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We've been eagerly waiting for Saint Clare ever since the movie was announced back in 2022. Fortunately, the wait is almost over, and Collider can exclusively debut a sneak peek of the upcoming horror movie. The story features Bella Thorne (The Babysitter) as the title character, a woman who has been hearing voices that take her to the presence of heinous people ever since she was a kid. The movie also stars Ryan Phillippe (Motorheads), and it is set to premiere in theaters, on demand, and on digital on July 18. You can check out our exclusive sneak peek in this article.

The sneak peek reveals that Thorne's character, Clare Bleecker, can be pretty scary. The key moment reveals that she learned to be cruel at a very young age, and now, as an adult, she has mastered the art of conducting a conversation in a way that her "victims" never see what's coming.

Summerween is here, Los Angeles! To celebrate, Collider is partnering with Quiver Distribution to invite readers to a heart-racing screening of co-writer and director Mitzi Peirone’s horror thriller Saint Clare. It’s the filmmaker’s unnerving sophomore feature after their fever dream of a horror, 2018’s Braid, that stars Bella Thorne (The Babysitter) and Ryan Phillippe(Cruel Intentions). In addition to attending the free screening, Peirone, director of photography Luka Bazeli, who worked on Black Widow and A Cure for Wellness, and stars Jan Luis Castellanos and Joy Rovaris (Beauty in Black) will join us after the movie for an exclusive Q&a conversation. Read on for the full details on how to enter for your chance to win free tickets.

With a screenplay co-written by Peirone and American Psycho's Guienevere Turner, Saint Clare is based on author Don Roff’s novel Clare at 16, and not unlike Peirone’s directorial debut,...

Sure, July is bringing back the Fantastic Four (July 25), Superman (July 11), and Jurassic Park (July 2), but they aren’t the reboot that caught my eye. No, that distinction belongs to Rihanna is Smurfette (July 18).

Not only is it wild that this franchise still believes itself to be relevant, but the number of times it’s been resuscitated this century has me wondering if the world would somehow end the second Gargamel eradicated his tiny blue nemeses. Paramount might literally be keeping us alive. Or prisoner. I’m not certain which.

Because there’s obviously enough of a brand recognition problem to feel comfortable intentionally burying the actual title of Smurfs on the page (if it’s included at all) so Rihanna’s credit can earn our focus. She’s their main selling point, so you can’t blame them for leaning in.

Everything old is new again––if a global phenomenon is hocking sales.

Back in 2019, it was announced that Riverdale‘s Madelaine Petsch had signed on to star in a horror comedy called Clare at 16, which was going to be written and directed by Mark Pavia, the filmmaker behind the 1997 Stephen King adaptation The Night Flier, and based on a novel by Don Roff. That iteration of the project didn’t make it into production, and in 2022 Bella Thorne (Infamous) not only signed on to star in the title role of what was now being called Saint Clare, but she also brought Dying to Play (a.k.a. Braid) director Mitzi Peirone on board to write and direct the film. Earlier this week, we learned that Quiver Distribution has acquired the North American rights to the film and are planning to give Saint Clare a VOD and limited theatrical release on July 18th. And with that date swiftly approaching, a trailer for the...

Saint Clare, the 2024 thriller from director Mitzi Peirone and co-writer Guinevere Turner, investigates the mind of a seemingly ordinary teenager turned serial killer. Based on Don Roff’s novel Clare At 16, the film stars Bella Thorne as Clare Bleecker, a devout Catholic school pupil whose veneer of piety conceals a sociopathic alter ego. 101 Films has acquired the UK rights and will release the film on digital from 21 July 2025.

Thorne is joined by Rebecca De Mornay as Clare’s steely grandmother, Ryan Phillippe as Timmons, a local boy drawn into Clare’s deadly orbit, and Frank Whaley as Mailman Bob, whose fateful deliveries set Clare on her path. Bart Johnson doubles as the twin brothers Joe and Randall, while Dylan Flashner and Jan Luis Castellanos play the town’s unsuspecting youth caught in Clare’s murderous crusade.

Saint Clare premiered at FrightFest 2024 in London, where critics noted its blend of psychological tension and grisly set pieces.

"I am the result of a modern world." Quiver has revealed an official trailer for an indie thriller titled Saint Clare, arriving to watch this summer including on VOD. If anyone wants to watch it'll be out next month. The film originally premiered at the 2024 Taormina Film Festival last year, because it's made by an Italian filmmaker named Mitzi Peirone, and it also played at FrightFest in the UK last fall and other fests. Clare Bleecker is an average Catholic high school student who lives with her grandparents after being orphaned. She seems normal, but Clare will do whatever it takes to protect loved ones when confronted by the evil she faces in her small town. Adapted from the "Clare at Sixteen" novel series written by Don Roff, though they cast a 26-year-old woman in this main role instead. Starring Bella Thorne as Clare Bleecker, with Ryan Phillippe, Rebecca DeMornay,...

Bella Thorne (The Babysitter) is the result of the fallen world in Saint Clare.

The religious mystery-thriller will be released in select theaters and on digital July 18 via Quiver Distribution.

In a small town, a solitary woman is haunted by voices that lead her to assassinate ill intended people and get away with it, until her last kill sucks her down a rabbit hole riddled with corruption, trafficking and visions from the beyond.

Rebecca De Mornay (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle), Frank Whaley (Pulp Fiction), and Ryan Phillippe (I Know What You Did Last Summer) co-star.

Mitzi Peirone (Braid) directs from a script she co-wrote with Guinevere Turner (American Psycho), based on the 2021 novel Clare at Sixteen by Don Roff.

Bart Johnson (High School Musical), Joy Rovaris (“Beauty in Black”), Jan Luis Castellanos (“13 Reasons Why”), Dylan Flashner (The Card Counter), and Erica Dasher (“Jane by Design”) round out the cast.

Back in 2019, it was announced that Riverdale‘s Madelaine Petsch had signed on to star in a horror comedy called Clare at 16, which was going to be written and directed by Mark Pavia, the filmmaker behind the 1997 Stephen King adaptation The Night Flier, and based on a novel by Don Roff. That iteration of the project didn’t make it into production, and in 2022 Bella Thorne (Infamous) not only signed on to star in the title role of what was now being called Saint Clare, but she also brought Dying to Play (a.k.a. Braid) director Mitzi Peirone on board to write and direct the film. Now, Variety reports that Quiver Distribution has acquired the North American rights to the film and are planning to give Saint Clare a VOD and limited theatrical release on July 18th.

The Don Roff novel told the following story: The small town of...

Quiver Distribution has acquired the North American rights to the mystery-thriller Saint Clare for release in select theaters and on digital July 18.

Bella Thorne (The Babysitter), Rebecca De Mornay (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle), Frank Whaley (Pulp Fiction), and Ryan Phillippe (I Know What You Did Last Summer) star.

Mitzi Peirone (Braid) directs from a script she co-wrote with Guinevere Turner (American Psycho), based on the 2021 novel Clare at Sixteen by Don Roff.

The film is set against a small town where a solitary woman (Thorne) is haunted by voices that lead her to assassinate ill-intended people and get away with it, until her last kill sucks her down a rabbit hole riddled with corruption, trafficking and visions from the beyond.

Bart Johnson (High School Musical), Joy Rovaris (“Beauty in Black”), Jan Luis Castellanos (“13 Reasons Why”), Dylan Flashner (The Card Counter), and Erica Dasher (“Jane by Design”) round out the cast.

Quiver Distribution has acquired the North American rights to “Saint Clare,” a mystery-thriller starring Bella Thorne, Rebecca De Mornay, Frank Whaley and Ryan Phillippe.

Mitzi Peirone (“Braid”) directed and co-wrote the film alongside Guinevere Turner (“American Psycho”). It is based on the novel “Clare at Sixteen,” which was written by Don Roff. Quiver Distribution will release “Saint Clare” in select theaters nationwide and on demand on July 18, 2025.

The film is set in a small town where a solitary woman (Thorne) is haunted by voices that lead her to embark on a killing spree.

Thorne’s credits include “The Trainer” and “The Duff.” De Mornay is best known for “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” and “Risky Business.” Whaley has appeared in “Pulp Fiction” and “Broken Arrow.” And Phillippe has starred in “Cruel Intentions” and “Crash.” Bart Johnson, Joel Michaely, Joy Rovaris, Jan Luis Castellanos, Dylan Flashner and Erica Dasher are also part of the ensemble.

Stars: Bella Thorne, Frank Whaley, Ryan Phillippe, Rebecca De Mornay, Jan Luis Castellanos, Bart Johnson, Dylan Flashner, Joy Rovaris | Written by Mitzi Peirone, Guinevere Turner | Directed by Mitzi Peirone

Like most teenagers, Clare Bleeker (Bella Thorne) is a normal teenage girl who harbours secrets. But, unlike most teenagers, Clare is a serial killer intent on ending the lives of predacious men. But Clare is not your garden-variety sociopath, as she believes what she is doing is in the service of God. As she reminds us: “Everything I have said and done has been in the hands of God. I was born to do this. I am not afraid.” Accompanied by Bob (Frank Whaley), an apparition of one of Bleeker’s past victims, Clare journeys through the 90-minute runtime, lurching from disaster to the next as she descends into the seedy criminal underworld.

Based on Don Roff’s novel, “Clare at...

The world of horror and thriller cinema has seen its fair share of anti-heroes, from Hannibal Lecter to Patrick Bateman, but the latest entry in this dark lineage is Clare Bleecker, a teenage sociopath played by Bella Thorne in Mitzi Peirone’s sophomore feature, Saint Clare.

Based on Don Roff’s novel Clare at Sixteen, this film takes the familiar tropes of a morally ambiguous protagonist and attempts to mix them with a blend of Gothic fantasy, Southern noir, and religious symbolism. The result is a visually arresting but narratively convoluted piece that struggles to deliver on its intriguing premise.

From the outset, Saint Clare hooks its audience with the chilling declaration from Clare herself, borrowing from Joan of Arc: “Everything I have said and done has been in the hands of God. I was born to do this. I am not afraid.” It’s a bold statement that...

Prepare to witness a chilling descent into darkness as Saint Clare, the highly anticipated thriller starring Bella Thorne, makes its UK premiere at this year’s Pigeon Shrine FrightFest in London. The film, set to screen on 25 August, promises to be a standout at the festival, offering a unique blend of psychological horror and supernatural intrigue.

Directed by Mitzi Peirone, the award-winning filmmaker behind Braid, and co-written with American Psycho’s Guinevere Turner, Saint Clare tells the harrowing story of a young woman with a divine mission to rid her small town of evildoers. Thorne, known for her roles in Midnight Sun and Scream: The TV Series, delivers a powerful performance as Clare, a solitary figure haunted by mysterious voices that guide her to eliminate those who believe they can act with impunity.

But as Clare’s vigilante justice leads her deeper into a labyrinth of corruption and human trafficking,...

Germany's leading indie film fest, Oldenburg Festival, will pay tribute to Na Gyi and Paing Phyo Thu, who went into hiding after Myanmar's military coup.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Na Gyi and Paing Phyo Thu were the "it couple" of Myanmar's film scene before the coup. Na is one of Myanmar's most beloved directors, and Paing is an acclaimed actor, having won the Myanmar Academy Award. But the couple have been in hiding for three years now, after their participation in a protest against a military coup in Myanmar. Paing went viral with a photo of him doing a three-finger salute from The Hunger Games as a symbol of defiance.

Related 10 Highest-Grossing Indie Films of All Time, Ranked

Although indie films are typically less commercially successful than mainstream movies, the genre has still produced several high-grossing films.

The military government accused the couple of using their popularity to encourage people to join the protests,...

The Oldenburg Film Festival, Germany’s leading indie movie event, will this year pay tribute to dissident filmmakers Na Gyi and Paing Phyo Thu.

The Myanmar director and actress have been living in hiding for more than three years, after their public opposition to the February 1, 2021 military coup put them in the crosshairs of the country’s ruling junta.

Oldenburg highlighted the couple and their plight, in the 2021 festival, screening Na Gyi’s What Happened to the Wolf?, which stars Paing Phyo Thu, in its world premiere. The story of a gay romance between two terminally ill women, played by Paing and Eaindra Kyaw Zin, the film is not overtly political but its Lbgtq+ storyline drew the ire of the military regime. What Happened to the Wolf? had been submitted to the festival after the coup but before the filmmakers went into hiding. The trailer for the film was a...

Veteran film festival chief Marco Müller took over the reins of Taormina in April, giving him a short window to pull together the ongoing 70th edition. After a week that has included the world premiere of Saint Clare starring Bella Thorne, the Italian premiere of Warner Bros/Universal’s Twisters and Baltasar Kormakur’s Touch from Focus, as well as a high-profile visit from Sharon Stone, he still appears to be on the fence about returning next year.

“The festival harvest is like the weather, so sometimes you just have to shake the tree and the beautiful fruits come into your hands,” Müller told Deadline. “This year, with the strike in Hollywood and the fact that I signed my contract around April 12, the fact that both Warner Bros and Universal went for Taormina for me is a good starting point for the future — if ever I would have a future here.

Bella Thorne and Rebecca De Mornay, the stars of the upcoming horror-thriller movie Saint Clare, and the film's director Mitzi Peirone speak about the women who influenced the film, and what they hope for the young women in the audience.

The trio spoke to Variety at the Taormina Film Festival about their new film, Saint Clare, which follows a young Catholic college student who kills sexual predators. Perione talked about how Joan of Arc--a martyr who led the French army during the Hundred Years War again England, and who has inspired many stories from art-house darlings to anime--influenced the titular character, saying, Clares role model is Joan of Arc because she literally gave everything, herself included, to her mission. She says: The fire that burns inside of me is stronger than the fire around me, which is a great message. I think that having moral integrity is something that...

Back in 2019, it was announced that Riverdale‘s Madelaine Petsch had signed on to star in a horror comedy called Clare at 16, which was going to be written and directed by Mark Pavia, the filmmaker behind the 1997 Stephen King adaptation The Night Flier, and based on a novel by Don Roff. That iteration of the project didn’t make it into production, and in 2022 Bella Thorne (Infamous) not only signed on to star in the title role of what was now being called Saint Clare, but she also brought Dying to Play (a.k.a. Braid) director Mitzi Peirone on board to write and direct the film. Saint Clare just had its premiere at the Taormina Film Festival, and during the event Thorne revealed to Deadline that she helped edit the serial killer movie.

The Don Roff novel told the following story: The small town of Pickman Flats offers a...

Saint Clare is a haunting, blood-soaked thriller set for its UK premiere in August at London’s FrightFest. Bella Thorne delivers an outstanding performance as the eponymous lead in a spiritually charged small-town tale in which American Psycho meets Joan of Arc.

In a small town, a solitary young woman is haunted by voices that lead her to assassinate people with bad intentions who think they can get away with it. But her last kill changes everything and sucks her headlong down a rabbit hole riddled with corruption, trafficking and twisted visions from the beyond. Can Saint Clare save herself from unimaginable terror as her pursuit for retribution takes a dangerous turn, carrying her deep into an unknown hell?

Based on a novel by Don Roff, the film is expertly helmed by award-winning Italian director Mitzi Peirone (Braid) who co-wrote the screenplay with Guinevere Turner (American Psycho). The stellar cast also includes Ryan Philippe,...

Bella Thorne, the star of “Shake It Up” and “Amityville Horror,” and Rebecca De Mornay, best known for “Risky Business” and “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle,” are at the Taormina Film Festival this week with Mitzi Peirone’s horror-thriller “Saint Clare,” which opened the Sicilian event. The actors and director spoke to Variety about how the film was inspired by Joan of Arc, the peasant girl who led the French army against the English invaders, and was burned to death at the stake.

“Saint Clare” tells the story of Clare Bleeker, a Catholic college student who has a knack of killing sexual predators. Peirone said: “Clare’s role model is Joan of Arc because she literally gave everything, herself included, to her mission. She says: The fire that burns inside of me is stronger than the fire around me, which is a great message. I think that having moral...

Italian directer and writer Mitzi Peirone’s Taormina Film Festival opener Saint Clare employs a number of cues from the story of Joan of Arc, the 15th century warrior and martyr who believed that God had chosen her to lead France to victory in its long-running war with England.

Saint Clare is set in a small town where a solitary, young woman (Bella Thorne) is haunted by voices that lead her to assassinate ill-intended people and get away with it, until her last kill sucks her down a rabbit hole riddled with corruption, the trafficking of young women and visions from the beyond. It’s based on Don Roff’s novel, Clare at Sixteen.

Peirone, who took a crack at co-writer Guinevere Turner’s (American Psycho) version, explained, “The Italian in me had to bring European, Joan of Arc, had to bring history, had to bring Renaissance paintings and chiaroscuro,...

Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024, the UK’s No.1 horror & fantasy film festival, will, for the first time, present its five-day extravaganza at The Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, taking over all seven screens, including the two Odeon Luxe West End screens.

Running from Thursday August 22nd – Monday 26th August, Pigeon Shrine FrightFest will showcase sixty-nine features from across the world, including twenty-five main screen premieres and forty-five Discovery Screen titles, embracing the famed ‘First Blood’ strand, the latest genre documentaries, and some exciting restorations and retrospectives. Plus, there’s the regular short-film showcase, panels, and some surprise 25th edition extras. This year there are twenty-eight world premieres, with eleven countries represented, spanning four continents.

Co-director Alan Jones comments:

FrightFest, the Dark Heart of Cinema, has been beating loud and proud now for an amazing 25 years. An incredible quarter of a century that has seen major challenges and transformations to the global...

The Taormina Film Festival kicked off this weekend with the world premiere screening of Mitzi Peirone’s Saint Clare, starring Bella Thorne, Rebecca De Mornay and Ryan Phillippe.

Introducing the movie in the hilltop Sicilian town’s open-air Teatro Antico, Thorne thanked attendees for supporting independent film “which makes our hearts soar” as well as her director for her “hardcore f*ck you I’m not gonna take no,” attitude.

This is a return to Taormina for Thorne after last year debuting a short film she directed and guest curating the festival’s ‘Influential Shorts’ evening. She’s also got a new short which screened here on Sunday, titled Unsettled.

That 15-minute film tells the real-life experience of Jason Parks, a young man who was drugged and abducted from a gay nightclub before escaping and seeking to bring his tormentors to justice. His story was not believed by authorities.

Midnight...

The 2024 Taormina Film Festival is set to open on Saturday night with the premiere of Mitzi Peirone’s new thriller “Saint Clare,” which stars Bella Thorne as a young woman who acts on the advice of voices in her head to commit a series of murders. But the highly anticipated screening won’t be Thorne’s only presence at the Taormina.

The actress and singer, who previously directed the short film “Paint Her Red” along with many of her music videos, is bringing her latest short “Unsettled” to the festival. Ahead of its international premiere at Taormina (the film previously screened at Palm Springs ShortsFest), IndieWire can exclusively reveal the trailer for “Unsettled.”

Per a press release, “Unsettled” tells the “true story of a young man drugged and abducted from a gay club who escapes and seeks to bring his tormentors to justice in a deeply conservative Bible Belt Oklahoma.

Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024, the UK’s premier horror and fantasy film festival, has announced its thrilling lineup for this year’s event. Marking its 25th edition, the festival will run from Thursday, 22 August to Monday, 26 August, taking over the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London. For the first time, the festival will utilise all seven screens, including two Odeon Luxe West End screens, to showcase a diverse selection of horror films from around the globe.

The festival opens with the world premiere of Broken Bird, the highly anticipated directorial debut from actress-filmmaker Joanne Mitchell. Based on an original story by Tracey Sheals and Mitchell’s award-winning short Sybil, the film tells the disturbing tale of a mortician, played by Rebecca Calder, whose dark desires spiral out of control.

Closing the festival is the English premiere of The Substance, the latest film from French writer-director Coralie Fargeat, known for her previous hit Revenge.

Sharon Stone will receive Taormina Film Festival’s Golden Cariddi for Lifetime Achievement on the Italian event’s closing night this month.

Stone joins a prestigious lineup of actors who have been honored with the award, including Jessica Lange, Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Richard Gere, Colin Firth and Isabelle Huppert.

The 66-year-old actor will be present at the Taormina Film Fest, which runs July 12 to 19, to hold a conversation on how “she redefined what it meant to be a woman on screen,” according to a press release. This will be Stone’s first appearance at the festival, which hosted the Italian premiere of her 1992 film “Basic Instinct.”

Stone first appeared on screen when she cameoed in Woody Allen’s “Stardust Memories” in 1980, and went on to become a full-blown movie star in the ’90s with roles in “Total Recall” alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, “The Quick and the Dead...

Saint Clare starring Bella Thorne will open this year’s Taormina Film Festival.

The July fest has unveiled gala lineup, including action title Twisters directed by Lee Isaac Chung starring Daisy Edgar-Jones; psychological thriller The Surfer by Lorcan Finnegan starring Nicolas Cage and Il giudice ed il boss, which comes from the director of Placido Rizzotto, Pasquale Scimeca.

The main titles are completed by three rom-coms with the British-Icelandic Touch, directed by filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur and starring Kôki; and two Italian films, L’invenzione di noi due by Corrado Ceron starring Lino Guanciale, Silvia D’Amico and Paolo Rossi; and Finché notte non ci separi by Riccardo Antonaroli starring Pilar Fogliati, Filippo Scicchitano and Valeria Bilello, which closes the festival.

There will be an international premiere of From Ground Zero that presents the “tale of untold stories” signed by 22 young Palestinian filmmakers who have filmed daily life in Gaza. As ever,...

The world premiere of Mitzi Peirone’s horror film “Saint Clare” will open the Taormina Film Festival, this year celebrating its 70th anniversary edition. The adaptation of Don Roff’s novel stars Bella Thorne, Ryan Phillippe, Frank Whaley and Rebecca De Mornay. It’s the first of four world premieres to screen at the outdoor Teatro Antico in the Sicilian town, which looks out towards Mount Etna, an active volcano, to the West.

Lee Isaac Chung’s highly anticipated remake/sequel “Twisters,” distributed by Warner Bros. in Italy, is blowing into town for its local premiere. Starring “Normal People’s” Daisy Edgar Jones and “Hitman” star Glen Powell, the “Minari” director’s film is a reupping of Jan de Bont’s mid-90s classic, with a James Cameron-esque title promising to multiply the mayhem.

Marco Mueller, who has taken over as the festival’s artistic director (see interview), commented...

Veteran festival director Marco Mueller was only hired to take over as the artistic director of the Taormina Film Festival in April this year. “I’m stressed out,” he told Variety, two weeks ahead of the festival opening, but he is philosophical. “The history of this island is one of people trying to conquer Sicily, but Sicily has always ended up conquering the conquerors. We are conquered not only by the beauty of the place, but also the local customs, not to mention the food and wine, of course.”

Mueller, who has previously headed the Locarno and the Venice film festivals as well as the Pingyao Film Festival more recently, has a clear vision for the direction he wishes to pursue. “From the moment I signed my contract, I knew I really wanted to go back to the formula that was used in the golden years of the festival, which for me,...

Saint Clare starring Bella Thorne and Ryan Phillippe will open Italy’s Taormina Film Festival.

The film is described as a “thriller” and is based on Don Roff’s novel Clare at Sixteen. Set in a small town, the story follows a solitary young woman who is haunted by voices that lead her to assassinate ill-intended people and get away with it until her last kill sucks her down a rabbit hole riddled with corruption, trafficking, and visions from the beyond.

The film is directed by Italian film director and screenwriter Mitzi Peirone (Braid), who also co-wrote the script with Guinevere Turner (American Psycho). Thorne (Divinity) stars in the titular role with Ryan Philippe (Crash) and Rebecca DeMornay (Wedding Crashers) supporting. The pic was produced by David Chackler, Arielle Elwes, and Joel Michaely. The original soundtrack is by Zola Jesus.

“We couldn’t have dreamed of a better debut for...

Mitzi Peirone’s feature Saint Clare starring Bella Thorne will open the 70th edition of the Taormina Film Festival, organizers unveiled Monday.

Thorne, who plays the lead in the adaptation of Don Roff’s novel Clare at Sixteen, will attend the screening, the film’s world premiere, at the festival’s iconic Teatro Antico open-air theater, Saturday July 13. Thorne plays a solitary young woman in a small town who is haunted by voices that lead her to kill the nastier folks in town and get away with it.

Peirone (horror thriller Braid) co-wrote the script with Guinevere Turner (American Psycho). Ryan Phillippe and Rebecca De Mornay co-star. David Chackler, Arielle Elwes and Joel Michaely produced the film, with an original soundtrack by Zola Jesus.

“We couldn’t have dreamed of a better debut for our oneiric film than the gorgeously historic Taormina. We are elated and humbled, especially for a...

U.S.-based Italian director Mitzi Peirone’s comic horror thriller “Saint Clare” has been set as the opening night film of Italy’s upcoming Taormina Film Festival with protagonist Bella Thorne in attendance.

“Saint Clare” follows Peirone’s debut, the horror film “Braid,” which launched from Tribeca in 2018.

Based on U.S. author Don Roff’s novel “Clare at Sixteen,” “Saint Clare” is set in a small town where “a solitary young woman is haunted by voices that lead her to assassinate ill intended people and get away with it, until her last kill sucks her down a rabbit hole riddled with corruption, trafficking and visions from the beyond,” as the provided synopsis puts it.

Peirone co-wrote the “Saint Clare” script with Guinevere Turner (“American Psycho”). Thorne stars in the lead with Ryan Philippe (“Crash”) and Rebecca DeMornay (“Wedding Crashers”) in supporting roles. The film is produced by David Chackler,...

Exclusive: Helena Howard (Madeline’s Madeline), Bella Thorne (Divinity), Zión Moreno (Gossip Girl), Chloe Cherry (Euphoria) and Sophia Ali (Uncharted) have wrapped production on Find Your Friends, a thriller marking the feature directorial debut of actor-filmmaker Izabel Pakzad.

Others to appear in the film include Chris Bauer (The Wire), Jake Manley (The Order), Israel Broussard (Happy Death Day), Harrison Sloan Gilbertson (Oppenheimer), and Blaine Kern III (Accused).

Izabel Pakzad

Written by Pakzad, Find Your Friends watches as Amber and her four best girlfriends take a trip to escape the L.A. bubble and cut loose in Joshua Tree for the weekend. But upon arrival, they quickly realize the locals don’t want them there. As the hostile environment escalates, our girls are disparaged by their aggressive neighbor, dismissed by the cops, and, it seems, even being stalked by some local men. But as her friends uncover Amber’s past trauma,...

Exclusive: Screen Media has announced its acquisition of all North American rights to Helen’s Dead, a mystery comedy starring Dylan Gelula (Dream Scenario), Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild), Tyrese Gibson (Fast X), Annabelle Dexter-Jones (Succession), and Oliver Cooper (Red Oaks). Set to hit theaters in at least the top 10 markets, the film will open day-and-date on November 3.

The flick directed by K. Asher Levin follows the story of Addie (Gelula), who, after a terrible breakup with her boyfriend, goes to confront her best friend about cheating allegations and accidentally steps into a murder scene.

Amy Brown Carver penned the script based on her story written with Levin. The film is produced by Levin, Daniel Cummings, Robert Dean, Roy Scott MacFarland, and Todd Lundbohm.

“I have always dreamt of making my very own freewheelin’, one crazy night movie,” said Levin. “It’s truly a blessing to have assembled such an amazing...

London-based Atlas most recently served as director at Screen Media.

Tamara Birkemoe has made her first executive hire at Palisades Park Pictures (Ppp), bringing on Hannah Atlas as VP international sales and distribution as talks kick off in Cannes on the initial roster including John Travolta and Katherine Heigl rom-com That’s Amore!

London-based Atlas most recently served as director at Screen Media where she worked with buyers in Emea and Asia and licensed Fast Charlie starring Pierce Brosnan, Bella Thorne in Saint Clare, and Blood Knot starring Michael Douglas.

Prior to that she worked with Sonar Entertainment in international...

Exclusive: Ryan Phillippe (American Murderer), Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Mena Suvari (American Horror Story) will topline Kalahari, a new action thriller from Vertical, which has wrapped production.

Vertical fully financed the pic and has taken North American rights, with Voltage Pictures locking down rights for all international territories, preparing now to present the film to buyers at Cannes.

In the film written and directed by Mukunda Michael Dewil (Collide), a young couple is forced to flee their Christian missionary post in the Kalahari Desert aboard a rickety plane after an extremist militant group threatens their lives. Piloted by a corrupt smuggler (Hirsch), the plane loses power and crash-lands in the middle of an animal preserve populated by lions, leopards and hyenas. Injured, frightened, and being tracked by the extremists, this ragtag group must fight for their survival from both man and beast where only the strong will survive.

Exclusive: Terrence Howard (Empire), Jb. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Rebecca De Mornay (Jessica Jones) are set to star in Giving Thanks, a coming-of-age comedy set in Inglewood, California that will go into production in June.

The story revolves around Marcus and Roddy, two best friends who work at a dead-end retail job and dream about jump-starting their dream of living on their own while seeking fame and fortune. The pair come up with an ingenious plan to kidnap the pet iguana of football star Achilles Cooper for ransom, while also forcing the famous player to headline the birthday party of Marcus’s father.

Howard plays Calvin Turner, a hard-working father who wants to see his son, Marcus, take advantage of the opportunities life affords him. Smoove will portray Marcus’s arch-nemesis Dexter, an ambitious hustler who manages the retail box store where he works. And De Mornay is set...

Exclusive: Screen Media has taken all North American rights to crime pic Bad Hombres, directed by John Stalberg Jr. ahead of its world premiere at the Mammoth Film Festival.

The thriller features an ensemble cast that includes Luke Hemsworth (Westworld), Thomas Jane (The Punisher), Nick Cassavetes (Face Off), Tyrese Gibson (The Fast and The Furious), Diego Tinoco (On My Block), Hemky Madera (Queen of the South) and Paul Johansson (One Tree Hill).

Screen Media is planning a theatrical release later this year, followed by a digital release soon after.

Pic follows the story of two immigrants who take a simple job, but when their employers reveal themselves to be criminals, surviving becomes the most difficult job of their lives.

Producers are Stalberg Jr., David Frigerio, Scott Macfarland, Oliver Hudson and Wyatt Russell.

“We are thrilled to acquire such a gripping, tense crime thriller with an exceptional cast,” said David Fannon,...

Bella Thorne isn't very into the idea of eternal life. "I think living forever is ridiculous. Who really wants to do that? Come on now," she tells Popsugar. "That is just too much. You watch the world change, you watch the sh*t in the world get worse and worse and worse, and then it gets better, and then it's worse again." The cycles, she thinks, would get old after a while.

This viewpoint aligns with her character in "Divinity," a surreal, sci-fi trip of a movie that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. In it, Thorne plays the closest thing to a god or holy spirit the movie offers. Shot entirely on black-and-white film, "Divinity" centers around a serum that can make people immortal - with some unexpected and gruesome consequences. But while most of the movie centers on the dangers of taking science too far, Thorne...

Bella Thorne is shaking it up on a boat with a friend wearing a black swimsuit. Pic credit: @bellathorne/Instagram

While her Shake It Up co-star Zendaya is winning Emmy Awards for her acting prowess, Bella Thorne is living it up with friends on a boat.

The Disney Channel alum posted a high-energy video on Instagram as she danced with a friend on a boat in a swimsuit.

She shared her excitement with her 25.3 million followers, many of whom are likely accustomed to seeing her swimsuit content. Bella received more than 157K likes for the share.

Bella and her friend “shook it up” as they danced in black swimwear on a moving boat. Bella wore a black swimsuit with spaghetti straps and a scoop neck. The bodice featured a cutout with a small charm, adding a bit of flair to the piece.

The fashionable actress, who is never afraid to accessorize,...

With “Chiara,” Susanna Nicchiarelli’s portrait of Saint Clare of Assisi – the 13th century saint born into a wealthy family who at age 18 became a nun after hearing St. Francis preach – the Italian director completes her trilogy of female biopics, segueing from “Nico, 1988” and “Miss Marx,” which both launched respectively from Venice’s Horizons and competition sections. She is now back on the Lido in competition with “Chiara.”

Nicchiarelli spoke to Variety about what drew her to portraying this prototypical feminist and directing “My Brilliant Friend” star Margherita Mazzucco in the pic’s titular role. Excerpts.

What drove you to want to tell us this story about St. Clare?

Well, first of all, I was always passionate about Saint Francis. I have a very strong memory when I first saw Franco Zeffirelli’s “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” I was at school when they showed it to us and this boy,...

Bella Thorne is living her best life and celebrating her manager as she dances in a bikini. Pic credit: @bellathorne/Instagram

Bella Thorne continues to celebrate her manager as she shares yet another dancing montage featuring lots of bikinis and partying.

Bella recently posted from Mexico, where she enjoyed an impromptu photoshoot and wished her manager a happy birthday.

Over the weekend, Bella continued to show her manager love with a dancing clip shared on Instagram. It appears that the duo knows how to work hard and play hard as they danced to the beat and in the heat.

The montage featured the two up close and personal in various settings, including a beach and a nightclub.

The background song was Big Mad by Ktlyn.

Bella’s caption read, ” my manager .”

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A post shared by Bella (@bellathorne)

Bella Thorne is the number two earner on...

Bella Thorne rocks a leather dress. Pic credit: @bellathorne/Instagram

Bella Thorne was feeling green in a sultry leather look featuring a pop of color and curls.

A fan account shared the post on Instagram, and Bella was happy to repost it on her Instagram Story.

Bella rocked a black strapless gown made of leather with a snake skin pattern. The form-fitting dress featured a dangerously high thigh-slit, showing a bit of leg.

The former Shake It Up actress posed in front of dark granite with what appeared to be a terrarium.

Bella added a pop of green via green eyeshadow and green acrylic tips. She also carried her famous evil eye lighter–a gold piece with a green eye.

Adding to the green and gold theme, she wore small gold hoops and layered gold necklaces, a few featuring pearls. She also wrapped a rosary around her wrist and appeared...

Bella Thorne in a lace bra and skirt asks for opinions on a potential outfit. Pic credit: @bellathorne/Instagram

Bella Thorne showed off her perfect fashion sense as she posed in a potential outfit, wearing a lacy bra and flowing skirt.

The Shake It Up alum posed for a mirror selfie with in head-to-toe designer, which is customary for the actress.

She appeared natural with her red, long locks in a center part with loose waves in the photos taken from her home.

The actress just came off a whirlwind trip to Mexico and Spain. First, Bella celebrated her manager’s birthday. Then, she jetted across the ocean to reunite with her ex-girlfriend, Tana Mongeau, in Ibiza.

Upon her return to Los Angeles, Bella shared content from the gym in the form of a gym selfie. While wearing a sports bra and leggings, the Disney Channel alum appeared bare-faced and...

Bella Thorne enjoys an impromptu photo shoot in Mexico wearing a knit dress. Pic credit: @bellathorne/Instagram

Bella Thorne turned Cancun into a photo shoot as she posed on the swings overlooking a pool, south of the border.

Bella stood on a swing set of a luxurious estate while displaying her chunky Gucci monogrammed slides and red pedicured toenails.

She shared the photos with her 25.4 million followers, who quickly rewarded her with praise and likes.

Bella rocked a short-sleeve knit sweater with horizontal stripes in red, orange, green, yellow, and blue.

The sun hit Bella’s famous red locks, which blew in the wind in natural waves.

The swing set was positioned over a man-made water structure with circular stepping stones placed in the water for swing access.

Bella Thorne enjoys impromptu photo shoot in Cancun

Bella swung upside down and kicked her legs in the air as she smiled and had a blast.

Bella Thorne wore a light blue bikini and stuck out her tongue in Mexico. Pic credit: @bellathorne/Instagram

Bella Thorne brought the heat to Mexico as the former Disney actress took a selfie video for fans.

Bella posted a fun video while she rode in a car south of the border.

She rocked a light blue bikini and matching short bottoms with a black lace overlay featuring a button in the center.

The label-loving actress wore a Prada headband with the logo prominently displayed on her head.

Her red locks appeared strawberry blonde in loose waves, with bangs framing her face.

Bella wore a long silver necklace with a pendant featuring an emerald in the middle.

Bella stuck out her tongue as she played with poses for her selfie video and revealed her flat tummy.

Pic credit: @bellathorne/Instagram Bella Thorne poses in paradise

A few hours later, she posted...

Exclusive: Bridge & Tunnel and 13 Reasons Why actor Jan Luis Castellanos is among supporting cast for thriller Saint Clare, starring Bella Thorne, Ryan Phillippe, Rebecca De Mornay, Frank Whaley, Bart Johnson and Dylan Flashner.

Currently in post-production, Saint Clare follows Clare Bleecker (Thorne), a quiet catholic college student with a divine vocation for killing. Phillippe will play the role of Timmons, a police officer investigating the latest murder in the small town, with Clare as his prime suspect. Whaley will portray Mailman Bob, a ghost from Clare’s past, with Johnson pulling double duty as twin brothers Joe and Randall, and Flashner set for the supporting role of Wade.

Castellanos will portray the role of Truman, a mysterious college student who becomes one of Clare’s friends and then a love interest. Also among cast are Myrom Kingery, Erica Dasher and Joy Rovaris.

Mitzi Peirone has directed the film, based on Don Roff’s novel.

Never trust what you see on the surface, particularly with teenagers. They could be slaying vampires after cheerleading tryouts like Buffy Summers, or a detective in their spare time like Veronica Mars. They could also be killers. A new indie film is on the way from Screen Media called "Saint Clare," based on Don Roff's popular novel "Clare at Sixteen" (via Deadline). Murders are happening, and the suspect, it seems, isn't who you might expect it to be. 

"Saint Clare" is the story of a young woman who has murder on the mind. If you want to get a sense...

The post Saint Clare: Everything We Know So Far About the New Thriller Starring Bella Thorne and Ryan Phillippe appeared first on /Film.

Exclusive: Ryan Phillippe (The Locksmith) has signed on for a key role opposite Bella Thorne in Mitzi Peirone’s thriller Saint Clare, based on Don Roff’s hit novel Clare at 16. Rebecca De Mornay (Lucifer), Frank Whaley (Pulp Fiction), Bart Johnson (High School Musical) and Dylan Flashner (The Card Counter) will co-star in the film, which Screen Media has slated for release in North American theaters in 2023.

Saint Clare follows Clare Bleecker (Thorne), a quiet catholic college student with a divine vocation for killing. Phillippe will play the role of Timmons, a police officer investigating the latest murder in the small town, with Clare as his prime suspect. Whaley will portray Mailman Bob, a ghost from Clare’s past, with Johnson pulling double duty as twin brothers Joe and Randall, and Flashner set for the supporting role of Wade.

Peirone scripted the indie with American Psycho‘s Guinevere Turner. David Chackler,...

The two films went to distributors in the UK, Scandinavia, Latin America and other markets.

Exclusive: Foresight Unlimited has reported major territory sales while in Cannes for upcoming thriller Saint Clare and science fiction disaster film Skyline Radial.

Saint Clare sold for Eastern Europe to Daro; for Spain to Inopia; for the UK to 101 Films; for Latin America to California Filmes; for Scandinavia to Mis Label; for the Middle East to Selim Ramia; and for Indonesia to Pt Prima.

Skyline Radial went to Wild Bunch for Germany, Happinet for Japan, Signature Entertainment for the UK, CDC for Latin America, Selim...