Exclusives
Filming Begins on Action-Thriller ‘The Day’, Impressive Cast!
Filming is underway in Ottawa, Ontario on a new indie action thriller project that brings a vast collection of talented actors together for what’s described as an “apocalyptic siege warfare film.” Doug Aarniokoski, a Robert Rodriguez protege, best know for his second unit director work on Takers, Resident Evil: Extinction and even Once Upon a Time in Mexico, gets behind the camera for The Day that features the all-star cast of Shawn Ashmore (X-Men, Frozen, Mother’s Day, The Ruins), Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism), Cory Hardrict (Gran Torino, Battle: Los Angeles), Dominic Monaghan (“Lost”) and Shannyn Sossamon (Catacombs, One Missed Call)! Details inside.
Several of Hollywood’s noted rising stars are continuing their love fest with independent films, as apocalyptic siege warfare film The Day begins lensing this week. The original screenplay was written by tyro scribe Luke Passmore, and was developed and is being produced by Guy Danella.
The film is a visceral action thriller with moral depth spanning 24 hours during which the ensemble cast is pit against insurmountable odds. The intention is for this film to be launching pad for a franchise.
Michael Finley of Follow Through Productions, LLC, Tim James and Antonina Armato of Rock Mafia Records, and Ross Dinerstein of Parlay Media, are executive producing. Faction M will also have a producing role.
Aarniokoski comes out of the Robert Rodriquez camp, and has made a name for himself doing excellent Second Unit Director work. He is also attached to direct The Black Phantom for Screen Gems. He started his career as a First Assistant Director, working on such films as: The Faculty, Spy Kids and From Dusk Till Dawn.
Ashmore was last seen in the Sundance Film Festival selection, Frozen; Bell is fresh off the indie hit The Last Exorcism; Hardrict stars in the upcoming Sony release Battle: Los Angeles; Monaghan, of “Lost” and Lord of the Rings fame, most recently was on ABC’s “Flash Forward”; and Sossamon just premiered Road to Nowhere in Venice.
Aarniokoski is represented by WME and Principato/Young, Passmore is represented by Generate. Ashmore by Gersh and Paul Nicholls. Bell by Paradigm and Principato/Young. Hardrict by Gersh and Burnstein Company. Monaghan by APA. Sossamon by Paradigm and Jeffrey Dash.
What happened to Flight 298? Our exclusive clip from supernatural thriller Black Box suggests a hostile takeover by an inhuman threat.
Black Box arrives on VOD today, July 7, 2026, via distributor Aura Entertainment.
In the horror movie, “A routine domestic flight turns into the flight from hell through a series of inexplicable phenomena and raw terror. Surreal encounters blur the boundaries between reality and nightmare. Passengers fight against all the odds in an attempt to survive while combating bizarre technological malfunctions, accelerating supernatural events, and alien influences.”
The film is based on the short film The Vessel, and an original screenplay from horror writer Stephen Susco (The Grudge, The Grudge 2, Texas Chainsaw 3D, Hell Fest).
Steven Quale (Into the Storm, Final Destination 5) directs.
Tom Brittney, Holly Leena White, Betsy Blue English, Dane Whyte O’Hara, Kaja Chan, Asa Ali, Boadicea Ricketts, Ceallach Spellman, Georgina Leonidas, Molly Belle Wright, Hanneke Talbot, Danny Mack, and Weronika Rosati star in Black Box.
Hammerstone Studios’ Alex Lebovici (Barbarian, Boy Kills World) and Jon Oakes (Drive, The Guilty) will produce alongside Capstone’s Christian Mercuri and David Haring (Bill & Ted Face the Music), Warren Zide (The Final Destination, American Pie), and Susco. Ruzanna Kegeyan and Roman Viaris of Capstone, and Clark Baker (Vessel) will executive produce.
Watch the clip below that sees a creepy crawling invasion aboard Flight 298, signalling supernatural turbulence ahead.