Bitchy BFF It’s Your Turn To Pay

starring: JAMESON LEIGH & TEIG SADHANA

In her past life, Alison Swain mistook Stella for her best friend—and it cost her everything. Abandoned by her family, and left to die under a car, Alison’s story ended in tragedy. Now reborn, she knows the truth. This time, she’s taking her life back—exposing every betrayal, reclaiming what was hers, and finding her true ally: her real childhood savior, Nathan Wynn.

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hooray for a new Teig Sadhana vertical 🙌

Well this is the Come Back For You storyline which is doing then rounds again, but this is sooo much better than most other variations out there. It's gentler and has some sweet moments

The first twist is that the main problem is Stella rather than an ex boyfriend, and Kaileigh Fiorillo is fab. It really helps that we find out a lot of the pressure of coming from her parents, so at least get a bit of why she is doing this. I actually felt for her in those scenes. I mean it doesn't excuse attempted murder but...

Jameson Leigh is super as Alison, she does a brilliant knowing eyebrow raise without it ever becoming too smug, keeps it light and is eminently likeable

Teig Sadhana as Nathan saves the day more than once, calling out the bullies, kicking down doors during fires, ensuring a gun isn't loaded and taking a pen in the chest. It's so good having Teig back filming verticals again, he is one of the very best at portraying a more nuanced male lead who can do the physicality (punches and basketball here) but also brings soul, warmth, disarming charm and can flirt with the best of them.

As mentioned in the caption I take issue with Julian, well done Max Shusterman for making me dislike him so much

Luke Surretsky has great fun as Robert H Bork (thanks Luke for filling in the name!)

We are spared the cruelty of some of these stories, Ali has the dress on in the locker room, and saves a bit of face for Stella at the violin recital. Similarly appreciated the parents sticking up for Alison. We just don't need it. And hooray for new ideas, the whole car scene is a hoot.

Now it does drag near the end, I think we could cut all the villa episodes, but all in all this a good version of this story, which brings some new things to the table

Now the food...
🍝 I am offended on behalf of the spaghetti
🍖 What a waste of the Wagu steak
🌊 And a star is born with that water bottle. Rejected by Julian, the key to winning Nathan's heart, and another appearance at the end when Julian offers one to Ali

The water bottle supremacy is here

On Goodshort

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

Why on earth did Alison have a thing for Julian when Nathan is right there? Total green flag male lead, particularly when he explains he didn’t want Ali to feel indebted to him because he saved her life. It’s a really sweet first kiss, they are very cute together, and we get a good kicking the door down scene.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

Now I know we should say Stella - but when we meet her parents we do understand a bit more about her motivation. But Julian - Julian is a world class jerk who is constantly mean to Alison for no good reason, and then turns on Stella when he finds out the truth about her. What is so great about you Julian huh?

😂 Comedy gold:

Luke Surretsky’s shriek of ‘what’ when he finds out the truth about Stella/Alison. He is so there for the drama. I knew people like him at school. (also needs a name, he can’t just forever be known as lackey 1)

Also well done to Nathan for styling out the potentially mortifying moment when that box gets knocked over in the bedroom.

🎺 Unsung hero:

I did appreciate that the parents in this one are quite reasonable when given the truth. They actually stick up for their daughter, fire Maria and give me hope again in vertical parents.

But I think the real hero here is the bottle of water. Crucial plot point in several scenes. Even thought it hasn’t been airshipped from abroad.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director tbc | 2025

Available on Goodshort