In THE RETALIATORS, an upstanding pastor uncovers a dark and twisted underworld as he searches for answers surrounding his daughter’s brutal murder. A high-octane original soundtrack and cameos from some of the biggest names in rock music set the tone as this horror-thriller reveals a game of revenge played using a new set of rules. Marc Menchaca ( Ozark), Michael Lombardi ( Rescue Me ), and Joseph Gatt (Game of Thrones ) star. Five Finger Death Punch, Tommy Lee, Papa Roach, The Hu, Ice Nine Kills, Escape The Fate, and more appear on the screen and on THE RETALIATORS Original Soundtrack.
Director Biography – Bridget Smith, Samuel Gonzalez Jr.
Bridget Smith
Director
Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Bridget always had a knack for telling a story. She graduated from Temple University with a degree in Theater and Communications and worked as an actress for years starring in plays and independent films throughout Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City.
At a friends urging, she tried her hand at stand-up comedy.
Her unique storytelling style and South Philly demeanor earned her a featured spot on Comedy Central’s long running series Premium Blend. While living in New York City, Bridget directed several theater productions such as “The Hand That Feeds You” which was showcased in the Kallisti One Act Festival.
Bridget joined forces with Philly Born’s Mike Walsh to collaborate on “Sno Babies”, a gritty independent feature film inspired by the growing epidemic of suburban teen addiction. Sno Babies was acquired by Better Noise Films. Bridget also went on to direct three more features including 7th Secret, The Retaliators, and Lucky Jack.
In addition to Directing, Bridget is an accomplished film editor.
Filmography Director:
• Sno Babies, 2020
• Lucky Jack, (post production)2021
• Leap of Faith,
• 7th Secret, (post production) 2021
Filmography Editor:
• Right Before Your Eyes, 2019, Nomination for “Best Editor” at the
Queen Palm Film Festival.
Samuel Gonzales Jr.
Director
Samuel Gonzalez Jr. is a Emmy-nominated, multi award winning film director and Iraq War Veteran. A 2013 graduate of the Los Angeles prestigious Art Center College of Design, Gonzalez’s unique cinematic identity caught the eye of legendary Hollywood producer Edward R. Pressman (The Crow, American Psycho, Wall Street) who optioned his published Novel “The Chords of WAR” – a semi-autobiographical war story about his experience playing
rock n roll while a soldier during the Iraq War. This professional relationship led Gonzalez to new opportunities in film and music videos. ‘Railway Spine’ a period war and crime drama and his feature film debut was nominated for the Chris Brinker Award for Best New Director and won the coveted Golden Eagle Award for Best Military Film at the 2016 San Diego International Film Festival, released on VOD and Amazon Prime in early 2020.
He recently directed a psychological horror film ‘ The Springfield Three’ centered around the true unsolved 1992 Springfield Missouri disappearance.
To date, the film has been accepted in over 10 festivals and has garnered 12 nominations and 7 Best Short Film and 3 Best Director awards including Best Short film at the Crimson Screen Horror Film Fest. It received worldwide distribution by academy award qualifying ShortsTV and had its television premiere in November 2020.
His novel ‘The Chords of WAR was published by White Whisker Books in 2017 and won the Foreword Indies Book of the YEAR award. Acclaimed writer and television show runner Graham Yost (Band of Brothers, The Americans, Justified) called the book “Brilliant!”
He recently co-directed the upcoming high octane thriller film ‘The Retaliators’ for Better Noise Films with the producers who brought you Netflix’s ‘The Dirt’ – recently directing music videos for diverse artists such as ‘Papa Roach, Escape the Fate, Eva under Fire and Grammy Award winner Kimbra for Warner Bros. Records.
With over 20 short films, several commercials and music videos over the past decade, Samuel Gonzalez Jr. has firmly established himself as one of the industry’s most sought out up and coming talents.
Full Filmography:
Little Darling (pre-production) 2021
Junkie Monster (pre-production)
That Night (Short) (post-production) 2021
The Retaliators (co-director) 2021
Papa Roach: The Ending (Video short) 2020
Battle Scars 2020
Miniature (Short) 2019
Howl (Short) 2019
The Springfield Three (Short) 2019
Alfredos Paradiso Kitchen (Video short) 2018
Smoke From All the Friction: Cross + Tattoo (Video short) 2017
Of Nature (Short) 2016
Railway Spine 2015
Pasadena: The Crown City (TV Short) 2014/I
Paper Hearts (Short) 2014
Here with Me (Video short) 2014
A Death in Vegas (Short) 2014
The Passage (Short) 2013
Woodland Heights (Short) 2013
Novel (Short) 2012
Kimbra: Two Way Street (Video short) 2009/II
Reverie (Short)
