Movies
‘Gossip Girl’ Actress Grace Duah to Star in Body Horror Film ‘Cocoa Doll’
Grace Duah (“Gossip Girl”) is set to star in the racially-charged body horror film Cocoa Doll, Deadline reports.
She’ll play a Black Muslim woman who is hired by the wealthy McNeil family, but soon discovers that they have been turning previous employees into living dolls.
She must stage her escape before she becomes a part of the family’s collection.
Muslim-Nigerian writer-director Jumai Yusuf makes her feature debut on the project. Zoic Studios (“Alien: Earth,” Death of a Unicorn) will handle the visual effects.
Jake Casey of The Dazey Phase, Jonathan Unger of Unger Media, and Steven Adams of Alta Global Media produce.
“While the film features the literal transformation of people into dolls, it’s also a powerful metaphor for the objectification of Black women and the ways society feels entitled to their bodies, their minds, and their lived experiences,” said Yusuf. “At its core, Cocoa Doll is an inherently feminine horror story that explores monstrous femininity, from the grotesque process of creating these dolls to the extreme lengths women will go to in the pursuit of beauty, perfection, and control.”
Unger added, “Cocoa Doll shines a light on the dark underbelly of some of our most popular pop culture touchstones and gives voice to the Muslim community, through a powerful female lead.”
Cocoa Doll is scheduled to enter production in late 2026. Fearfolks is handling global sales.
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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