New Zealand-based genre distributor Black Mandala has boarded Hollywood Hells, a thriller that takes aim at the dark side of the entertainment industry, ahead of the upcoming American Film Market (AFM).
“When a struggling actress attends an exclusive Hollywood party, she discovers a cabal of power brokers producing real-life snuff films for the elite. Fighting for her life in the shadows of fame, she turns her camera on them. Not just a survivor, but the director of their final cut,” the synopsis for Black Mandala reads. “‘Hollywood Hells’ promises to deliver a sharp critique of celebrity culture, where fame and death are part of the same performance.”
The cast includes Fernanda Romero, known for “The Curse of Wolf Mountain,” and Brian Austin Green, whose credits include “Golden,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Comedian Jaoin Summers (“Hot Girl Summers,” “American Bistro”) and producer/actor Bruna Rubio (“Vampyrus: The Brides,” “The House”) round out the ensemble.
Produced by US-based Goldheart Productions, the film joins a portfolio of boundary-pushing genre productions, following on from Vampires: The Brides and Mermaid Killer at the Sitges Festival. The film was shown at HorrorHound, Cinema Scares, Bloody Mirror, and had many more festivals on deck.
The partnership signals a growing relationship between the two companies, with both companies already working on another feature, Abominable.
Michael Kraetzer and Nicolas Onetti launched Black Mandala in 2017 and built it into a leading player in independent horror and genre distribution. With over 100 titles under its belt and a presence at Cannes, Berlin and AFM, the Auckland, New Zealand-based organization champions visually striking material and fosters ongoing relationships with genre filmmakers around the world.
