, FBi Radio, Apple Music’s ‘Best of 2024’ playlists, and more.

This month Skeleten will complete a 3-month residency at Sydney’s Pleasure Club, spotlighting local talent across the city’s different scenes, alongside Skeleten and his full live band. Having already united acts like Hugh B and the Modern Pop Ensemble, Dylan Atlantis, Scruffs. and Killian, stay tuned via Skeleten’s socials for the final surprise announcement. Skeleten will also perform at Golden Plains Festival in March, alongside esteemed artists PJ Harvey, Fontaines D.C, Kneecap and more.

Mentalized tracklist:
1 – These People
2 – Love Enemy
3 – Bodys Chorus
4 – Crack In The Shell
5 – Deep Scene
6 – Raw
7 – Let It Grow
8 – Viagra
9 – Ravers Dream
10 – Mindreader

Skeleten Live Dates:
Mar 8 – 10, 2025: Golden Plains Festival, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, VIC

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‘Dead Before They Wake’: A Thrilling Ride into the Dark Unknown

Dead Before They Wake will be available to rent or own in the UK from 27th January. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Topical thrillers take current events, real-world issues, or contemporary themes to create fast-paced, suspenseful narratives. Their appeal lies in their relevance, making them feel immediate and relatable. By incorporating elements such as political intrigue, technological threats, or social tensions, these stories tap into the anxieties and curiosities of today’s world. Viewers are often drawn to the sense of urgency and the high stakes, feeling a personal connection to the situations depicted. Topical thrillers offer not just entertainment, but also an opportunity to reflect on the challenges and risks facing society, heightening emotional engagement and anticipation.

London – Shepka Productions have announced the UK release of the brutal, topical thriller, Dead Before They Wake. The feature will be available to rent or own on Digital Platforms in the UK from January 27th and is available to download in the US now. (Strike Media, 2025)

Based on true events, the film follows nightclub bouncer Alex who is hired by a retired lawyer to track down a missing teenage girl, suspected of being snared by a trafficking ring, and to bring her home no matter what it takes.

Dead Before They Wake stars Nathan Shepka (Lock & Load, The Baby in the Basket), Grace Cordell (Cara), Manjot Sumal (The Last Bus, hit BBC sitcom Scot Squad), Kareem Nasif (The Job). Also starring Dr Who legend Sylvester McCoy (The Hobbit trilogy, The Munsters), and Patrick Bergin (Sleeping With the Enemy, Patriot Games).

“We wanted to base the film on real events and researched how UK sex trafficking gangs operate to give the film a grounded sense of reality. It is important to highlight what goes on every day and can often by ignored by the mainstream. We don’t feel any studio would have taken on the story in this way, it is likely to be a divisive and controversial portrayal. Ultimately there still has to be a pay-off for the audience; the film culminates in a brutal revenge-driven showdown.” – Producer Nathan Shepka

Dead Before They Wake is directed by Andy Crane and Nathan Shepka. The film features an original score by Academy Award winning composer Joseph Renzetti and is produced by Nathan Shepka.

Dead Before They Wake had its US release on 7th January: Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video.

It will be available to own or rent on digital download in the UK from 27th January.

Dead Before They Wake. Courtesy photo, used with permission.