When Reality Is More Disturbing Than Fiction: ‘The Act’ Premieres Exclusively On STARZPLAY

The tagline ‘based on a true story’ has been often used as a marketing gimmick to draw viewers’ attention to haunted houses, creaking floors and the invisible creatures lurking in the shadows. But when it comes to The Act, the critically-acclaimed drama from writers Nick Antosca and Michelle Dean, the horrors that Gypsy lives through are real and well-documented, and what is haunting her life is none other than her own mother.

Premiering exclusively on STARZPLAY, the MENA region’s leading subscription video on demand (SVOD) service, The Act tells the story of Dee Dee Blanchard (Oscar winner Patricia Arquette), the overprotective mother of Gypsy (Joey King), who is trying to escape this toxic relationship by any means possible. Gypsy’s quest for independence opens up a Pandora’s box of secrets.

The Act, which is based on a BuzzFeed article that highlighted the shocking details of the 2015 crime, presents a story that shows how reality can be more disturbing than the wildest of any fiction writer’s imagination. The series is executive-produced by Antosca and Dean along with Greg Shephard and Britton Rizzio. UCP, where Antosca is under an overall deal, is the studio.

All eight episodes of The Act, which is the first season in what is set to be an anthology series, is now available to stream exclusively on STARZPLAY.