Bella Thorne Becomes Bloody Avenger in ‘Saint Clare’

Saint Clare, the 2024 thriller from director Mitzi Peirone and co-writer Guinevere Turner, investigates the mind of a seemingly ordinary teenager turned serial killer. Based on Don Roff’s novel Clare At 16, the film stars Bella Thorne as Clare Bleecker, a devout Catholic school pupil whose veneer of piety conceals a sociopathic alter ego. 101 Films has acquired the UK rights and will release the film on digital from 21 July 2025.

Thorne is joined by Rebecca De Mornay as Clare’s steely grandmother, Ryan Phillippe as Timmons, a local boy drawn into Clare’s deadly orbit, and Frank Whaley as Mailman Bob, whose fateful deliveries set Clare on her path. Bart Johnson doubles as the twin brothers Joe and Randall, while Dylan Flashner and Jan Luis Castellanos play the town’s unsuspecting youth caught in Clare’s murderous crusade.

Saint Clare premiered at FrightFest 2024 in London, where critics noted its blend of psychological tension and grisly set pieces. The storyline follows Clare as she receives voices urging her to punish those with corrupt intentions. As the body count rises, the film probes themes of identity, faith and vengeance, culminating in Clare’s descent into a labyrinth of violence that leaves even her own sanity in question.

The production’s journey to screen began in January 2019 when Deadline first reported Madelaine Petsch was attached to star and executive produce. Petsch exited in May 2022 to lead The Strangers: Chapter 1, and Thorne stepped in soon after. By August 2022, principal photography had wrapped under the new title Saint Clare, signalling the completion of post-production work.

It’s not the first time that Thorne has gotten her hands bloody on film. After building a reputation in teen movies like Shake It Up and Blended, she made a huge splash in the demonic Netflix horror The Babysitter alongside Samara Weaving.

Peirone, whose previous feature Braid earned acclaim on the festival circuit, employs stark lighting and intimate camerawork to mirror Clare’s fractured psyche. Turner, celebrated for her work on American Psycho, brings sharp dialogue that balances the film’s moral questions with moments of dark humour.

Quiver Distribution announced its acquisition on 4 June 2025. “Saint Clare offers a fresh take on the thriller genre with a complex central performance by Bella Thorne,” said Quiver’s acquisitions team. The film will reach wider audiences through its simultaneous theatrical and on-demand rollout on from 18 July in the US, and on digital in the UK from 21 July via 101 Films. For a taste of what you can expect to see, watch the trailer below.

Saint Clare trailer