Ella Hunt (Anna and the Apocalypse) is set to dive into darkness as Maria, a college student unraveling under obsession and terror, in Bella, the first project from Chad & Carey W. Hayes’ new production banner, Hayes Brothers Films.

The horror-thriller marks the feature directorial debut of Dylan Hayes, with a script by Chris Grillot. Hunt’s character is determined to win her university’s beauty pageant—but as pressure from her overbearing mother mounts and a mysterious stalker begins sabotaging her, Maria spirals into psychological chaos. The closer the pageant gets, the more desperate she becomes to unmask the sinister force stalking her.

“The story is about beauty, control, and what happens when the mask cracks,” says Dylan Hayes, promising a taut, character-driven descent into horror. Hunt adds, “I was drawn into Maria’s psychological unraveling and the toxic pressures of beauty and expectation—it’s terrifying, layered, and raw.”

The Hayes Brothers are producing alongside Dylan Hayes, Mandy June Turpin (Iron North), Daniel Ragussis (Atomic Features), and Todd Slater (Convoke Media). Executive producers include Isabel Echeverry (Kontakto Films) and Ricky Russert (Atomic Features).

Red Sea Media is launching world sales at this week’s American Film Market, giving horror fans their first glimpse of what promises to be a psychologically twisted, pageant-nightmare thriller from the minds behind The Conjuring.