30/07/2025 - The new thriller from the director behind A Classic Horror Story is being produced by Propaganda Italia and also stars Romana Maggiora Vergano and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi in its cast

Adriano Giannini and Jasmine Trinca (centre) on the set of L’estranea (© Andrea Miconi)

After seven weeks on set between Rome and Bari, shooting wrapped on Friday 25 July on Paolo Strippoli’s new movie The Spiral, a psychological thriller whose story and screenplay were also penned by the Apulian director (A Classic Horror Story, Flowing) in league with Salvatore de Chirico. The film is being produced by Marina Marzotto and Mattia Oddone on behalf of Propaganda Italia, RAI Cinema and Dinamo Film, in co-production with French firm Kazak Productions (via Jean Christophe Raymond) and Belgium’s Tarantula Film (courtesy of Joseph Rouschop and Eva Curia).

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

While he waits for his other, most recently completed work to screen in the 82nd Venice International Film Festival (the horror film The Holy Boy, which has been selected out of competition and is due for release in Italian cinemas on 17 September via Vision Distribution), Strippoli - who graduated in 1993 - describes the film whose final clapperboard has only just slammed as follows: “The Spiral is a saga about the fall of an entrepreneurial, Bari-based family where the Buddenbrooks meet Faust. It’s a ruthless and visceral pop tragedy. Every human being draws strength from the illusion that they exercise some sort of control over their own lives and destiny. The Spiral is an investigation into what – and who – we’re prepared to sacrifice in order to keep that illusion alive”.

The film boasts an exceptional cast: Jasmine Trinca (the owner of two Best Actress David di Donatello awards for Lucky and The Goddess of Fortune, and recently seen in Diamanti and in the series The Art of Joy), Adriano Giannini (recently gracing Adagio and the series Supersex), Romana Maggiora Vergano (There Is Still Tomorrow, awarded the Silver Nastro for Best Actress via The Time It Takes) and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (in possession of five David di Donatello trophies, the latest of which for Best Supporting Actress in The Art of Joy).

Photography comes courtesy of Cristiano Di Nicola, editing is by Federico Palmerini, the film’s original music was penned by Robin Coudert (known artistically as ROB), costumes were entrusted to Susanna Mastronardi and set design to Marcello Di Carlo, while Giuseppe Squillaci is overseeing the film’s visual effects.

World sales and distribution in France are in the hands of Le Pacte (France) and 01 Distribution are managing Italian distribution.

Paolo Strippoli is considered to be one of the most original voices in modern-day Italian cinema. A Classic Horror Story, which he co-directed with Roberto De Feo, won the Best Director prize at the 67th Taormina Film Fest. It was nominated for 2022’s Best Visual Effects David di Donatello trophy and was also listed in The New York Times as one of the 5 best horror films available to stream in July 2021. Meanwhile, his movie set to be presented in Venice next month, The Holy Boy, starring Michele Riondino and Romana Maggiora Vergano, scooped the 2019 Franco Solinas Prize for Best Story.

(Translated from Italian)