Horror Short BABUSHKA From Thorny Devil Productions and Five-Tool Player Embark On Festival Journey
The Californer/10291139

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- Thorny Devil Productions and Five-Tool Player's latest project BABUSHKA, heads to film festivals actively seeking seasoned producers to collaborate on the full feature film and projected franchise.

A tense supernatural horror movie written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jon James Smith, BABUSHKA stars Hayley McFarland (James Wan's 'The Conjuring') as Annie Parker-Reed. Annie and her young daughter Sophie find an old babushka doll in their attic unleashing evil entities.

"We are eager to unleash BABUSHKA into the world," said Jon James Smith. "I believe we have created something special that connects with audiences and we're excited to expand on such a talented and passionate team and find the right people to turn BABUSHKA into the next big horrorverse."

Writer & Director - Jon James Smith's 2021 horror film, 'Last Orders' starring Alastair Parker (Netflix's The Witcher) and Steven Elder (Netflix's The King) received wide praise, picking up 17 awards and 26 nominations across international film festivals and described as a "masterwork" by Nevermore-Horror.com. Acclaimed film critic MJ Simpson wrote, "It's Jon James Smith's attention to detail that really impresses" in his review of Smith's award-winning thriller, 'Do Not Disturb' (2015). The film screened at festivals worldwide, winning several awards. Smith went on to win the Shriekfest Commercial Competition in 2016. Horror feature screenplay 'Rangda' was a Screencraft Semi-finalist and currently in development with Thorny Devil Productions.

More on The Californer

• NBA Champion Lamar Odom Launches Anti-Addiction Meme Coin, Ushering in a Disruptive Innovation in Web3
• Emmetra Partners with Renesas to Advance Agentic AI-Powered Imaging Solutions
• Gravity to Bring 5-Minute EV Charging to 8 Sites Across Greater LA
• California: Governor Newsom issues statement on Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope
• New poll shows high rates of employee burnout amid concerns over politics and personal finances

Actor and producer Taylor Lawrence established female owned film production company Thorny Devil Productions, producing projects in LA, London and Australia. Films including (Shrinking Violet, A Quiet Courage, For My Next Trick) have screened at festivals worldwide, winning multiple awards and nominations. Horror shorts (Somniloquy and Six 2nds to Die) have screened on the Horror Channel, headlining as "filmmakers on the rise to watch".

Five-Tool Player led by Paul Sinacore, CSA is a seasoned casting director and producer establishing Five-Tool Player to push through ambitious film productions. Working with top producers, directors, ad agencies, and talent reps, Sinacore has cast thousands of actors and negotiated hundreds of major appearance contracts for A-List talent and influencers. Sinacore's extensive client list includes projects for Netflix, Oxygen, ESPN, Discovery+, Travel Channel, Hulu, Peacock, HBO Max, Verizon. He continues to cast Unsolved Mysteries for Netflix, In Ice Cold Blood for Oxygen and Eli Roth Presents: The Legion of Exorcists for Discovery+. Sinacore sits on the CSA Equity in Entertainment and Commercials Committees.

More on The Californer

• Tessellations Appoints Luthern Williams as Head of School
• Aureli Construction Sets the Standard for Seamless Home Additions in Greater Boston
• Psychological Thriller "Killing Off Connor" To Open 34th IFS Film Fest After 12-years In Post
• Harvest Properties Acquires Two San Francisco Bay Area Self Storage Facilities for $44.2 Million
• California businesses in near-universal compliance with prohibition of intoxicating hemp products harmful to youth

For more information about BABUSHKA contact Taylor Lawrence at taylorlawrence@thornydevilproductions.com.