The Trouble with Jessica: A Darkly Comic Triumph

By James Handel | April 22, 2025

Opening on 110 Screens Across America | April 25, 2025

Starring Shirley Henderson, Olivia Williams, Rufus Sewell, Alan Tudyk, and Indira Varma, The Trouble with Jessica is a wickedly funny, quintessentially British comedy that’s as sharp as a tack and darker than your morning espresso.

A Comedy of Manners with a Twisted Edge

Picture the awkward hilarity of the dinner party scene in Notting Hill, but with a macabre twist that’ll leave you gasping and giggling in equal measure. Directed by Matt Winn and produced by Sarah Sulick, this film is a masterclass in blending razor-sharp wit with themes so dark they’d make Edgar Allan Poe blush.

“The Trouble with Jessica is a fun, terribly British, comedy of manners and embarrassments. Imagine the dinner party scene from ‘Notting Hill’ and then add some very (VERY) dark themes.”

The film’s accolades speak for themselves: it clinched the Special Jury Prize and Best Film at the 2023 Dinard British Film Festival. If you’re a fan of clever dialogue, stellar performances, and a plot that keeps you guessing, this is one you won’t want to miss.

The Mind Behind the Mayhem

I’m James Handel, a Los Angeles-based writer with a knack for spinning stories that walk the fine line between hilarity and horror. After earning a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Sussex and enduring a stint in corporate purgatory, I turned to writing full-time. It’s been a wild ride ever since.

When I’m not crafting screenplays or novels, you’ll find me practicing martial arts, untangling moral dilemmas for friends, or glued to the latest must-watch TV series. (Yes, I’m that person who binges an entire season in one sitting.)

What’s Next?

The Trouble with Jessica is just the beginning. Here’s a peek at what’s cooking in my creative cauldron:

• The Good Life: A black comedy feature starring Steve Coogan, set to shoot in 2025 with Yes Repeat No & Bright Pictures producing.

• The God in the Machine: A sci-fi thriller novel hitting shelves in 2025.

• Kink: A Los Angeles-set TV drama series in development.

• Piñata: A supernatural horror feature in the works.

A Legacy of Storytelling

My journey in film includes gems like The Hoarder (2015), a horror feature with Mischa Barton, and The Last Horror Movie (2003), which racked up 15 awards, including Best UK Feature at Raindance and Best Film at Sitges. I’ve also penned comedy shorts like We Are Happy (2015) and The Brunchers (2013), both directed by Matt Winn.

Want to talk shop or just say hi? Drop me a line at info@jameshandel.com.

© 2025 by James Handel