Beneath the shimmering lights of a burlesque club, sequins catch the glow of crimson spotlights, feathered fans sweep through smoke-filled air and champagne sparkles beneath crystal chandeliers. Behind the dazzling performances, however, lurks something far darker. Jealousy simmers beneath every standing ovation, ambition blurs into obsession and reality begins to fracture. Welcome to The Belladonna — a seductive new psychological thriller where glamour and paranoia dance hand in hand.
Dubbed a “glitter thriller”, the stylish short film stars Janique Charles, better known as Janiq, whose commanding performances in SIX The Musical and The Lion King have established her as one of the West End’s brightest stars. Making her screen debut, Janiq plays Cherry, a gifted burlesque performer whose arrival threatens to unsettle the fragile reign of club queen Stella.
Written and directed by BAFTA Rocliffe alumnus Javid Rezai and produced by Dolphragon, The Belladonna follows Stella, played by Stella Talpo, as she becomes haunted by visions of her late mother while spiralling into paranoia, convinced Cherry is plotting to steal both her crown and her identity as Queen of The Belladonna.
For Rezai, the project has been years in the making.
“The Belladonna is a dream project for me and Stella, who have been dreaming of this since we were kids in our bedrooms making endless home movies,” he explains. “We would terrify ourselves watching Scream and The Blair Witch Project, sprinkled with a good mix of Jawbreaker and Clueless.”
Those seemingly unlikely influences gave birth to the film’s defining identity.
“Very early on in the writing process, I came across the Paris Hilton quote, ‘Some girls are born with glitter in their veins,’ and that instantly became an anchor point for the whole film,” says Rezai. “As the project evolved, the term ‘glitter thriller’ emerged, and it gave me permission to explore darker themes through a lens of sparkle, glamour and camp. If we were going to go somewhere dark, I wanted to bring glitter with us.”
While its visual world dazzles with rhinestones, corsets and theatrical spectacle, The Belladonna is ultimately a story about identity, grief and the dangerous pursuit of external validation.
“I wanted to explore the price you pay when you entangle your worth with success,” explains Stella Talpo. “When your value depends solely on the value that is placed on you externally through achievements, validation, love and admiration. Ultimately Stella learns that your value as a human being isn’t inherent, and gripping so tightly onto ambition is sometimes exactly what makes the thing you want so desperately slip away.”
Authenticity was equally important to the filmmakers. Rather than recreating the world of burlesque from the outside, the production enlisted celebrated performers Petit Pois, Miss Coco Belle, Donna Poderosa, Spookey Bones and Turkish Delight, whose experience brought remarkable realism to every scene.
“That was always our number one non-negotiable,” says Rezai. “The supporting artists had to come from the burlesque community.”
Talpo credits the performers with transforming the production into something truly immersive.
“They breathed all of their stories into the film with their presence and their costumes and wigs and camaraderie.”
Janiq’s casting proved equally pivotal.
“The second I watched Janiq’s tape, I messaged Stella instantly saying, ‘We have our Cherry!'” recalls Rezai. “She brought such generosity and good energy to set, and elevated every scene she was in. I’m so honoured The Belladonna is her first film role.”
Talpo agrees, praising the West End star’s ability to balance strength with vulnerability.
“She brought a fierceness and inner strength that we wanted for Cherry… whilst still nurturing the side of the character that is kind, humble, real and a girl’s girl.”
Much of the film’s haunting atmosphere comes courtesy of the legendary Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, whose decades of history become almost another cast member.
“The venue was a character in itself,” says Rezai. “It has this wonderful duality where it’s glamorous and vibrant, but also slightly haunted. It felt like the perfect physical embodiment of The Belladonna.”
Beyond the screen, the project reflects a commitment to representation and community. With a predominantly female and queer-led cast and creative team, The Belladonna has partnered with Trans on Screen to champion greater visibility for trans creatives and is supported by the charity Cabaret vs Cancer.
Premiering to critical acclaim at the BIFA-qualifying Brighton Rocks International Film Festival, The Belladonna is more than an exercise in stylish horror. It is a mesmerising exploration of ambition, identity and the masks we wear to survive, proving that beneath every glittering performance lies the possibility of something beautifully dangerous.
