Vertical Hold: Why Under the Hood Deserves to Be Remembered

By Cindy Woods

I discovered verticals almost one year ago. In that short a time, the vertical drama industry has changed enormously.

A year and a half, two years ago, you had a few companies putting out verticals — and even then, it was hard to keep up with the new releases! Now that everyone is jumping on the vertical bandwagon and so much content is being produced, it’s almost impossible to keep track of all the new titles.

But there are verticals out there that deserve not only to be seen, but remembered.

Perhaps one film’s script transcends the usual trope-filled fare, or the performance of an actor or actress is exceptional. Perhaps the cinematography is groundbreaking, or the sets are amazing.

Since the goal of some vertical-producing companies appears to be content, content, content, there’s a good chance that noteworthy films will get lost in a sea of repetitive plots and AI dreck.

The Harlequin Romances of the 21st Century?

Does anyone remember Harlequin Romance novels?

Way back when, every month Harlequin Romance would release 10 or 12 titles to bookstores. Disposable stories, replaced monthly.

I feel like verticals are the Harlequin Romances of the 21st century. Not all are great, but there are a few that do not deserve to be quickly replaced or quickly forgotten.

So, welcome to...

VERTICAL HOLD

(Brownie points to anyone who knows where this phrase comes from!)

This is where I will recommend vertical stories that I believe should not fall by the wayside.

And the first title I’m recommending to be put on Vertical Hold is Under the Hood, available on Vigloo.

I loved this film. It showed us just how good the vertical medium can be when everything aligns.

A Solid Script

Under the Hood was written and directed by Zack Rovner. The story felt real rather than campy, and the dialogue was memorable.

For instance, when the villain, Victor Beaumont — played perfectly by Nic Caruccio — is called out by hero Jaxon Knoxwood for disrespecting Victor’s wife Selene, Victor replies:

“Women like that aren’t loved; they’re leased.”

You just wanted to reach into your phone and smack Victor upside the head for that remark!

And who didn’t melt when Jaxon, after hearing what Selene sacrificed for her father, told her:

“You gave up everything for someone you love. That ain’t weakness, Selene. That’s strength most people don’t know about.”

Tropes? Not Here!

No humiliation of the female lead! No slap fest!

Yes, wine was poured over Selene’s head, and Victor did have her kidnapped, but both worked within the context of the story.

And no one was drugged!

(I swear, I want to buy stock in the company that makes that special “suddenly I’m hot, aroused, and want to climb you like a tree” medicine!)

A Cast That Works

The actors were perfectly cast.

Nic Caruccio played Victor with just the right amount of arrogance and menace.

Selene Beaumont, played by Quincy Leigh, was no helpless damsel in distress. She entered into her contract marriage with Victor to help her ailing father; time and Victor had simply worn her down into thinking she had no other options. Quincy played Selene as strong and smart.

Dwayne Traver shined as Jaxon’s Uncle Ray. It was a small part, but definitely well played.

And Jaxon?

What can I say about Cayman Cardiff as Jaxon?

We’ve seen Cayman playing Alpha werewolves, CEOs and Mafiosos. In those roles, he plays them a bit over the top, as the scripts require.

As Jaxon, he commanded the screen.

And that Southern drawl...

(Fanning myself!)

Practical Sets and Locations!

Did anyone else want to explore the Knox Auto garage?

Just me?

I know that a lot of verticals have budget constraints, so filming takes place in one location, with interiors being redressed as needed.

For Under the Hood, shooting in these locations as well as outdoors made the film that much more authentic.

Production Designer Yun Gu and Art Director Xuefei Rong certainly knew what they were doing!

Cinematography That Feels Cinematic

The film looks... like a film!

I don’t know how to say it any other way.

I would love to give credit where credit is due; sadly, there was no cinematographer credited on Under the Hood’s IMDb page.

Does Under the Hood Deserve to Be on Vertical Hold?

Anyway, what do you think?

Do you agree with me? Does Under the Hood deserve to be on Vertical Hold?

Let me know your thoughts.

And I want to hear your nominations! If you know of any verticals that you believe should be on Vertical Hold, feel free to contact me at verticalhold2026@gmail.com and let me know.

About the Author

I am Cindy Woods, a married mother of one who lives (as my husband frequently says) in a situation comedy format outside of Baltimore, Maryland.

By day, I am a legal secretary; by night, a purveyor of verticals and anything Star Wars!

Chronologically, I am old; in November, I will be able to legally sing a very famous Beatles song about when I get older, losing my hair, etc.

I honestly don’t know whether to thank or curse Facebook’s algorithm for dropping episodes from verticals onto my feed a year ago.

The first I watched was All I Want Is You, with Noah Fearnley and Haley Evans. The second was Mated To My Savage Alpha, with Cayman Cardiff and Erin Orcutt.

And that was it for me!

I’ve been watching verticals ever since.

This article is an opinion piece. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and are based on the author's own observations and interpretation of publicly available content.

Publication by Vertical Drama Love does not constitute endorsement of every opinion expressed. Vertical Drama Love remains committed to encouraging thoughtful discussion on issues affecting the vertical drama industry while maintaining editorial independence.