Mo’Nique turns to a medium with horrifying results in the upcoming BET+ horror film The Reading, from executive producers Lee Daniels and Courtney Glaudé.
The film marks the first time the Oscar-winning actress has worked with Daniels since they collaborated on the 2009 drama Precious. The two ended a years-long dispute in 2022 and vowed to work together again. They also recently worked together on an upcoming film directed by Daniels titled The Deliverance.
Mo’Nique leads the cast of The Reading as Emma Leeden, an author who lost her husband and two children in a home invasion.
Emma details the horrific crime in her new book “Invasion.” To generate press, she agrees to a staged reading by 19-year-old medium Sky Brown, played by Chasity Sereal.
“I’ve heard some amazing things about you,” Emma tells Sky in the trailer.
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But there’s a problem, Sky’s spiritual connections are real and dangerous.
As the reading gets underway, evil spirits take over Sky’s body and a horrifying scene unfolds, prompting Emma to demand “Stop her!”
The cast also includes Denisha Hardeman, Ian Haywood, Charlene Brown, Lisa Alavi and Sara Alavi.
Houston-based Courtney Glaudé wrote and directed the supernatural thriller.
“The Reading is a roller coaster of a project that I am thrilled to see come to life,” Glaudé said in a statement to Urban Hollywood 411. “I appreciate the dedication to bringing this, as I was told, ‘sick’ vision of mine to the screen… I can’t wait for the audience to think they know, but have no idea what’s going to happen. I promise you… it’s crazy.”
The writer-director makes his feature directorial debut on the thriller after previously helming multiple short films, including “Row” — which won the best short drama prize at the Los Angeles Short Film Festival.
The Reading begins streaming on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, on BET+.
Watch the trailer below.
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