The Prince’s Ugly Bride

starring: GINA VITORI & JAYCOB MAYA

After years in hiding due to a childhood accident, Cecilia Bennett plans to steal her sister’s fiancee, Prince Jasper. With a mask to hide her scars and knowledge of his dark secret she plans to blackmail him…

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ok I am going to age myself here. Does anyone remember Barbara Cartland? Writer of over 700 romance novels. And in the 1980s a few were turned into movies starting people like Hugh Grant, @alison_doody and @theauthenticmarcusgilbert

Well I feel like we have gone full circle as this reminds me of them, sumptuous costumes, dastardly dukes, duels, dark secrets, a heroine who risks all.

All that was missing was a horse chase which Verticals don't seem to have figured out yet

@ginavitori is brilliant as Cecilia, and we have a super example here of when a voiceover works as it adds to the storybook theme

Jaycob Maya has some great moments at the end when the full tragedy is revealed

@joleneandersen is always excellent value and gets the most amazing head dresses

@morganfranzz similarly gets some super moments swishing her hair and smashing glasses.

And I have a thing for Miguel (Joe Laurence) who is endlessly threatened by his employers but always helps Cecilia.

It's very Cinderella, with a dash of Bridgerton and Penelope. Mainly it looks fantastic, this feels like a real step up in costumes, and everything looks sumptuous

Like the Barbara Cartland novels it is rather slight, but an enjoyable way to spend your time, and an interesting new direction for Verticals.

Hope to see more like this.

On @flareflowapp
EP @rumixhuang
Director @chriscampbellfilm

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

We have a lovely ‘Penelope’ moment when Jasper tells Cecilia he loves her no matter what she looks like. We have a duel. And lots of dashing costumes.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

Larissa is dreadful. Lord Lyle is dastardly but it has to be Jolene Anderson as the wicked stepmother largely because she gets the most amazing range of head gear / tiaras to wear. Oh and wait for the reveal at the end. That’s the real big bad.

😂 Comedy gold:

The escape under a blanket which does go rather wrong as our hero and heroine keep crashing into the wall because they can’t see where they are going 😂

🎺 Unsung hero:

Miguel. To be honest I shipped Miguel and Cecilia. There I said it. But he always lands on his feet.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director Chris Nguyen Campbell | 2025

Available on Flareflow