THE LAST ACT

Short, Drama

United States

2025

Runtime, min

The Last Act follows Jacqueline, an oversized, struggling musical theater actress living in the hustle and bustle of NYC. After enduring countless rejections and humiliations, Jacqueline's frustrations reach a breaking point when a casting director cruelly insults her at an audition. In a desperate spiral, Jacqueline kidnaps Andrew, a pretentious producer, and drags him to a basement to force him to confront the industry's callousness. With sharp dark humor and a suspenseful edge, The Last Act explores the relentless pursuit of success, the weight of societal expectations, and one woman's descent into madness as she fights to have her final moment in the spotlight.

Director:

Zilong Zee

Selections and Awards:

REVIEWS:

I liked the aesthetic. Jacqueline's bloody face on the poster didn't lie. The film starts as a dramedy about a loser and ends like Misery. Lauren Karaman acts amazingly. The transition from vulnerability to madness is terrifyingly smooth.

Sergio Stocco

Actually it’s a genius meta-commentary on what we do for art.

Sophia Wilson

Harsh movie. I was laughing at her jokes at first, and then sat with my mouth open.

Alice Baranowsky

This is a female version of Joker, but on Broadway. Society pushes her to the edge until she snaps.

Tomas Corbani

I am not a freak! - Yes, freaks are interesting! thats a powerful line!

Marco Quilez

Funny and scary at the same time. The irony is that to get recognition and a leading role, she had to become a real monster. A brilliant satire on New York.

Sergio Castro Ruiz