Tag Archives: Vertical

Vertical Acquires North American Distribution Rights to Melissa Barrera’s “Your Monster”

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Melissa Barrera is bringing her monster to North American theaters…

Following its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the horror rom-com Your Monster, starring the 33-year-old Mexican actress and Tommy Dewey, has landed at Vertical for North American distribution.

Melissa Barrera, Your MonsterMarking the feature directorial debut of Caroline Lindy, who adapted the script from her own short film, Your Monster also stars Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster and Meghann Fahy.

No word yet on a release date.

The film tells the story of the soft-spoken actor Laura Franco (Barrera), who is dumped by her longtime boyfriend (Donovan) while recovering from surgery and retreats to her childhood home to recover. With her future looking bleak, insult is added to injury when Laura discovers her ex is staging a musical that she helped him develop. But out of these gut-wrenching life changes emerges a monster (Dewey) with whom she finds a connection, encouraging Laura to follow her dreams, open her heart and fall in love with her inner rage.

“We were captivated by Caroline’s film at Sundance and thrilled it has made a home here at Vertical,” Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey said. “Marking her directorial feature debut, she has created a fantastic, fresh, genre-defying film that perfectly balances the mix of comedy, romance and horror topped off with a dash of musical theater that will captivate and delight audiences later this year.”

Stated Lindy: “I’m beyond thrilled to collaborate with Vertical on the release of Your Monster. Their strategies and commitment to innovative distribution aligns perfectly with our movie, and their passion for the film and desire to support my first feature means the world to me. The Sundance crowds were incredible, and I’m excited that more audiences will soon have a chance to see Your Monster in theaters and beyond.”

The film is produced by Foster, Lindy, Kira Carstensen, Melanie Donkers and Shannon Reilly, and executive produced by Bob Potter, Dewey, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford. Jackson Sinder, Jack Taylor Cox and Alex Peace-Power were co-producers.

Barrera received an honorable mention prize for her performance in Your Monster this past weekend at the Sun Valley Film Festival.

Vertical Acquires U.S. Distribution Rights to Morena Baccarin’s Action Thriller “Fast Charlie”

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Morena Baccarin’s latest project will be heading into U.S. theaters…

Vertical has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the action thriller Fast Charlie, starring the 44-year-old Brazilian actress and James Caan in his final film, ahead of its October 7th world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival.

Morena BaccarinCaan died in Los Angeles in July 2022, aged 82, following a decorated career of six decades.

The film also stars Pierce Brosnan.

Specifics as to release plans for his last project, based on the 2001 novel Gun Monkeys, haven’t been disclosed.

Brosnan’s character in the film, financed by Ashland Hill, is Charlie Swift, aka “Fast Charlie,” the consummate fixer with a problem: the target he’s just whacked is missing his head. Unfortunately, the only way for him to get paid is to prove it’s the intended target to the man who paid for the hit — New Orleans’ most ruthless mobster, Beggar Mercado (Gbenga Akinnagbe). Charlie looks to do so by enlisting the help of Marcie Kramer (Baccarin), the victim’s ex-wife and a woman with the backbone and skillset he desperately needs. Dragging Marcie back into a past she was determined to escape sends the pair on a wild and unpredictable odyssey, and throughout their escapades, they fight to protect the legacy of Charlie’s best friend and mentor, Stan Mullen (Caan), while bringing down Beggar and his entire operation.

Phillip Noyce directed from a script by Richard Wenk, with Toby Huss and Sharon Gless rounding out the cast.

Said producer Daniel Grodnik of the film, “Richard Wenk’s adaptation of Victor Gischler’s thriller novel, Gun Monkeys, coupled with Phillip Noyce’s keen direction, brings us into a fast-paced world where loyalty, commitment, and doing what’s right still matter. The relationship between Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin is as surprising for them as it is for the audience which makes for a lot of fun.”

In discussing the film’s appeal, Vertical partner Peter Jarowey stated that “Phillip has delivered a crisp, swift thriller with heart that showcases Brosnan and Baccarin’s chemistry delivering performances that seamlessly flow between action, thrills and drama with a good measure of humor weaved throughout to give audiences an exceptionally satisfying experience.”