Stranglehold – Movie Review (3/5)

STRANGLEHOLD is a crime, comedy, and action movie with an amazing cast and lots of relevant social commentary. It’s also extremely violent, with a final act much bloodier than I ever anticipated from the more drama-fueled opening act. Read our full Stranglehold movie review here!

STRANGLEHOLD is coming out on digital and VOD, and I can absolutely recommend checking it out. First, it has a cast that feels almost bound to have at least some actors you like. Especially if you’re a fan of genre productions.

This is officially an “action crime comedy” hybrid, which I can confirm it absolutely is. However, the most amazing and fierce moments are to be found in the social commentary. Delivered with sharp satirical wit and a sad undertone.

Oh yeah, and the extreme violence towards the end in an attempt to rectify injustice.

Continue reading our Stranglehold (2026) movie review below.

From the Ashes into the Fire

Bailey (Ashley Benson) lives a life like many others: She is barely getting by, yet spends time on social media, obsessing over glamorous influencers who share their picture-perfect lives. In her own home, her veteran husband Tim (Jake Lacy) is busy playing video games and getting drunk.

The last thing he wants is to give up any immediate desire to help someone else. This includes his own baby daughter, which is when it becomes obvious just how sad and useless he is.

To earn as much as possible, Bailey is a stripper in a small town in Arkansas. Not the best place to get rich, and with Christmas coming up, they are feeling extraordinarily broke. As a result, Bailey and Tim get the brilliant idea (while drunk, of course) to rob the strip club.

It does not go as planned.

Not even close!

Ashley Benson and Jake Lacy star

To be honest, Stranglehold boasts an amazing ensemble cast chock-full of genre favorites. Still, the story begins with the struggling couple played by Ashley Benson and Jake Lacy.

While I have always liked both, I feel that Ashley Benson (Ratter) especially delivers a very strong performance here. Don’t get me wrong, Jake Lacy (Furious) is also great, but his character is more of an idiot. Always making the right choices while whining that he can’t get what he wants.

His character is much more of a stereotype, while Ashley Benson plays the more relatable one. The kind who is truly trying to build a life.

Also in this amazing cast are Ron Perlman and Justin Long, who play father and son. It works surprisingly well, and Justin Long (Coyotes, Barbarian) is clearly having a blast with his douchebag character.

Ron Perlman (Cape Fear series) plays a character that (in the end) reminded me a little of his Come with Me character.

That’s not a bad thing. Not at all. In fact, it’s just a sign of the times, and speaks to the social commentary elements of Stranglehold that work so well.

Finally, you can also look forward to seeing David Arquette (Scream), Chandler Duke, Elle King, Brian Posehn (Stuart Fails to Save the Universe), and Chris Redd (Vampire vs. the Bronx, Scare Me).

Watch Stranglehold on VOD and digital

Stranglehold is a film by Clark Duke, who clearly does not hold back in any way. Not only in terms of social commentary and stereotypical characters, but also violence. The screenplay comes from the director, along with writers Chandler Duke (who also stars in the movie) and Billington Garrett.

The tagline for Stranglehold is “It’s the Most Wonderful Crime of the Year”, which is because it takes place right around Christmas. Of course, that makes this release at the beginning of Halloween month feel a bit off.

However, you can easily watch it now and then rewatch it again as a Christmas tradition.

I mean, who doesn’t want to see Ron Perlman dress up as Santa Claus and be mistaken for someone very different?! Yes, that was a little teaser, I admit, but it’s also some of the darkest comedy in Stranglehold, so you need to experience it directly.

Enjoy the madness… I know I did!

Stranglehold is available On Digital & On Demand from October 2, 2026.

Details

Director: Clark Duke
Writers: Chandler Duke, Clark Duke, Billington Garrett
Cast: Ashley Benson, Jake Lacy, Justin Long, Ron Perlman, Chandler Duke, Elle King, David Arquette, Brian Posehn, Chris Redd