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Mel Gibson will always be known for his roles in Lethal Weapon and Braveheart, but he’s now in a different phase of his career that allows him to star in movies like Desperation Road. The 2023 noir-thriller sees Gibson team up with Tulsa Kingstar Garrett Hedlundand Ryan Hurst (Bosch), and it follows a woman and her young daughter are caught in the crossfire of whiskey, guns, and the desire for revenge. Desperation Road is currently streaming for free on Tubi in the United States, but globally, the film is streaming on Netflix, where it’s in the top 10 in Canada and other countries.

Desperation Road, which also stars Shiloh Fernandez...

Exclusive: Strange Darling actress Willa Fitzgerald is joining Paramount Pictures’ feature adaptation of the Colleen Hoover 2019 novel Regretting You.

The Fault in Our Stars’ Josh Boone is helming and wrote the latest draft off Susan McMartin’s version (After). This movie hits theaters on October 24.

In Regretting You, a shocking car wreck takes the lives of two family members, unlocking a series of secrets, lies and regrets. The people left behind can’t move forward without looking at the past. The movie explores what’s left behind after a tragedy, the messiness and grief but also the beauty of life and love.

Fitzgerald joins a booming cast that includes Allison Williams, Dave Franco, Mckenna Grace, and Mason Thames (Black Phone).

Robert Kulzer is producing for Constantin Film alongside Brunson Green of Harbinger Pictures,...

It’s more than a little odd when a director’s follow-up film to an Oscar-nominated hit is being offloaded onto theaters in the frozen tundra that is “dumpuary.” It’s weirder, still, when press materials make an effort to essentially erase the filmmaker’s name from the work entirely. It also isn’t every day that said filmmaker is Mel Gibson, a figure for which the word “controversial” does little to encapsulate his wild career and personal life.

So even if Lionsgate is coyly selling Flight Risk as “from the award-winning director of Braveheart, Apocalypto, and Hacksaw Ridge” without telling you who that award-winning director is, it doesn’t really matter. In fact, this anonymizing might turn out to be a good thing for Gibson. Flight Risk is a steep step downwards for the Oscar-winning director: a gritty, shiftless little B-picture set almost entirely on a Cessna flying over...

Nine years after the biopic Hacksaw Ridge (2016), starring Andrew Garfield as a Seventh-Day Adventist and pacifist who's called to the battlefield, Mel Gibson returns to the director's chair with American Hairlines, I mean, Flight Risk. The film stars Mark Wahlberg as Daryl Booth, a hitman marked by male pattern baldness and a penchant for torture. Joining the gleeful sadist on this bumpy ride, we have Michelle Dockery portraying a beleaguered Deputy U.S. Marshal and Topher Grace as mob accountant-turned-witness. It's a single-location three-hander with a hook, and it couldn't be less of a piece with the rest of Gibson's directorial efforts. His previous credits include the multi-award-winning Braveheart (1995), in which he also starred, the controversial mega-hit The Passion of the Christ (2004), and the controversial yet slightly-less-successful-than-Passion-though-still-a-hit Apocalypto (2006). If one thing is resoundingly clear looking at Gibson's body of work, it's that he favors the pictures with an epic heft.

While Sylvester Stallone is enjoying success on his show Tulsa King, he doesn’t stray too far from movies, but it’s looking more and more like his side hustle nowadays. Stallone was recently featured in Armor, which was a low-budget action thriller that primarily focused on a single location on a bridge. In his review, our Alex Maidy said Armor “is nowhere near mediocre due to formulaic action that cannot even muster enough energy to keep attention on screen.” Plus, there’s talk that Sly received a supposed $3.5 million for a single day’s work. Enter the trailer for Alarum, which flaunts Stallone in the marketing but looks as if he’s carved out the same deal for this film.

Grindstone Entertainment, which resides under Lionsgate, has released the trailer, which stars Scott Eastwood (The Fate of the Furious, Suicide Squad), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky franchise, Creed), Willa Fitzgerald (Strange Darling,...

Lionsgate has renewed its long-standing film slate deal with Grindstone Entertainment Group after signing new agreements with Grindstone president and CEO Barry Brooker and principal Stan Wertlieb.

The new deal, set to run through 2027, will cover upcoming releases like action-thriller Alarum, starring Sylvester Stallone and directed by Mike Polish; Dito Montiel-directed Riff Raff, starring Jennifer Coolidge and Ed Harris and recently acquired in Toronto; Wish You Were Here, Julia Stiles’ directorial debut toplined by Isabelle Fuhrman, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Grey, and Mena Massoud; and prolific genre director Brian Skiba’s The Gunslingers, starring Stephen Dorff, Nicolas Cage, and Heather Graham.

Lionsgate last re-upped its near-17 year deal with Grindstone in 2020 and before that in 2017.

“Our relationship has been a model of success for nearly 20 years because Barry and Stan anticipate and understand what the market wants and needs in a way that has been consistently profitable for both of our companies,...

Lionsgate has extended its deal with Grindstone Entertainment Group through 2027.

Lionsgate and Grindstone count a near 17-year working relationship in what is a 700-title content library.

Among Grindstone’s recent releases are the thriller Fall, Damaged, with Sam Jackson and Vincent Cassell; How the Gringo Stole Christmas, starring George Lopez, Desperation Road, Manadrome with Jesse Eisenberg; and Lamborghini with Frank Grillo, Mira Sorvino and Gabriel Byrne.

The new agreement includes such upcoming releases as action-thriller Alarum, starring Sylvester Stallone and directed by Mike Polish; Riff Raff from director Dito Montiel starring Bill Murray, Jennifer Coolidge, Pete Davidson, Ed Harris, and Gabriel Union; Wish You Were Here, Julia Stiles’ directorial debut, starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Grey, and Mena Massoud; The Gunslingers, starring Stephen Dorff, Nicolas Cage, and Heather Graham; and Fall 2 from the Spierig brothers. Other future titles are Hotel Tehran with Zachary Levy and Liam Neeson, The Beast in Me...

Mel Gibson's new movie, Monster Summer, continues the actor's unfortunate Rotten Tomatoes streak. Directed by David Henrie, known for starring in How I Met Your Mother and Wizards of Waverly Place, his new film follows a group of kids who, when a strange force threatens to ruin their summer fun, join forces with a retired police detective to embark on an adventure to save their island from a monstrous threat. The movie stars Mel Gibson, Mason Thames, Noah Cottrell, Nora Zehetner, Patrick Renna, Lorraine Bracco, and Kevin James.

With the movie now playing in theaters, reviews have been published and its Rotten Tomatoes score has been revealed. Monster Summer sits at 50% on Rotten Tomatoes with 10 reviews from critics, though the score could fluctuate as more are published. Even so, the score continues an unfortunate streak for Mel Gibson, whose movies have been mostly Rotten over the past four years,...

Mel Gibson may just be gleefully screwing with us, but in MovieWeb's interview for his delightful new film Monster Summer, he addressed his recent trip to Malta for location-scouting, which was widely reported to be for his upcoming sequel to The Passion of the Christ. If he is psyching us out, it's a rather detailed and delightful diversion. When asked about his trip to Malta (where he met Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela) and what direction his sequel to the religious drama was taking, Gibson responded by saying:

"Sure, well, there's that, but there's also I'm also working on a TV limited series about the Siege of Malta, which is an incredible story, and there's only one place to film that, I mean, in Malta. Because that's where it happened, at these fortresses where 700 knights defended Malta against an onslaught from the Turkish and Suleiman sent 40,000 men and ships and,...

As is the story with countless others, Mad Max: Fury Road got me hooked on the Mad Max series. For years, Mel Gibson played the lead role of Max in director George Miller's post-apocalyptic saga. Gibson originated the role of Max Rockatansky back in 1979, and reprised it in 1981's Mad Max 2 (Aka The Road Warrior) and then again in 1985's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. By the time Mad Max: Fury Road rolled around in 2015, Gibson was already 69 years old and thus had aged out of playing the action lead.

While it was hard for many to imagine a Mad Max movie without Mel Gibson, George Miller made an outstanding choice in casting Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky. Bringing his antagonist Bane-like energy to a protagonist role, Hardy is great in Mad Max: Fury Road. I would love to see Hardy return to the Mad Max series for any future iterations,...

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Talented multi-hyphenate Nadine Crocker follows her quietly excellent Mel Gibson film Desperation Road with a passionate blast of emotional catharsis in Continue. She spoke with MovieWeb's Will Sayre about writing, directing, and starring in the painfully personal new film, now available on digital and on demand from Lionsgate.

Nadine Crockers tour-de-force of confessional filmmaking dissects mental health struggles with the raw authenticity of a true survivor. Convinced shes fated to walk the same troubled path as her father, Dean (Crocker) suffers a major mental health episode and is committed to a rehabilitation facility. Once confined, Dean shudders through the agonies of recovery, and bravely comes out the other side armed with a defense against the darkness, summed up in one word: Continue.

September marks National Suicide Prevention Month a month to remember the lives lost to suicide, the millions of people who have struggled with suicidal ideation,...

Struggles with addiction and depression have come into the limelight since the Covid Pandemic. As they have, so too have the stories that often accompany these events. Director Nadine Crocker took her own struggles as inspiration for her film Continue. When shooting Continue, it was her debut feature. It now releases after her follow-up gig – Desperation Road – a Mel Gibson-starring action flick. Even with the long production schedule, she remains as committed as ever to her story.

When formulating Continue, Crocker wore a lot of hats. She served as the director, lead actress, producer, and writer for the film. She jokes “Sleep? What’s that?” when asked how she finds time for it all. “I think every person in the entertainment business knows – during production – you’re like a zombie person. You can’t wait to sleep and rest, but on the last day, you’re wondering how do I get that back?...

Just in time to highlight National Suicide Prevention Month, actress and budding filmmaker Nadine Crocker (Cabin Fever) has put on "33 hats" for her new film, as she recently told us. Yes, she wrote and directed Lionsgate's Continue, in addition to playing the powerful and emotionally charged lead role. You dont even need to do the research to confirm Crockers real-life personal connection to the spellbinding narrative source material here. Its just that palpable, with a raw and vulnerable turn that screams authenticity. As an added bonus, yes, Continue is indeed based on her life and explores her past struggles with suicide and mental health.

Hey, even superhero movies are exploring mental health now and Crocker, who also directed Desperation Road with Mel Gibson not too long ago, shows promise as a helmer of features with this latest passion project. The Oscar-winning stunner Girl, Interrupted might come to mind as...

Exclusive: Lionsgate and its Grindstone Entertainment Group have acquired the indie drama Continue, extending their relationship with writer-director-actress Nadine Crocker with a deal for multiplatform domestic distribution of her latest film.

Set to screen at the Bentonville Film Festival this week as part of the fest’s mission to amplify female filmmakers and other diverse storytellers, the film will be released in theaters September 6, coinciding with suicide awareness month.

In Continue, a girl suffering from depression is forced to get her life together when she is taken involuntarily to a mental institution after trying to follow in her father’s footsteps but failing in her suicide attempt. There, she finds unlikely friends, unwavering love, and a life she never imagined possible, only to find out some decisions can’t be undone. You only get one life.

In addition to Crocker, Continue stars Shiloh Fernandez, Lio Tipton, Kat Foster, Annapurna Sriram and Emily Deschanel.

Exclusive: Michael Madsen (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood), Jaime King (Sin City) and Michael Milligan (Outer Banks) have wrapped roles opposite Tanner Beard in Blood Behind Us, a dramatic thriller from directors Brendan Gabriel Murphy (Fluxx) and Shaun Hart (The Fall).

Supporting cast for the Texas-shot indie includes Ramsey Krull (What Did Deborah Do), Katie Leclerc (Switched at Birth), Russell Quinn (Romantic Rewrite), Wally Welch (The Magnificent Seven), and Brook Sill (Stranger Things).

The story follows Johnny Philobosian (Beard), a former Army Ranger who after the Afghanistan War joins a motorcycle gang, causing him to spiral into a life of crime and addiction. Finally breaking away from the grips of the brutal gang, he turns on his crew, bringing down the entire organization.

With the leader Ramsey (Krull) heading to prison, Johnny enters witness protection, changing his identity to Casey Hatfield and relocating to Utah. After several years of hiding,...

Mel Gibson returns to directing with Flight Risk, a zany, action-packed thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace. Producer Alex Lebovici praises the film as wild, contained, and different from anything Gibson has done before. Flight Risk finds Gibson taking a break from the arduous development of his sequel to The Passion of the Christ.

Mel Gibson hasn't directed a film since the acclaimed 2016 war picture, Hacksaw Ridge, though he's certainly been busy acting, appearing in more than a dozen films and TV series since 2020. We have previously reported, though, that he's returning as a director to a film that he will not star in, with Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace leading the charge. The film is Flight Risk, and the production was completed earlier this year. Now, Lionsgate has announced a theatrical release date of Oct. 18, 2024, for the over-the-top thriller.

One of the producers on Flight Risk,...

Imaginary is now available on Digital(Est) and will be available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital starting on May 14. Ahead of the release, we've been provided with an exclusive look at a behind-the-scenes feature that shows the making of Chauncey as well as the entity from the film.

"When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter, Alice, finds a stuffed bear named Chauncey. As Alice's behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.

Imaginary stars DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion), Tom Payne (“The Walking Dead”), Taegen Burns (“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”), Pyper Braun (Desperation Road), Betty Buckley (Carrie), Matthew Sato (“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”), and Veronica Falcón (“Ozark”)."

The post Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of Chauncey in Exclusive Clip...

Here we go again. In recent years, Mel Gibson’s found himself stuck in a never-ending series of Dtv-style action thrillers, similar to the kind of fare Bruce Willis churned out before his retirement. Along with his contemporaries like John Travolta, John Cusack and many others, Gibson seems totally stuck in a rut, with virtually all of these films (most of which he only has minor roles in) going totally unnoticed. Has anyone seen Panama, Agent Game, On the Line, Confidential Informant, Desperation Road, Dangerous or Force of Nature? There have been some bright spots, such as the solid Bandit (a movie he was proud of when I interviewed him) or Fatman, but for the most part, Gibson’s career as an actor in mainstream movies seems limited to this kind of fare, which is a shame.

Nevertheless, he’s still out there cranking out VOD movies, with Boneyard being the latest.

Mel Gibson's upcoming film Flight Risk is a departure from his usual historical epics, promising a wild and action-packed thrill ride according to its producer The movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace, with a trailer featuring Wahlberg as a balding and psychotic mob hitman. Boy Kills World, also produced by Hammerstone Studios, is a hyperkinetic blast of an action comedy now in theaters, offering fun escapism.

Mel Gibson hasn't directed a film since the excellent 2016 war picture, Hacksaw Ridge. He's been working on a sequel to his massive success, The Passion of the Christ, for quite a while, but in the meantime, it looks like he's going to have some fun with an action thriller. Gibson is directing the upcoming movie Flight Risk, which stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace. The thriller seems like a far cry from Gibson's other directorial features, which are...

Santa Monica, CA – Keep your new best friend forever when Imaginary arrives on Electronic Sell-Through May 7 and Blu-ray™ (+ DVD and Digital), and DVD from Lionsgate. Imaginary stars Chauncey the Bear, Blumhouse’s latest horror icon, now ready to play in your imagination at home! But remember, Chauncey is not imaginary, and not your friend. Alongside Chauncey are his human castmates DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion), Tom Payne (“The Walking Dead”), Taegen Burns (“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”), Pyper Braun (Desperation Road), Betty Buckley (Carrie), Matthew Sato (“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”), and Veronica Falcón (“Ozark”).

When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter, Alice, finds a stuffed bear named Chauncey. As Alice’s behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.

Lionsgate and Blumhouse...

Did you have a stuffed animal when you were a kid? Heck, do you have one now (no judgment)? Well ... what if that stuffed animal was alive and also evil ... or something like that? That's the basic set-up of "Imaginary," one of the latest offerings from Blumhouse, the folks who know how to make horror hits. The horror flick directed by Jeff Wadlow hit theaters earlier this month, and if you've been waiting to watch the movie at home, here's some good news: it'll be available to watch via Premium Video on Demand and Premium Electronic Sell-Through this week! Tomorrow, in fact!

DeWanda Wise ("Jurassic World Dominion"), Tom Payne ("The Walking Dead"), Taegen Burns ("The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers"), Pyper Braun ("Desperation Road"), Betty Buckley ("Carrie"), Matthew Sato ("High School Musical: The Musical: The Series"), and Veronica Falcón ("Ozark") all star in the film, along with the movie's main attraction: Chauncey the Bear.

Exclusive: The Fall of the House of Usher standout Willa Fitzgerald and The Continental star Colin Woodell have been tapped as the leads of Pulse, Netflix’s first original medical procedural. They join previously cast Justina Machado in the drama series from first-time creator Zoe Robyn who serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside veteran Carlton Cuse.

In Pulse, while the staff of Miami’s busiest Level 1 Trauma Center navigate medical emergencies, young ER doc Danny Simms (Fitzgerald) is unexpectedly promoted to Chief Resident amidst the fallout of her own provocative romantic relationship.

When we meet her, Fitzgerald’s Danielle “Danny” Simms is a 3rd year resident in Emergency Medicine at Maguire Hospital in Miami. While her deep empathy makes her an exceptional doctor in training, her brash and self-sabotaging nature disrupts her personal and professional life.

Woodell plays Xander Phillips. Hailing from one of Miami’s most powerful medical families,...

Pyper Braun as Alice in ‘Imaginary’ (Photo Credit: Parrish Lewis / Lionsgate)

At first glance, it would seem as if Blumhouse’s new horror movie Imaginary is just another killer doll movie along the lines of Child’s Play or Annabelle. And after a watch, that’s pretty much what it is. But with a few twists.

Imaginary is about a children’s book author/illustrator named Jessica (DeWanda Wise from Jurassic World Dominion) who moves into her childhood home with her husband, Max (The Walking Dead’s Tom Payne), and his two girls, the teenaged Taylor (Monarch’s Taegen Burns) and the younger Alice (Desperation Road’s Pyper Braun). Lonely in her new place, Alice immediately makes an imaginary friend named Chauncey who takes the form of a cute little teddy bear. But there’s more to Chauncey than meets the eye – and he has history with Jessica.

Directed by Jeff Wadlow...

Exclusive: Scottie Thompson (Hellfire), David Koechner (Anchorman), Gillian White (Trouble Man!) and Isaiah Washington (Grey’s Anatomy) are currently starring in Christmas action-comedy Dashing Through The Snow.

From writer-director Prince Bagdasarian, the movie is also starring are Hunter Ives (Abstraction), James Di Giacomo (The Kill Room) and social media influencer, Nick Antonyan.

Set in a cabin on Christmas Eve, the film will see US Marshall Jo (Thompson) protecting a pregnant fugitive (White) from a bounty hunter (Ives) and a hitman Santa (Koechner), accompanied by his henchmen of elves.

Washington plays Thompson’s boss, Acting Deputy Director Winters for the US Marshal Service.

James Di Giacomo (Desperation Road) and Sasha Yelaun (The Old Way) are producing, alongside Prince Bagdasarian and Hunter Ives. Filming is underway on location in Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead, California.

“I aim to craft a unique blend of dark comedy and action, immersing the audience in a snow-laden...

Blumhouse and Lionsgate have unveiled the trailer for the upcoming horror film “Imaginary,” set for a March 8 release.

Directed by Jeff Wadlow, “Imaginary” stars DeWanda Wise as Jessica, a woman returning to live in her childhood home with her family. Once moved in, her stepdaughter Alice becomes infatuated with Chauncey, a stuffed bear found in the basement. As Jessica grows concerned about the sinister connection between Alice and Chauncey, she realizes Chauncey might be more than just a bear.

Keri Moore, Lionsgate’s co-president of theatrical marketing, told Variety of the film’s premise: “Something you see across cultures is that children have a unique access to the spirit world. What if their imaginary friends are something from the spirit world? What if these imaginary friends were real, and what if when you left one of them, that made them upset?”

The film’s teaser trailer, which played exclusively in...

“The Walking Dead” actor Tom Payne and Broadway veteran Betty Buckley have joined the cast of Blumhouse’s next movie “Imaginary,” a horror-thriller led by DeWanda Wise.

Taegen Burns (“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”), Pyper Braun (“Desperation Road”), Matthew Sato (“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”) and Veronica Falcón (“Jungle Cruise”) will round out the cast.

Lionsgate is releasing the film on March 8, 2024. It wrapped production before the writers’ and actors’ strikes — so it will arrive in theaters as planned, unlike several projects that were forced to pause for months on end.

“Imaginary” was directed by Jeff Wadlow from a script he co-wrote with Greg Erb and Jason Oremland. The story centers on Jessica (Wise), who moves back into her childhood home with her family. When her stepdaughter Alice (Braun) develops a concerning attachment to the stuffed bear, Chauncey, she finds in the basement, Jessica becomes concerned with the young girl’s behavior.

Acclaimed actor and The Dark Knight star Aaron Eckhart leads the upcoming action thriller Rumble Through the Dark, for which we’ve gotten our hands on an exclusive clip. Eckhart stars as an aged bare-knuckle fighter who seeks to repay his debts to the dangerous Big Momma Sweet in a final, desperate attempt to salvage the family home of his dying foster mother. Check out the exclusive clip from Rumble Through the Dark above.

You can also check out the official synopsis for Rumble Through the Dark below:

“Golden Globe nominee Aaron Eckhart stars as a desperate, bare-knuckle cage fighter battling for the only thing he has left in Rumble Through the Dark, a riveting action-thriller based on Michael Farris Smith’s celebrated novel The Fighter. Bella Thorne shines alongside Eckhart in this gripping film about one man’s last-ditch effort to save his family home against the strongest of...

Here’s the latest episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro-budget indie films to bigger-budget studio films and everything in between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dom Lenoir, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk about how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their filmmaking experiences from directors, writers, producers and screenwriters, to actors, cinematographers and distributors.

The Filmmaker’s Podcast #364: Making ‘Desperation Road’ in 16 days starring Mel Gibson...

In Rumble Through the Dark, Aaron Eckhart plays a gritty bare-knuckle cage fighter searching for redemption. The plot is rife with drama, emotional highs and lows, and plenty of twists. The story will undoubtedly stick with audiences, but it’s Eckhart’s commanding performance that will be the talk of this film. The Dark Knight and Sully alum completely transforms himself physically and emotionally, playing aging fighter Jack Boucher, who must consider one last set of fights in an effort to shift his fate.

The film, which was directed by Graham Phillips and Parker Phillips, also stars Bella Thorne, Ritchie Coster (The Dark Knight), Marianne Jean-Baptiste Without a Trace), Derek Russo (Loki), and a powerful ensemble cast. The filmmaking brothers shared more about the compelling and gritty drama, working alongside Aaron Eckhart, and much more in this exclusive MovieWeb interview.

Aaron Eckhart's Transformation

Graham and Parker Phillips’ previous works include...

Warning: Spoilers lie ahead for Desperation Road!

Desperation Road is a modern noir thriller adapted from Michael Farris Smith's novel, following a homeless woman and her daughter on their search for a permanent home. Director Nadine Crocker transitioned from acting to writing and directing, using her personal experiences to tell honest and impactful stories. The film explores themes of trust, kindness, and the power of a single act of compassion to change someone's life, with a focus on creating authentic relationships between characters.

Currently available on VOD, Desperation Road is a modern noir thriller adapted from Michael Farris Smith's 2017 novel. The movie follows Maben, a homeless woman who travels the country in search of a permanent home for herself and her young daughter. Forced to kill a cop in self-defense, Maben runs into Russell, a recently released convict who offers her a safe haven. However, Russell's reasons for protecting...

Desperation Road, directed by Nadine Crocker, explores guilt, shame, and revenge in the Deep South through the story of a struggling single mother and a man recently released from prison. While the screenplay by the author of the source material and the talented cast are commendable, the movie falls short of capturing the depth and evocative nature of Michael Farris Smith's novel. The performances, particularly Willa Fitzgerald as the weary Maben and her bond with her daughter, provide an engrossing and heartfelt aspect to the film, though some plot elements feel muddled and characters lack development.

The Deep South simmers with guilt, shame, and revenge in Desperation Road, which is directed by Nadine Crocker. The movie follows a single mother named Maben who is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her young daughter Annalee (Pyper Braun). A seemingly unconnected thread begins with Russell, whose prison sentence doesn't...

Author Michael Farris Smith has penned a nice handful of best-selling books, from The Hand of Strangers and The Fighter to Desperation Road. The latter, an emotionally rich action thriller, arrives in theaters and on demand this month with Smith as screenwriter. The film version is, overall, an effective southern noir thriller with a plot featuring a compelling thematic triangle: revenge, redemption, and justice.

Desperation Road stars Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), Willa Fitzgerald (Scream: The TV Series), and Oscar winner Mel Gibson (Braveheart). It takes place in a small Mississippi town where the locals know one another and protecting family is key, no matter how far you go to keep your loved ones safe. Or bring justice to them. Ultimately, this movie is about two lost souls — Fitzgerald plays distraught Maben, a single mother running for her life; and Hedlund is Russell, a man who just got out of jail and must start over.

Based on the novel by Michael Farris Smith and directed by Nadine Crocker, Desperation Road is one of the most depressing dramas that follows two characters whose fates are intertwined with each other. The narrative centers around Russell and Maben, who embark on their journey to redeem themselves, but destiny brings them together. Desperation Road has a lot of drama in it, but it fails to evoke that gritty emotion even though it tries hard enough. Let’s discuss the storyline to see how the fate of these characters unfolds.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Movie?

Desperation Road opens with a woman named Maben, on the way to Mississippi with her daughter after she lost her lover in an accident. No matter how bad the circumstances they would have to face, Maben promised her daughter, Analee, that she would never leave her. Not having enough money, Maben...

We've gotten our hands on an exclusive clip from the upcoming action thriller, Desperation Road, starring Mad Max icon Mel Gibson and Tron: Legacy’s Garrett Hedlund. Coming courtesy of Lionsgate, Desperation Road is based on Michael Farris Smith’s celebrated novel, and finds Oscar-winner Gibson and Hedlund leading this Southern noir thriller about the lethal combination of revenge, redemption, and justice. Check out our exclusive clip from Desperation Road below:

You can also check out the official synopsis for Desperation Road below, which should have you even more eager to see Gibson and Hedlund leap into action.

“In a small Mississippi town, justice and the law are two very different things. Academy Award Winner Mel Gibson (Braveheart), Garret Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), and Willa Fitzgerald (Scream: The TV Series) star in a modern noir thriller based on the acclaimed novel by Michael Farris Smith about two lost souls tortured by...

The 2020s are shaping up to be the decade when female filmmakers venture forth with vigor. Between Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar Barbie success, Sarah Polley’s soul-stirring offering with Women Talking, and Emer Reynolds’s Joyride, that proverbial glass ceiling has been shattered. But even director Nadine Crocker knows the road ahead will still be filled with hard work in an industry expanding in diversity.

The filmmaker, who’s had a successful career as an actor in Hollywood, keeps the creative fires burning with her latest film Desperation Road, a wild ride all around — from genesis to execution. The modern noir thriller was written by Michael Farris Smith, based on his acclaimed novel. The story chronicles two troubled souls tortured by past mistakes yet connected by a secret that just keeps them running. Oscar-winner Mel Gibson (Braveheart), Garret Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), and Willa Fitzgerald (Scream: The TV Series) headline the film.

Desperation Road is a Southern noir thriller based on a novel by Michael Farris Smith, following a man seeking redemption after leaving prison. The exclusive clip reveals a tense encounter between a police officer and a woman, highlighting the danger she is in and potentially drawing her to the main character. Director Nadine Crocker praises Shiloh Fernandez's ability to portray a complex character, and expresses excitement for viewers to see the film and the incredible performances.

Screen Rant is excited to present an exclusive clip from the new Southern noir thriller Desperation Road. The movie is based on a 2017 novel by Michael Farris Smith of the same name. The story follows Russell Gaines (Garrett Hedlund) as he tries to rebuild his life after getting out of prison. He seeks help from his father, Mitchell (played by Mel Gibson), out of desperation. However, when he meets Maben and her young daughter,...

The new 'Southern noir' thriller "Desperation Road", directed by Nadine Crocker, based on the novel by Michael Farris, stars Mel Gibson, Garrett Hedlund and and Willa Fitzgerald, releasing in theaters October 6, 2023:

"...in a small Mississippi town, justice and the law are two very different things, as two lost souls tortured by the mistakes of their past and bound by a secret that keeps them running..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Mel Gibson, Garrett Hedlund, and Willa Fitzgerald star in the first trailer for Desperation Road, a modern noir thriller based on the acclaimed novel by Michael Farris Smith. The film centers on a former criminal trying to build a new life, seeking help from his father, but complications arise when a woman enters his life. Desperation Road is Nadine Crocker's second film as a director, and the script was written by Michael Farris Smith, who has adapted other novels to film.

Mel Gibson, Garrett Hedlund and Willa Fitzgerald star in the first trailer for Desperation Road, the upcoming drama movie from Lionsgate directed by Nadine Crocker, which will be released on October 6.

Based on the novel by the same name written by Michael Farris Smith, the story centers on a former criminal trying to build a new life once he gets out of prison. To accomplished his mission he...

Desperation often leads to violence when someone’s back is against the wall. Humans are animals, and when cornered, they’ll lash out, throwing caution to the win as part of a fight or flight response. In Lionsgate‘s Desperation Road trailer, a mother protects herself against a corrupted officer of the law, leading to gunfire, bewilderment, and a snap decision to flee the scene. Mistakes can catch up to the best of us, and secrets unravel easily when the past comes back to haunt you.

“In a small Mississippi town, justice and the law are two very different things,” reads the official synopsis for Desperation Road. “Academy Award Winner Mel Gibson, Garret Hedlund, and Willa Fitzgerald star in a modern noir thriller based on the acclaimed novel by Michael Farris Smith about two lost souls tortured by the mistakes of their past and bound by a secret that keeps them running.

Ahead of the upcoming thriller movie Desperation Road, which stars Garrett Hedlund, Willa Fitzgerald, and Academy Award winner Mel Gibson, Collider is excited to collaborate with Lionsgate to exclusively present the first trailer and images from Nadine Crocker's new film. The gritty and dramatic story centers around Russell Gaines (Hedlund), a former convict striving to rebuild his life following his release from prison. In order to do so, and head down a new path, Russell seeks assistance from his father, Mitchell (Gibson). However, things take a dramatic turn when Maben (Fitzgerald) enters Russell's life, and as their story unfolds, they find themselves on the run, realizing that their survival depends on developing trust in each other.

Exclusive: Power Book II: Ghost star Woody McClain has signed a publishing deal with the Black-owned comic book publisher Godhood Comics to bring to life The Brotherhood comic series. McClain created the series set to be released later this year and also co-writes alongside DC Comics Milestone Initiative breakout writer Dorado Quick.

The Brotherhood follows the story of a young man who accidentally finds himself inducted into a secret organization of Black men who have had a hand in protecting and prospering Black Americans for generations. The series is described as “The Kingsman meets James Bond—an action-packed spy thriller ready to launch its own comic book franchise.”

“I’m excited to work with Godhood Comics and bring The Brotherhood to life,” McClain said in a statement to Deadline. “It’s an honor to work on a project that showcases the strength and resilience of the Black community. I can...

Exclusive: Actor, professional dancer and content creator Woody McClain has signed with M88 for representation. M88 will create and develop opportunities for McClain in the entertainment and strategic partnership spaces.

McClain currently stars in the hit Starz network series Power Book II: Ghost as Cane Tejada since the show’s inception in 2020. He stars opposite Mary J. Blige who plays his mother Monet Tejada. Season 3 of the drama series premiered on March 17th and set a viewership record in its first weekend, making it Starz’s biggest premiere weekend ever. Power Book II: Ghost was renewed for a fourth season ahead of the Season 3 premiere.

Up next, McClain can be seen in the film Desperation Road set to release later this year. Written by Michael Farris Smith, Desperation Road is set in Mississippi and follows a singular event that sets the entire town on a collision course fueled by vengeance,...

Garrett Hedlund has been cast in a recurring guest role in Taylor Sheridan’s forthcoming “Bass Reeves” series set at Paramount+, Variety has learned exclusively. He’ll portray Garrett Montgomery, a so-called posse man of the era who Bass hires for his riding know-how and expertise of the area.

He joins previously announced stars including lead and executive producer David Oyelowo, and series regulars Lauren E. Banks, Demi Singleton, Forrest Goodluck and Barry Pepper. Dennis Quaid and Grantham Coleman will also appear in recurring roles.

Hedlund can currently be seen in Paramount+’s “Tulsa King” and will next star in the film “The Tutor,” which is scheduled March 24th theater release. He recently completed production on the films “Desperation Road” opposite Mel Gibson and “The Marsh King’s Daughter,” co-starring Ben Mendelson and Daisy Ridley. His other credits include Lee Daniels’ “Mudbound,” “On the Road,” “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,...

Exclusive: A hot European Film Market just got a little hotter. Sacha Baron Cohen and Nope‘s Keke Palmer are set to star in Super Toys.

David O Russell wrote the script and will direct, and Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven is producing along with Dreamcrew Entertainment’s Matthew Budman. FilmNation Entertainment is selling international territories, and CAA will handle the U.S. distribution deal.

Related Story Liam Neeson Set To Lead Neil Jordan Prison Escape Thriller ‘The Riker’s Ghost’ — EFM Related Story 'Desperation Road': First Look At Mel Gibson & Garrett Hedlund In Thriller, Signature Inks Deals Related Story 'Daddy's Head': Psychological Horror From 'Yesterday' Producer Starts Production; Amp Boards World Sales — EFM

Baron Cohen and Palmer play groovy ’70s toy sales reps on a life-and-death mission to save themselves, their marriage and their live-wire 12-year-old daughter while on the road in Middle America.

Signature Entertainment today released a first-look image from Desperation Road, a southern noir thriller starring Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) and Mel Gibson (Braveheart).

The London-based company will be presenting footage from the pic for the first time to buyers at EFM.

The film has already locked deals in France (Daro), Germany (Palatin), Italy (BlueSwan), Latin America (California Filmes), Portugal (Pris Audiovisuais), Cis (Mgn/Paradise), Eastern Europe (Daro), Middle East (Phoenicia Pictures), Turkey (Phoenicia Pictures) and Taiwan (MovieCloud).

Related: Deadline’s Full EFM Coverage

The first look image shared today was shot during production and depicts Hedlund and Gibson as ex-con Russell Gaines and his father Mitchell.

Based on the novel of the same name by Michael Farris Smith, Desperation Road tells the story of ex-con Russell Gaines (Hedlund), who attempts to rebuild his life with help from his father Mitchell (Gibson). But when Maben arrives and throws Russell’s life into chaos,...

Signature Entertainment have released a first-look image of Joe Keery and Camila Morrone in crime romance “Marmalade” ahead of launching global sales at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM).

“Marmalade” is the directorial debut of actor and director-screenwriter Keir O’Donnell. The film centers on the recently imprisoned Baron (Keery) who strikes up a friendship with cellmate Otis, a man with a history of prison breaks. As the pair hatch an escape plan together, Baron recalls the story of how he met Marmalade (Morrone), the love of his life, and their Bonnie and Clyde scheme to rob a bank in order to care for his sick mother and give the couple the life they’ve always dreamed of.

Keery is best known for his role as Steve Harrington in Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” was in Disney’s “Free Guy and led comedy horror “Spree,” which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

Exclusive: Kat Foster has joined the ensemble of Nadine Crocker’s Desperation Road opposite Garrett Hedlund, Mel Gibson, Ryan Hurst, Woody McClain and Pyper Braun.

Written by Michael Farris Smith, Desperation Road is set in Mississippi and follows a singular event that sets the entire town on a collision course fueled by vengeance, anger, and regret. Fitzgerald plays the role of “Maben”, a single mother with a 7 year old daughter who arrives back in the town where tragic events of the of her past collide with the people she loved and hated.

The project is being produced by Cassian Elwes, Walter Josten, Smith and Crocker.

This is second collaboration for Foster with Crocker, having previously worked on Crocker’s first feature Continue. Upcoming credits include Spoonful of Sugar, Fear the Night and Susie Searches. She was most recently seen in the limited series Gaslit as Barbara Walters.

Foster is repped by Entertainment 360,...

Exclusive Willa Fitzgerald has joined the cast of Nadine Crocker’s Desperation Road opposite Garrett Hedlund, Mel Gibson, Ryan Hurst, Woody McClain and Pyper Braun.

Written by Michael Farris Smith, Desperation Road is set in Mississippi and follows a singular event that sets the entire town on a collision course fueled by vengeance, anger, and regret. Fitzgerald plays the role of “Maben”, a single mother with a 7 year old daughter who arrives back in the town where tragic events of the of her past collide with the people she loved and hated.

The project is being produced by Cassian Elwes (Mudbound), Walter Josten (Replicas), Smith and Crocker.

Fitzgerald will next be seen opposite Robert Deniro and Jack Huston in Randall Emmett’s thriller Wash Me in the River which hits theaters and on demand December 2. She has recently wrapped Jt Mollner’s Strange Darling as well as Netflix’s series...