If you thought your inner critic was a monster, wait until you meet Penelope. Breaking Glass Pictures has officially snagged the North American rights to the highly anticipated body-horror flick Thinestra.
Before even landing a home, the film tore through the international festival circuit like a ravenous beast, hitting heavyweights like Sitges, Raindance, Screamfest, and the Boston SciFi Film Festival, where it walked away with the VORTEX Grand Prize.
The Ultimate Side Effect
Set against the backdrop of a sweltering, surreal Los Angeles Christmas, Thinestra tackles the nightmare of body dysmorphia with a literal, bloody twist. Penny (Michelle Macedo) is struggling under the crushing weight of societal pressure to be “perfect.” In a moment of desperation, she takes a mysterious, Ozempic-esque weight-loss drug. Penny sheds the weight, alright—but that fat doesn’t just disappear. It manifests into a ravenous, chaotic doppelgänger named Penelope (Melissa Macedo). Penny’s internal shame becomes a physical, grotesque spectacle that she can no longer hide or control.
Why It’s “Elevated” Horror
Producer Alexandra Lubenova describes the film as part of a “new wave” of genre titles centered on appetite, desire, and the terrifying cost of physical transformation. Director Nathan Hertz puts it: “Penelope isn’t the villain—she’s the symptom. The real antagonist is the voice in Penny’s head.”
A Killer (Twin) Dynamic
The film stars real-life identical twins Michelle and Melissa Macedo, creating an uncanny valley effect that CGI just can’t touch. They are joined by Michelle Macedo (High Potential), who brings the grit and vulnerability as Penny.
Rounding out the cast is a “who’s who” of genre and comedy favorites, including Gavin Stenhouse (Black Mirror), Shannon Dang (Kung Fu), Brian Huskey (Children’s Hospital), Annie Ilonzeh (Chicago Fire), and Mary Beth Barone (Black Mirror).
Get Ready
Critics are already calling Thinestra a “blood-soaked terrific tragedy.” If you’re a fan of the new wave of “hunger-horror,” make sure to clear your schedule for April 14th. … maybe don’t watch it while you’re eating.
