Thinestra (2025) Review
Breaking Glass Pictures is proud to announce the North American release of the highly anticipated horror film Thinestra, set to premiere on streaming platforms on April 14, 2026. Directed by Nathan Hertz and produced by Alexandra Lubenova and Kelly Parker, the film has already made waves on the international festival circuit, including screenings at Sitges International Film Festival, Raindance, Screamfest, Boston SciFi Film Festival, and more, earning the VORTEX Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Award Grand Prize along the way.
It’s a sweltering Christmas in LA. Penny—plagued by body dysmorphia and cycles of binge eating—impulsively takes Thinestra, a mysterious Ozempic-like drug. That night, she violently expels masses of fat in a painful and grotesque purge. But her discarded flesh returns…and like the Hyde to Penny’s Jekyll, PENELOPE is born. As her ravenous dopplegänger wreaks bloody havoc, Penny struggles to regain control. Can she overcome her hunger before it’s too late?
Going into THINESTRA, expectations were modest at best. On the day I watched it, I had three other films lined up—each one, at least on paper, more immediately appealing. Judging purely by its title (a habit I’ll admit is far from reliable), THINESTRA didn’t exactly announce itself as essential viewing, so it was relegated to the backburner. That proved to be a mistake. Quite unexpectedly, it emerged as the strongest film of the bunch—so take this as fair warning: don’t let the title deter you. This is a film that far exceeds first impressions.
Michelle Macedo delivers an impressive performance as Penny, a photographer’s assistant who is both deeply sympathetic and increasingly unsettling. Opposite her, Melissa Macedo—Michelle’s real-life twin—cuts a genuinely frightening figure as Penelope, Penny’s monstrous and ravenous alter ego, complete with a voice that evokes classic Evil Dead-style horror. Their dual performance is central to the film’s impact and is handled with striking effectiveness.
The supporting cast is equally strong. Brian Huskey, as photographer Neils, brings to mind a Stanley Tucci-esque sharpness, delivering passive-aggressive, cutting remarks with impeccable timing. Meanwhile, Shannon Dang shines as Chaela, the makeup artist, adding further depth and presence to an already impressive ensemble.
Thematically and stylistically, THINESTRA shares some DNA with films like The Substance and, to a lesser extent, Stephen King’s Thinner. While it never quite reaches the visceral extremes of David Cronenberg’s work, it firmly establishes itself within the realm of grotesque body horror—albeit on a more modest budget. The film’s central conceit, with Penny’s body undergoing disturbing transformations (including the unsettling visual of fat physically leaking from her form), is both inventive and effectively uncomfortable.
A word of caution: this may not be the ideal film to accompany a meal. While it stops short of outright revulsion, it is certainly unsettling enough to test the durability of your movie snacks.
What elevates THINESTRA further is its dark comedic edge, which lands more often than not and provides a welcome counterbalance to the film’s more grotesque elements. The result is a film that is as tonally confident as it is creatively ambitious.
In short, THINESTRA is a surprising and rewarding watch—one that defies its unassuming title and delivers far more than expected. It’s a film well worth seeking out.