Festivals - Screamfest 2025 : Thinestra : be ready to discover a razor-sharp body-horror debut from Nathan Hertz

By Mulder, 02 october 2025

The feature film Thinestra will premiere on October 8 in Los Angeles as part of Screamfest 2025. The film marks the feature debut of Nathan Hertz and is presented as a modern reinterpretation of the B-movie classic The Wasp Woman directed by Roger Corman. The film is produced by Dogplayer, Hitmakers Media, Stay Lucky Studios, and Mary Ellen Moffat, with Joshua Raymond Lee and Kelly Ann Parker serving as executive producers. The cinematography is by Joe Wesley, editing is by Aashish D'Mello, Joshua Raymond Lee, and Zekun Mao, and the soundtrack is composed by Charlie Laffer and Tom Walley. The screenplay is written by Avra Fox-Lerner, while the cast includes Michelle Macedo, Melissa Macedo, Mary Beth Barone, Annie Ngosi Ilonzeh, Brian Huskey, Jared Bankens, Gavin Stenhouse, Britt Rentschler, Norma Maldonado, Shannon Dang, Ludwig Manukian, Hadley Durkee, Alexander Chard, Emily Kiihnl, and Alyssa Raab.

The project is based on a strong artistic decision: to entrust Michelle Macedo and Melissa Macedo with the central role, allowing the mirror effect of two twin performances to be played out at the heart of the narrative device. This approach is complemented by extensive makeup and visual continuity work, supervised by Joe Wesley and the post-production team led by Aashish D'Mello, Joshua Raymond Lee, and Zekun Mao, to ensure smooth transitions between characters and situations. The emphasis on practical rather than digital effects reinforces the visual coherence of the project.

The soundtrack, composed by Charlie Laffer and Tom Walley, accompanies the film's Christmas setting. This musical choice is part of a cross-media strategy, as Michelle Macedo and Melissa Macedo plan to release an EP inspired by the film's universe and its winter atmosphere. This artistic synergy reflects a desire to anchor Thinestra in a multimedia release strategy capable of attracting attention beyond the festival audience alone.

The supporting cast, including Mary Beth Barone, Annie Ngosi Ilonzeh, Brian Huskey, Jared Bankens, Gavin Stenhouse, Britt Rentschler, Norma Maldonado, Shannon Dang, Ludwig Manukian, Hadley Durkee, Alexander Chard, Emily Kiihnl, and Alyssa Raab, highlights the diversity of registers explored by the production. These actors reinforce the scope of the narrative by bringing a variety of tones ranging from comedic to dramatic. The richness of this cast allows the project to be adapted to the expectations of festival programmers looking for films capable of blending several sensibilities.

The production team designed Thinestra as a work intended for international distribution, with a tight structure and fast-paced editing, calibrated for festival selections and future distribution on streaming platforms. The support of renowned production companies such as Dogplayer and Hitmakers Media, as well as the guidance of Mary Ellen Moffat, guarantee logistical and financial stability, giving the film greater visibility.

By joining Screamfest 2025, Thinestra is part of a strategic showcase for independent genre cinema. The Los Angeles event, known for launching numerous cult classics, serves as a springboard for a debut feature film that already benefits from an experienced technical and artistic team. This presentation is accompanied by press materials detailing all the credits and partners involved, confirming the producers' desire to position the project for a festival run followed by wider distribution.

Synopsis : 
A young woman takes a new weight-loss pill and the fat she sheds returns in the form of her blood-thirsty doppelgänger.

Thinestra 
Directed by Nathan Hertz
Written by Avra Fox-Lerner         
Produced by Joshua Raymond Lee, Kelly Ann Parker
Starring  Mary Beth Barone, Annie Ngosi Ilonzeh, Brian Huskey, Brian Huskey, Jared Bankens, Gavin Stenhouse, Flanelle Magazine, Britt Rentschler, Norma Maldonado, Shannon Dang, Ludwig Manukian, Michelle Macedo, Melissa Macedo, Hadley Durkee, Alexander Chard, Emily Kiihnl, Alyssa Raab
Cinematography : Joe Wesley
Edited by Aashish D'Mello, Joshua Raymond Lee, Zekun Mao
Music by Charlie Laffer, Tom Walley
Production companies : Dogplayer, Hitmakers Media, Mary Ellen Moffat, Stay Lucky Studios
Running time : 87 minutes