zoe bell

Fantastic Fest XIX Review: In RAZE, Zoë Bell Knuckles Up In A Do-Or-Die Fight To The Finish

It’s been about ten years since I’ve seen Josh C. Waller’s feature debut, Raze, when it came out. The film landed on my radar during my first year with a website and I did quite a bit of press for it seeing as it fell under my purview for the talent at hand and the given subject matter – a story where dozens of women are taken, trapped and imprisoned into an unending underground hell full of death matches until there is one survivor. I couldn’t wait for this film to come out, and I think it’s equally exciting that this film is getting some extenuating festival hype by way of Fantastic Fest for the kind of genre crowdpleaser it aims to be. Indeed, the casting of Zoë Bell augments the film’s profile some with a stuntwoman taking the mantle with a lead role after more than ten years pursuant […]

FREE FALL: Zoë Bell Actioner Taps Zachary Levi To Star, New Zealand Shoot Later This Year

Lee B. Golden III

Celebrated stunt laureate and actress Zoë Bell is gearing up to shoot rock climbing action thriller Free Fall. Zachary Levi of Shazam and Harold And The Purple Crayon fame will headline the film with cameras set to roll in New Zealand later this year. Written by Sean Finegan and Gregg Maxwell Parker, Free Fall tells the story of a father’s attempt to reconcile with his estranged daughter in New Zealand on a rock-climbing trip that turns deadly as an accident leaves them stranded hundreds of feet in the air. As a storm sets in, the two must fight against the elements and terrifying heights in order to survive. Free Fall also marks the latest project partnering XYZ Films and Auckland-based Tavake Ltd. (Madam) whose Tom Hern and Nua Finau are producing. Navid McIlhargey and Erik Olsen will exec produce alongside, Finegan, Parker and Levi. Levi is an accomplished American actor and […]

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Lionsgate, Zoë Bell To Tackle Feature Adaptation Of The Viral Video Hit, ‘Boss Bitch Fight Challenge’

Lee B. Golden III

According to Deadline‘s Anthony D’Alessandro, Lionsgate is partnering up with actress Zoë Bell for an adaptation of Bell’s Boss Bitch Fight Challenge. The film takes its cues from the comedic Fight Challenge viral video trend that took shape when stunt performer Aaron Toney cut together the inaugural video that started it all. The trend caught on with stunt players around the world, and eventually with Bell whose own “Boss Bitch Fight Challenge” enlists a number of actresses such as Lucy Lawless, Rosario Dawson and Margot Robbie, and industry stuntwomen like Tara Macken, Angela Meryl, and sisters Heidi and Renae Moneymaker among others. “Zoë has built up a huge fan base over the years – which is no surprise, because she’s a bona fide icon who kicks ass and takes names in a part of the industry still dominated by men,” said Erin Westerman, president of production for the Lionsgate Motion […]

MVD announces their Spring/Summer ’21 additions to the “Marquee Collection”- Featuring a Scott Adkins double feature, & a whole lot more!

Matthew Essary

Physical media is getting rarer and rarer and people have just come to accept streaming as the way they watch movies. As with all things that become more niche though, the ones who still support physical media are fervent. So, there is still a strong market for Blu-Ray releases of films that cater to that devoted, core fanbase. Labels like Criterion, Arrow, Shout Factory, Vinegar Syndrome, and many more are lauded for putting out discs targeted to film genre enthusiasts. One group though, that doesn’t get nearly enough praise for their release is MVD Entertainment. Their “Rewind Collection” has done a remarkable job of taking video store-era staples and presenting them on disc in the highest quality possible. They have followed up that successful on-going collection with another. This one, known as the “Marquee Collection”, focuses on newer films that have been underappreciated on home video but are not (yet) […]

A MEANS TO A BEGINNING: A Word With HAYMAKER Star And Director Nick Sasso

Lee B. Golden III

Friday will see the launch of actor and martial artist Nick Sasso’s new film, Haymaker, from Gravitas Pictures and Kamikaze Dogfight. The film is years in the making, with Sasso already several credits in film and television and now paving the way for his own debut in a starring and directing capacity. Sasso wrote the pic and joins actress Nomi Ruiz on screen, as well as off to produce, with a story that centers on Nick a beleagured former fighter-turned-bouncer who rescues Nomi, a nightclub performer from a sexual assault. When Nomi then hires Nick as her personal bodyguard, the two jettison on a globetrotting adventure that will embark the pair on a journey of teetering romance, dramatic upheaval and self-discovery, and ultimately, a turning point that could very well be the lynchpin Nick needed to make his rebound in the ring. The concept here is the most beautiful to […]

HAYMAKER: Take A Swing At The Official Trailer For Nick Sasso’s Action Drama Debut

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been three years since stills began circulating for actor and filmmaker Nick Sasso’s latest, Haymaker. He makes his debut at the helm and also stars alongside transgender actress Nomi Ruiz and actor John Ventimiglia, witj Veronica Falcón, Udo Kier, actress and stunt legend Zoë Bell, and actor D.B. Sweeney. Haymaker follows a retired Muay Thai fighter (Sasso) working as a bouncer, who rescues an alluring transgender performer (Ruiz) from a nefarious thug, eventually becoming her bodyguard, protector, and confidant. The relationship leads Sasso’s character to make an unexpected return to fighting, risking not only his relationship, but his life. Haymaker tells a story about human dignity and love. Following its acquisition by Gravitas Ventures and Kamikaze Dogfight, Haymaker will roll out in theaters, On Demand and Digital beginning January 29, and for that, we also have the official trailer and key art circulating as well!

THE HAYMAKER: Zoë Bell Talks Nick Sasso’s Newly Wrapped MMA Drama

Lee B. Golden III

Production has reportedly wrapped on VFX artist Nick Sasso’s directing debut, The Haymaker. Sasso also leads the cast which has D.B. Sweeney, Udo Kier, John Ventimiglia, Zoë Bell, and actor/singer Nomi Ruiz all starring from Saaso’s script along with Kiwi actress and stuntwoman Zoë Bell (Raze, Paradox, Camino) who serves as producer as well as action director. The Haymaker follows a retired Muay Thai fighter (Sasso) working as a bouncer, who rescues an alluring transgender performer (Nomi Ruiz) from nefarious thugs, eventually becoming her bodyguard, protector and confidante. The relationship leads Sasso’s character to make an unexpected return to fighting, risking not only his relationship, but his life. The Haymaker, produced by Hood River Entertainment’s Andrew van den Houten and by HeroFace Productions, finished filming in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City following a schedule that stretched through Thailand, Greece and Los Angeles. Bell took to NZ Herald’s Spy column […]

Review: IMBROGLIO Methodizes Its Madness With Cataclysmic Poetry

Lee B. Golden III

I don’t usually listen to independent rock. It’s not that I have an issue with it, really, but that it never stays in my purview long enough when it appears, and I like listening to it when it does. In this instance, filmmaker Christopher Zatta’s pick of choice is a real gritty, groovy theme that plays at least twice in his latest ambitious short film, Imbroglio, coming out of its debut at Fantasia Festival this week. With Tracy (Alina Andrei) in his possession, Kyle (Joseph Michael Harris) leads his own group of criminals as they stage a trade-off of for his brother, Pete, believed to be held hostage by David (Travis Johns) whose own group, has Anna (Zoë Bell) seeking vengeance against Kyle’s over an earlier conflict. The standoff begins only to escalate even further when a dark twist is revealed, augmenting an already convoluted situation and ensuing a violent […]

THE HIT LIST: July 17, 2017

Lee B. Golden III

My weekend was a bit of a bummer…although it’s nothing compared to what others were going through in the world of stunts and entertainment as last week. For all intents and purposes here though, it’s worth celebrating the life and legacy of stuntman and New Orleans native, John Bernecker, who sadly lost his life on Friday. In honor of his memory, he kicks off this week’s installment of The Hit List with highlights from projects such as This Is The End, Goosebumps and Get Hard to name a few, followed by reels from some of today’s top and up-and-coming stunt professionals, including Bryan Sloyer, Rosslyn Luke, Michael Bekemeier, Bronin October, Brandon Ly, Gabriela Kostadinova, Doug Karr, Suo Liu and stunt coordinator T.J. White. At current, there’s nothing really in the way in terms of promotional materials. However, the latest shortfilm directoral outing from Christopher Zatta might be worth a nod as […]

JUNGLE RAZE: A Word With CAMINO Star, Actress And Stuntwoman Zoë Bell

Ahead of the release of the new survival thriller, Camino, we had a chance to speak with actress and stuntwoman Zoë Bell about the film which reunites her with Raze helmer Josh C. Waller, her transition into being an actress from stunts, and how she prepared herself for the role Avery Taggert in the film. You can listen to it by clicking here, or feel free to read the following text transcribed for your convenience. And to Ms. Bell, thank you ever so much for a wonderful conversation about your work! Film Combat Syndicate: Did you ever consider going into acting when you first started doing stunts? Zoe Bell: No, I didn’t. I found the stunt world and I was like, “Woohoo!” FCSyndicate: [laughs] ZB: This is what I wanted to do in my life. Though I did drama in highschool and Mum and Dad bought me acting classes with […]

Watch The Timely New Trailer For Zoë Bell Sci-Fi Thriller, PARADOX

Lee B. Golden III

Action, sci-fi and horror fans looking for thrills featuring heavy hitter Zoë Bell won’t be too bored this Spring. She has two seething new thrillers coming with one arriving in March, and the other in April courtesy of director Michael Hurst, Paradox, also starring Malik Yoba and Adam Huss. SYNOPSIS: A group of young scientists are working on a secret project that may allow them to travel ahead in time. They test it by sending one of their own ahead one hour. He returns pleading with them to shut it down, explaining that within that hour, they will all die. XLrator Media will be releasing this beast on VOD on April 15 followed by a limited theatrical release on April 19. Watch the new trailer!

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Zoë Bell Tackles Guerillas In The New CAMINO Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

2014 saw the release of director Josh C. Waller’s Raze with actress Zoë Bell, whose career has seen quite a shift over the years from stuntwoman to an actress slowly and graciously coming into herself more and more. Ask any action fan who follow people like Bell and they’ll tell you there’s more where that came from with today’s crop of action performers bringing more than a good pair of fists and stunt gravitas to the table. Accordingly, we now have Camino which made the festival rounds late last year to great approval, reuniting Bell and Waller once more for a plot that takes us beyond the cramped underbelly of Waller’s predecessor and into the vast wilderness where survival is all that matters. It’s a perfect look and setting for Bell who continues to showcase her prowess in stunts as well as her action chops, and in the first full […]

Zoë Bell Stars In 80's-Set Jungle Thriller, CAMINO For XLrator Media

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a couple of years since director Josh Waller put festivalgoers in a gritty haze with the seering underground fight thriller, Raze. Much to the film’s credit, and much like that of the fim actress Zoë Bell‘s previous roles in films like Death Proof and Angel Of Death, it showed Bell‘s range and ability to carry a film. Now, the two are pairing once more Bell‘s latest 1980’s-set survival thriller, Camino, pitting the actress against the elements within the jungles of Colombia and a psychotic killer out to kill her at any cost. XLrator Media has announced their acquisition of the film for it’s pending North American release in a new press release for you to view below, as well as an official still! LOS ANGELES (September 1, 2015) – XLrator Media (Jimi: All Is By My Side, The Machine) announced the U.S. release of the action-thriller CAMINO starring […]

Lend A Hand And Help Fund The Action Horror Short, NO TOUCHING!

Lee B. Golden III

No one really knows the extent to how any particular crowdfunding film project will turn out long after its funds are earned and the project is complete. However, if you know who actresses and stuntwomen Zoë Bell (Death Proof, Raze) and Heidi Moneymaker (Fast And Furious 7, Behind Every Great Man) are, you may be up for less skepticism than you think with their latest collaborative kick-ass action horror short film endeavor, No Touching. The project is being led by writing/directing duo Adam Davis and Will Corona Pilgrim, the latter whose IMDb resume reads like a whose-who in superhero movies. Both also collectively share a few minor credits in producing, writing and directing in some capacity, and considering that two businesswomen like Bell and Moneymaker are throwing their hats in to work with these two, it looks like there’s plenty of reason to be confident. “No Touching” is about a […]

MERCENARIES: Zöe Bell Unleashes 'PMS From Hell' In The New Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

While action fans currently await for Robert Luketic’s The ExpendaBelles, The Asylum is making a push this week for the upcoming release of Mercenaries (formerly known as Prison Raid) with a new trailer. CG explosions aside, it does a pretty good job of selling itself with most the trimmings of what an action movie junkie can expect. Christopher Ray directs the all-female line up led by Cynthia Rothrock and Brigette Nielsen, with Kill Bill veterans Zöe Bell and Vivica A. Fox, Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines co-star Kristanna Loken, and actress Nicole Bilderback and actor Tim Abell rounding out the cast. SYNOPSIS: A diplomatic official is captured and imprisoned while touring a war zone, so a team of elite female commandoes is assembled to infiltrate a women’s prison for a daring rescue. Ray will host a 20 minute Q&A for San Diego Comic Con attendees at 6:30pm in Marina […]

It's A Devious World In A New Clip From RAZE

Lee B. Golden III

Bloody Disgusting forwarded a brand new clip and poster for director Josh Waller’s new contained action horror thriller, Raze, coming off of its successful film festival run last year. The new poster and clip come ahead of the latest announcement by IFC Midnight for the L.A. premiere of this weekend with a panel featuring Waller and Bell attending. You can checkout the poster for that event below the clip. Raze, starring Zoë Bell, Rachel Nichols, Tracie Thoms, Sherilyn Fenn, Doug Jones, Tara Macken and Amy Johnston is releasing simultaneously in select theaters, as well as on VOD today. SYNOPSIS: Stuntwoman-turned-action-star Zoe Bell (Death Proof) headlines this sly subversion of the women-in-prison genre. When Sabrina is mysteriously abducted, she finds herself in an underground lair, forced to do battle with other innocents for the amusement of unseen spectators. Each of these reluctant warriors has something to lose, but only one will […]

Stallone Lines Up Our Silhouette Of Heroes In The New Teaser For THE EXPENDABLES 3!

Lee B. Golden III

A fake teaser trailer went viral on Thursday after it was announced that an actual teaser for the upcoming film, The Expendables 3, would arrive online the same day. Fortunately, some managed to see past the used footage and waited a little longer for the actual teaser trailer itself, which is now online courtesy of Lionsgate. The teaser also comes in light of news that Raze co-star, actress Zoë Bell is in talks to star in the upcoming all-female spin-off, The ExpendaBelles from Millenium Films, the same studio behind the Expendables trilogy. More news to be announced real soon we hope. Arriving on August 15, 2014, The Expendables 3 is directed by Patrick Hughes and stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Arnold Schwarzenegger, with Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Victor Ortiz, Glen Powell and Kelsey […]

Watch The Brand New U.S. Trailer For RAZE

Lee B. Golden III

After featuring a red-band trailer in October, IFC Midnight’s upcoming release of the TriBeCa film festival 2013 favorite all-female underground throwdown thriller, Raze arrived online with new trailer this weekend. Raze features actresses Zoë Bell and Rachel Nichols as two of fifty women kidnapped and trapped in a closed-circuit underworld nightmare of fists, blood and horror overseen by rich, elite gamemasters betting their earnings. The film also stars Rebecca Marshall, Bailey Anne Borders, Allene Quincy, Tracie Thoms, Doug Jones, Sherilyn Fenn, Amy Johnston, Rebecca Marshall, Bruce Thomas, Tara Macken, Adrienne Wilkinson and Nicole Steinwedell, and will get a digital and limited theatrical release on January 10, 2014. SYNOPSIS: Awakening after being abducted, JAMIE finds herself in a concrete bunker, and she discovers that she is not alone. She and SABRINA, a fellow abductee, both soon realize that they are in a modern day “coliseum” where, along with 48 other women, […]

The New Red Band Trailer For RAZE Is Now Online

Lee B. Golden III

As far as action goes, actress and stuntwoman Zoë Bell continues to make a name for herself in her field, with her memorable work on hit TV/Film projects like Xena: Warrior Princess, Kill Bill, Death Proof and Angel Of Death. This year, she will also get her place in the spotlight as actress, stuntwoman and producer along with actress and co-executive producer Rachel Nichols (Continuum, Conan The Barbarian, P2), for the new film by Josh Waller, Raze on April 21, 2013 when it premieres at the TriBeCa Film Festival. Penned as an action/horror cross between Hostel and Fight Club, the film focuses on the story of two women who are among fifty other all-female combatants forced to fight each other in duels to the death in front of rich gambling socialites. The film also stars Rebecca Marshall, Bailey Anne Borders, Allene Quincy Tracie Thoms, Doug Jones, Sherilyn Fenn, Rebecca Marshall, […]

Zoe Bell Is About To RAZE Hell In A New Poster

Lee B. Golden III

A new poster was recently unveiled for an upcoming independent action film called RAZE from Quincy Pictures and Cinipix. The film was written by Robert Beaucage and directed by Josh Waller, and stars executive producer Rachel Nichols and actress/stuntwoman/producer Zoë Bell. The story is penned as a cross between Hostel and Fight Club, focusing on two women who are among fifty other females forced to fight each other in duels to the death in front of rich gambling socialites. The new poster comes in light of the recent updates surrounding the film’s announced selection for the Tribeca Film Festival. SYNOPSIS via NBC NY: Raze, directed by Josh Waller, written by Robert Beaucage. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Stuntwoman Zoe Bell (Inglorious Basterds, Kill Bill 1&2) headlines this sly subversion of the women-in-prison genre. After Sabrina (Bell) is abducted, she finds herself in an underground lair, forced to do battle with other innocent […]