First Frame from Michael Merino’s Dramatic-Thriller CLUTCH

First Frame from Michael Merino’s Dramatic-Thriller CLUTCH

Los Angeles, CA (October 04, 2024). Currently in post-production, CLUTCH, the much-anticipated dramatic-thriller written and directed by Michael Merino who produced along with Randy Charach, has just released its first look of the film as it heads toward a late 2024 release.

CLUTCH features a powerhouse cast of Sadie Katz (Wrong Turn 6), Kaiwi Lyman (Den of Thieves), Augie Duke (Mayans M.C.), Mike Ferguson (Showdown at the Grand), Eva Hamilton (Ruin Me), and Jessica Uberuaga (Incarnation). The cast is includes industry veterans Michael Pare‘ (Streets of Fire) and Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2).

An Inspiration of actual events, CLUTCH follows Tonya (Katz). A rideshare driver who finds herself in the high-stakes criminal underworld. X (Lyman) car-jacks Tonya, after robbing his mob-boss Fuentes (Wells). In pursuit are two hitmen, Tartalo (Ferguson) and Lucius (Dan Istrate) to recover Fuentes stolen money and deal with X’s betrayal.

Katz is best known for her strong performances in the horror genre and expressed  her enthusiasm for the role: “The script for CLUTCH is exceptional. Working with Michael Merino and Randy Charach has been a fantastic experience. I’m thrilled to be part of such an exciting indie project.”

Merino previously wrote and directed the Dolph Lundgren-Danny Trejo-Chuck Liddell  action-thriller Acceleration. CLUTCH marks his second (of three planned) feature films centered around car-based stories. The film is a production of Randy Charach from Charach Productions and Michael Merino of MCMFILMS.

CLUTCH is currently wrapping up post-production, and expectations are high for what promises to be a gripping dramatic thriller.

About Michael Merino
Michael directed his first feature, the award-winning action film The Deal, in 2003. Michael released The Milkman followed by the thriller 502. Which won the coveted Shakes Award at the Dead Time Film Festival, in 2010. Michael followed up with the critically acclaimed Our Last Supper in 2012. Michael is a recipient of Best Director and Best Writer for The Haunting of Pearson Place at the 2015 Scare-A-Con film festival. The film garnered more than two dozen nominations worldwide and won more than 20 awards. He won Best Director and Best Screenplay for short films Times Up and Dream On at the WMIFF in 2014.

Michael’s recognition for his regional commercial and training video work from 2013-2017. In 2016, he produced, wrote, and directed the web series DRAKUL, released in 2017. In 2019 Michael wrote and Directed the action/thriller ACCELERATION (BEST DIRECTOR-NIAFFS Spain 2020). It starred Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Chuck Liddell, Natalie Burn and Sean Patrick Flanery. Michael divides his time between Austin, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. He is likes being a cheeky Pirate.

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