PREVIEW: Vinnie Plays Vegas (2025 Documentary) Starring Vinnie Favorito

Preview by Jon Donnis

Comedian, quick-fire insult artist and infamous high-stakes gambler, Vinnie Favorito is the subject of Vinnie Plays Vegas, a new documentary charting his meteoric rise and dramatic downfall. Directed by Brian Burkhardt in his debut feature, the film offers an unflinching portrait of a man who once had the Las Vegas comedy scene in the palm of his hand, only to lose it all to a crippling gambling addiction. Set for a UK digital release on 18 August via Miracle Media, it promises a compelling mix of laughs, scandal and sobering reality.

Vinnie's journey began in the bustling Boston stand-up scene in 1986, performing alongside soon-to-be comedy heavyweights like David Cross, Joe Rogan, Nick Di Paolo and Louis C.K. His sharp tongue and unfiltered approach to comedy quickly became his signature, carving a path that led straight to Las Vegas. It was here that Favorito truly thrived, and where the seeds of his downfall were sown. Vegas seemed tailor-made for his style, a city that embraced his brashness and gave him the stage to perfect his craft. But as Vinnie Plays Vegas reveals, the same environment that brought him success also fed his worst habits.

The documentary doesn't shy away from the darker chapters of his life. From his long-running Vegas residency to the spiralling gambling debts and desperate loans that eventually torched his reputation, the film paints a portrait of a man both celebrated and scorned. Through candid interviews with friends, fellow comedians and those left burned by his schemes, audiences are given rare insight into the highs and lows of the Vegas comedy circuit, as well as the personal cost of living life in the fast lane.

Vinnie Plays Vegas also raises the question of whether redemption is even possible for someone who has betrayed so many. Is there a path back for a performer who made audiences roar but left a trail of mistrust behind him? Burkhardt's film doesn't offer easy answers, instead letting viewers draw their own conclusions about guilt, forgiveness and the price of ambition.

Hitting UK digital platforms on 18 August, Vinnie Plays Vegas invites audiences to take a seat in the front row for a story that's as outrageous as it is sobering, a raw look at a comedian whose greatest gamble was on himself, and who learned the hard way that the house always wins.

Vinnie Plays Vegas is on UK digital 18 August (Miracle Media)

Apple TV - https://apple.co/4mKDGs3

NEWS: LEGEND Brings Fifteen Action-Packed Premieres This September

Images Provided by Clout Communications

By Jon Donnis

September on LEGEND is looking like a gift for anyone who loves a bit of high-octane escapism. Fifteen channel premieres are lined up, covering everything from big, brash blockbusters to gritty thrillers. The schedule pulls together a mix of old favourites, cult hits and a few underappreciated gems, with a cast list that reads like a who's who of Hollywood action royalty.

Things kick off with Jean-Claude Van Damme in Kickboxer, a revenge tale with the kind of training montages that could only have come from the late 80s. Then it's straight into fire and fury with Reign of Fire, where Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey take on dragons in a scorched future Britain. If you fancy something with a touch of swashbuckling flair, The Mask of Zorro makes its debut, pairing Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones under the watchful eye of Anthony Hopkins.

The month doesn't slow down. Man on a Ledge delivers a slick, high-concept thriller, while Nicolas Cage ramps up the chaos in Drive Angry, all guns, cars and supernatural revenge. Stallone returns as John Rambo in the 2008 entry of the series, directing himself in a blood-soaked rescue mission through Burma. Then there's The Bone Collector, with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie working together to track down a meticulous serial killer.

Steven Seagal brings his brand of justice to Marked for Death, facing off against Jamaican drug lords. Jason Statham and Jet Li collide in War, a stylised mix of martial arts and crime drama. For something a little more historical, The Alamo recreates one of America's most famous last stands, while Chain Reaction sees Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz on the run in a conspiracy-laced tech thriller. Push offers a more fantastical edge, with psychic powers and shadowy agencies.

Weeknights get a touch of 70s glamour with the second season of Charlie's Angels. Cheryl Ladd joins the cast alongside Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith, and the cases are as over-the-top as ever. Later in the month, The Bounty Hunter pairs Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston in a screwball chase, while Jason Momoa swings the sword in Conan the Barbarian. Closing things out is the powerful We Were Soldiers, with Mel Gibson leading a true-life war story.

What makes this line-up work is the sheer variety. You've got pure popcorn entertainment rubbing shoulders with more grounded dramas. There's nostalgia in seeing some of these films back on the small screen, but also a thrill in spotting the ones you might have missed the first time around. And the names attached to these projects are enough to make any action fan grin. Denzel, Stallone, Bale, McConaughey, Reeves, Cage, Hopkins, Banderas, Momoa… it's a roll call of charisma and grit.

LEGEND has always leaned into the bigger, bolder side of cinema, but September feels like it's really doubling down. Whether you're in the mood for dragons, duels, explosions, or just a solid Friday night fight scene, the channel has something lined up. The mix of decades and styles also keeps it fresh, moving from 80s martial arts to 2000s fantasy, to sharp 90s thrillers without losing pace.

It's the kind of month that makes you want to check the listings, mark a few dates, and maybe even plan a couple of late nights. Because when a channel hands you fifteen premieres in one go, you might as well make the most of it.

TV: Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137

PREVIEW: Grow (2025 Film) - Starring Golda Rosheuvel and Priya-Rose Brookwell

Image: Sky Cinema Press

By Jon Donnis

Sky has unveiled the first trailer and poster for GROW, a new Sky Original family film that promises to deliver a mix of heart, humour and magic. The feel-good story will have its World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Saturday 16 August, ahead of its release on Sky Cinema on 10 October.

The premiere will see several cast members in attendance, including Golda Rosheuvel (Bridgerton), Priya-Rose Brookwell (The Lazarus Project), Dominic McLaughlin (HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series), Jane Horrocks (Bloods) and Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso). Director John McPhail, best known for Anna And The Apocalypse, will also be there to celebrate the launch of the film.

GROW tells the story of a no-nonsense farmer living in the self-proclaimed "Pumpkin Capital of the World" who reluctantly takes in her estranged niece, Charlie. Charlie soon decides to enter the town's fiercely competitive pumpkin growing contest, using her unusual plant powers to care for her pumpkin, affectionately named "Peter". What begins as a challenge becomes a journey of connection, as Charlie starts to form bonds with the community, the farm and a new way of life.

The film's impressive ensemble cast also features Nick Frost (Harry Potter, How To Train Your Dragon), Joe Wilkinson (After Life), Tim McInnerny (Gladiator II), Alan Carr (Nativity!), Kathryn Drysdale (Bridgerton), Fisayo Akinade (Heartstopper) and Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary). Filming took place across a variety of Scottish locations, including Edinburgh, Dalkeith, Pathhead, Culross, Rosyth and Gorebridge, bringing a distinctly local flavour to the production.

Andrew Orr, Sky's Head of Original Film, spoke about the project ahead of its festival debut. "We're incredibly proud to bring GROW to audiences at Edinburgh International Film Festival. It's a beautifully crafted story full of heart, humour, and magic, a standout cast and fresh new talent in Priya-Rose Brookwell and Dominic McLaughlin. We believe GROW will resonate with families everywhere, and we're thrilled to premiere it on Sky Cinema this October."

Produced by Sky and Double Nickel Entertainment in association with Screen Scotland, Orogen Entertainment and Blazing Griffen, GROW is shaping up to be a warm and uplifting addition to this year's family film line-up. With its charming premise, strong cast and picturesque Scottish backdrops, it looks set to be a highlight for viewers of all ages when it arrives on Sky Cinema on 10 October.

REVIEW: The Death of Snow White (2025 Film) - Starring Sanae Loutsis, Chelsea Edmundson and Tristan Nokes

Review by Jon Donnis

The Death of Snow White takes a story everyone knows and drags it through a swamp of blood, black magic and twisted imagination. Jason Brooks clearly revels in tearing up the Disney-fied version and stitching something far nastier together. From the opening scene, with Chelsea Edmundson's Evil Queen slicing open her own palm during a ritual, you know exactly what sort of ride you're in for. It's theatrical, it's gory, and it isn't pretending to be anything else.

The forest becomes its own character here, a nightmare maze crawling with creatures and shadows. When Snow White, played with surprising grit by Sanae Loutsis, stumbles into it, the film shifts gears. The dwarves aren't miners or comic relief, they're killers, each with a signature that's so over the top it borders on absurd, but in a way that works for the tone. Watching Snow White adapt to their training is oddly satisfying. You can tell Brooks wanted her transformation from innocent fugitive to axe-wielding avenger to feel earned, and it does.

Chelsea Edmundson steals the film as the Queen. She's not just vain or jealous, she's terrifying, like someone who's already crossed every moral line and is now curious what's on the other side. Her castle set design is brilliantly grotesque, and the rituals feel almost tactile, the budget stretching surprisingly far for these moments. Granted, when the CGI does kick in, it's a little rough in places, but that's part of the charm, this is a B-movie that leans into its own excess.

The third act delivers on the promise of all the build-up. The apple scene isn't a quiet poisoning, it's a violent curse, and the fight that follows is a full-on massacre. Brooks isn't afraid to kill off fan favourites mid-battle, and the gore effects are inventive enough to keep you wincing and grinning at the same time. Snow White's final showdown with the Queen is brutal, messy and oddly cathartic. The moment she swings Tiny's axe is exactly the kind of payoff you hope for in a film like this.

It's not flawless. The pacing drags slightly in the middle, and a couple of performances from minor characters wobble a bit. But for what it is, a knowingly trashy, creatively nasty horror reimagining, it's a blast. It's also genuinely one of the most enjoyable takes on Snow White I've seen in years. I walked away smiling, which probably says something worrying about me.

I score The Death of Snow White a solid 8 out of 10.

Out Now

Apple TV - https://apple.co/3Hun5cP

PREVIEW: Odyssey (2025 Film) - Starring Polly Maberly

Gerard Johnson is back, and this one looks like a beast. Odyssey, his latest feature, is gearing up to make some serious noise with back-to-back premieres at Edinburgh International Film Festival and FrightFest this August. If you've seen Tony, Hyena, or Muscle, you'll know Johnson doesn't exactly deal in soft edges. This new one looks like it'll be no exception, only more neon, more pressure, and maybe even more personal.

At the centre of it all is Natasha Flynn, a cutthroat estate agent living beyond her means and barely keeping it together. Her world of fast deals and sleek lies comes crashing down when the people she owes money to start calling in favours that can't be paid with cash. What follows sounds like a slick, high-stakes descent through London's seedy corners, all while Natasha tries to stay ahead of everyone out to ruin her. It's being sold as stylish, gritty, and darkly funny, with a sharp eye on the modern housing crisis and the kind of corporate greed that eats people alive.

Polly Maberly takes the lead, and by all early signs, she's throwing everything at it. She's joined by Mikael Persbrandt, always good for an edge of danger, and a solid British cast including Guy Burnet, Jasmine Blackborow, Daniel De Bourg and Peter Ferdinando. Even the soundtrack promises bite, with an original score from THE THE, which feels like exactly the right kind of mood to score this ride.

Critics are already on board. Words like "heart-pounding", "riveting", and "wildly entertaining" have been floating around since its world premiere at SXSW. One even called it a masterclass. Not that Johnson's ever been shy of praise, but there's something about this one that feels like it might push him even further into the spotlight.

If you're into thrillers that come with bite and a bit of brains, Odyssey should be on your list. UK premieres land mid and late August, with a full cinema rollout in November. Feels like it's building towards something big.