''Hold'em'' is a 2014 American thriller film directed by

Clay Dumaw Clay Dumaw is an American film director, screenwriter, editor and author, best known for independent films. He directed ''Get Out Alive'' (2012), ''Hold'em'' (2014) and ''Jack Wyatt and the Gun from Hell'' (2021). He also wrote ''Stay the Cours ...

. The film's plot combines

Texas hold 'em Texas hold 'em (also known as Texas holdem, hold 'em, and holdem) is one of the most popular variants of the card game of poker. Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt face down to each player, and then five Community card poker, communit ...

with elements from horror and thriller films such as '' Battle Royale'' and ''

Saw A saw is a tool consisting of a tough blade, wire, or chain with a hard toothed edge. It is used to cut through material, very often wood, though sometimes metal or stone. The cut is made by placing the toothed edge against the material and mo ...

''.

Synopsis

Former poker pro, Jake Emerson joins an underground card game with a million dollars at stake, but the entry fee is more than he bargained for. He along with long-time rivals Marcus Lester and Cyrus Wolf assemble in a dreary warehouse for a battle royale of cards. Each player who loses is killed, and the last man standing walks away an undisputed champion.

Cast

*Richard Cooke as Jake Emerson *Jay Storey as Nathaniel Savage *Peter Doroha as Cyrus Wolf *David Iannotti as Marcus Lester *Fyne Print Williams as Valentine *John Henderson as Bruno Grimes *Eric Scordo as Otto Freeman *Dalton Beach as Elmo Richards *Hassan McKnight as Henchmen

Production

The film was shot almost entirely handheld, and the cast supplied their own wardrobe. Because much of the production took place at night, the windows in the film's primary location had to be digitally corrected to appear as though it were day. Peter Doroha's identical twin brother, Stephen Doroha, did all his stunts and was his stand-in on days when he couldn't be on set.

Reception

The film received an ''Official Selection'' at the 2014 Scare-a-Con Film Festival. It also screened at the 2014

Buffalo International Film Festival The Buffalo International Film Festival was founded in 2006, and takes place in October of each year in Buffalo, New York. It is also known as the Buffalo Film Festival. History The film festival became a 501c3 not-for-profit charity in January 2 ...

and the 2015 Snowtown Film Festival

References

External links

* 2014 films 2014 thriller films American thriller films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films {{2010s-thriller-film-stub