Simone Ashley stars in Jennifer E. Montgomery’s twisted, mind-bending psychological thriller This Tempting Madness

A twisted, mind-bending new psychological thriller sees Simone Ashley give a bold  transformative lead performance  

‘A stylish psychological thriller… solid lead performance… compelling hooks… a showcase  of visual dynamism’ - Bloody Disgusting 

‘An outstanding performance by a Simone Ashley who gets to showcase the full extent of her range’ - Fangirlish 

‘Simone Ashley deserves an Oscar nomination for her incredible performance’ - Sabeen Faheem 

Simone Ashley (Bridgerton, Sex Education, The Devil Wears Prada 2), Austin Stowell (Whiplash, Bridge of  Spies), Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi, Happy Death Day 2U), Zenobia Shroff (The Marvels, The Big Sick),  Amol Shah (For All Mankind, Grey's Anatomy) 

Following her meteoric rise to fame, British star Simone Ashley – who has been lauded by Screen Daily as one of ‘the  brightest on-screen stars of the Indian diaspora’ – swaps the world of Bridgerton ballrooms and couture for a leading role  in This Tempting Madness – a terrifyingly twisted new psychological thriller which is set for its UK debut on 10 August  2026 courtesy of Plaion Pictures. 

Inspired by a true story that had huge impact on writer-director Jennifer E. Montgomery, this gripping feature intertwines memory, trauma, love and survival in a powerful and thrilling new feature that has been garnering critical acclaim across  the globe. 

This mind-bending and complex film features a stellar cast including Whiplash’s Austin Stowell, Suraj Sharma, Zenobia Shroff, Amol Shah.

Synopsis 

When Mia (Ashley) suffers a near-fatal fall, she awakens from a coma with serious brain damage and amnesia. Desperate  to return to her perfect life with husband Jake (Stowell) and their young daughter Aurora, Mia’s world comes crashing  down when she discovers her beloved Jake has been arrested for her attempted murder. 

With all evidence pointing towards him, it appears to be an open-and-shut case, causing Mia to question everything she  knows about the man she loves… But as she attempts to piece together her fragmented memories, she must ask herself  is he truly capable of such a shocking crime or could there be more to that fateful night than meets the eye? 

Surrounded by her protective family, Mia finds herself caught up in a dangerous tug-of-war, as her brother (Sharma) and  husband pull her in opposing directions. Battling psychosis, she struggles to connect the dots, as her fractured mind tries  to piece together what happened to the fairytale life she once had and how to navigate her new world. 

Plagued by questions and a distorted reality, the truth seems completely out of reach. Should she believe her brother? Is Jake truly the man she thought he was? Only one thing is certain, no one can be trusted... not even her own memories. 

Go mad for Simone Ashley in a truly stand out performance, as she takes on a dark, transformative lead in This Tempting  Madness – an enthralling mystery thriller that 'speaks to the fragility of memory and the terror of losing trust in yourself' (Cinema Express). 

This Tempting Madness Film Page

This Tempting Madness is on UK digital platforms 10 August 2026 

Certificate: 15 

Run time: 82 mins 

About Plaion Pictures 
A leading independent film label with headquarters just at the gates of Munich. We offer tailor-made marketing solutions for films and series on all channels, from  cinema to TV and home entertainment to innovative digital offers. For years we have been on an ambitious growth path with an increasing international focus and  locations in Germany, Austria, Italy and England. 

We connect with our partners and viewers with our enthusiasm for films, series and documentaries in a wide variety of genres. Our goal is to entertain people with  exciting, moving or humorous content – anytime and anywhere. Our unique and wide-ranging portfolio also includes a large number of renowned art house  productions, numeroussuccessful and award-winning theatrical releases and a library of over 1,400 titles. Moreover, movie fans also appreciate our high-quality special  editions, which turn classics into new film experiences. At the same time, we are Germany's largest independent anime label. 

Current portfolio highlights include THE WHALE (2-time OSCAR® winner), DECISION TO LEAVE (Best Director in Cannes 2022), BROKER (Best Actor in Cannes 2022),  ENNIO – THE MAESTRO, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (2 OSCAR® nominations), MEN, BELLE, TITANE (Palme d'Or Winner in Cannes 2021), PARASITE (4-time  OSCAR® winner). 

The company’s history 

Plaion Pictures (formerly Koch Films) has been successful on the market since 2003 and is a 100% subsidiary of Plaion GmbH (formerly Koch Media GmbH). The parent  company became part of the Swedish Embracer Group in 2018. Since then, Plaion has been on the way to becoming the first fully integrated, independent media  company in Europe with more than 2,500 employees worldwide and broad diversification in the areas of games and merchandise as well as film licensing and marketing. 

As exclusive home entertainment distribution partners like Studiocanal and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in Germany and Paramount in Italy benefit from Plaion  Pictures' strong networks. The company family is completed by the sales agent and production company Sola Media, which specialises in children's and family  entertainment, while the former Spotfilm Network, which operates Netzkino, Germany's leading AVOD streaming platform, is operating as Plaion Pictures now.