First Look: Ashley Benson Dives into Dark Suspense with Stranglehold
The film centers on an ill-advised extortion attempt that collapses into chaotic retaliation across a single, freezing weekend. Benson plays a central figure caught between conflicting crews, navigating volatile partnerships while keeping her own survival objectives hidden. Rather than serving as a passive bystander, her character functions as a tactical player amidst a volatile group of desperate men.
The narrative accelerates when a routine shakedown crosses paths with a ruthless nightlife kingpin, played with customary menace by Ron Perlman. Justin Long steps in as an unhinged instigator whose manic energy accelerates the bad decisions, while Jake Lacy balances the chaos with a strained, straight-laced veneer masking deep desperation. Benson anchors the dramatic core, giving the story an unpredictable edge as alliances shift by the hour.