New Zealand-based genre sales outfit Black Mandala has boarded “Hollywood Hells,” a thriller that takes aim at the entertainment industry’s dark side, ahead of the upcoming American Film Market (AFM).
“When a struggling actress attends an exclusive Hollywood party, she discovers a cabal of power brokers who produce real-life snuff films for the elite. As she fights for her life in the shadowy underbelly of fame, she turns their own cameras against them—becoming not just a survivor, but the director of their final cut,” reads the synopsis from Black Mandala. “‘Hollywood Hells’ promises to deliver a razor-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,” alongside Brian Austin Green, whose credits span “Golden,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Beverly Hills 90210.” Comedian Jiaoying Summers (“Hot Girl Summers: Comedy InvAsian,” “American Bistro”) and producer-actor Bruna Rubio (“Vampiras: The Brides,” “The House”) round out the ensemble.
U.S.-based Goldheart Productions is the production company, adding to its portfolio of boundary-pushing genre fare following Sitges Festival bows for “Vampiras: The Brides” and “Mermaid Killer.” The film has played HorrorHound, Cinema Scares and Bloody Mirror, with more festival stops on deck.
The collaboration signals an expanding relationship between the two companies, which are already at work on another feature, “Abominable.”
Michael Kraetzer and Nicolas Onetti launched Black Mandala in 2017, building it into a leading player in independent horror and genre distribution. Operating from Auckland, New Zealand, the outfit handles north of 100 titles and maintains a presence at Cannes, Berlin and AFM, championing visually striking material and cultivating ongoing relationships with genre filmmakers globally.
