By Juan Markos
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 06/16/2026 – We are overwhelmed by media choices; there are so many shows to watch and films to see. Regardless of what we choose, we often praise the actors and, if it’s a film, the directors as well. However, we rarely consider the writers. The writer is the creator; they conceive the characters and the story, bringing them to life in three dimensions. They are the essence of the story, and that’s exactly what Bravado showcases.
“Bravado,” written by Alex Hanno and Luca Malacrino and directed by Alex Hanno, tells the story of an ambitious writer. The film stars Caitlin Morris as the writer and Luca Malacrino as a manipulative director who takes her under his wing to help craft her film, “Bravado,” a violent Mafia story. Notably, “Bravado” is a film within a film. It opens with a documentary-style introduction about writers, which feels symbolic since the entire film is about the process of writing.
The story begins when Amy Erickson, a participant in a screenwriting workshop in Los Angeles, encounters an esteemed film director, Patrick Lombardi, who’s a speaker at the workshop. After the session, Patrick tells her that he has read her script and likes it. Awkwardly, she leaves but later decides to email him. He takes her under his wing, but they clash almost immediately. Despite his compliments, he asks her to make extensive changes to her script, which is almost the entire thing.
As they work together, Amy faces significant challenges while rewriting her script, including inner conflict, turmoil, and complete self-destruction. Initially resistant to change, she ultimately becomes deeply connected to her work. The film is reminiscent of “Adaptation” by Spike Jonze, but more twisted; it’s like the “Black Swan” of scriptwriting.
We witness the rewrites and adaptations come to life in Amy’s mind, and just when she considers giving up, she lets go and completes the script. Caitlin Morris delivers an incredible performance, exploring the depths of human nature. Luca Malacrino is phenomenal as the director and embodies all the roles Amy envisions for him throughout the evolving script. There is something profoundly satisfying about seeing her finally find her voice. This film is a must-watch.
Bravado will screen at The 29th Annual Dances with Films Film Festival on Sunday, June 28th at 12 PM at The Chinese Theaters in Hollywood.
For more information, please visit https://danceswithfilms.com/2026-bravado/
