Not The Bride He Wanted

starring: GABRIELLE FAITH BROWN, MARK PONTARELLI & ARMAND PROCACCI

Asher, Layla's mate, betrays her by eloping with her sister, Vivian, who was supposed to marry Lucian, the most dangerous Alpha King in history. To protect her pack, Layla agrees to marry Lucian in her place. Asher still believes Layla is his fiancée. Layla and Lucian, along with Asher and Vivian, hold their wedding ceremonies simultaneously.

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Look there have been multiple versions of this story, from the mad bodyguard variant to the werewolf one. Watch this for Mark Pontarelli.

Yes the script is better, but Mark took a look at it and has gone full Shakespeare. This is an extraordinary performance. Because he goes all in on everything, and you see the difference great acting makes to a role. This is a tragedy, because Asher believes he is doing the right thing in impossible circumstances. And in a wise decision by writers, when he finds out about Vivian, she is removed from the story, and the focus is on Asher's increasingly desperate attempts to redeem himself with Layla, and descent into madness. He is electrifying. One of the best things ever seen in a vertical

And we know Gabrielle Faith Brown is good, but this shows what a difference an amazing screen partner makes. Because she has to much to work with and bounce off with as she desperately tries to manage Asher, and find a way to get him to stop. Which is where Gabrielle's husky voice works so well, you can hear it breaking as she pleads with him. My fave performance of hers as well

It's a tough job for Armand Procacci as Lucian doesn't have a lot to do, he is really just there as the opposite of Asher, he looks threatening but is actually the one who understands what love is. Not sure about his pack security though, Asher gets into events very easily, and managing to kidnap Layla

Vivian is crucial at the beginning and I liked that Leila Collins did less of the OTT dramatics, but played the character a little more still, as if she really was depressed and down about marrying Lucian, a good different take on this character

It is 4 stars because I have seen umpteen versions of this story, and the main romance is muted. BUT I highly highly recommend you watch this for Mark Pontarelli. This is now the standard, and shows how good Verticals can be when someone commits to a role and acts their socks off

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

As Layla points out to Asher, Lucian actually loves her, respects her and protects her. Very much an example of actions mean more than words. Look at what he actually does compared to all Asher’s declarations.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

Vivian initially - but of course this is all about Asher, and his mental unravelling and spiral into almost madness. This has to be up there for villain of the year in the fan awards next year. Mark Pontarelli is extraordinary, one of the best performances ever seen in a vertical.

😂 Comedy gold:

Not comedy, but Reelshort continuity errors bugging me. When Lucian is marking Layla the earrings come and go. And also who made poor Armand Proccacio wear a rug, various belts and a pair of saggy white trousers? Kudos to him for styling it out.

🎺 Unsung hero:

The stunt team - that fall from the staircase when Vivian pushes Layla is really well done. Just late last year the greenscreen in some stunts was beyond obvious, now things are so much slicker, and it looks pretty real.

✍🏼 DETAILS

2026

Available on Reelshort