By Paul Salfen, AMFM Magazine
In a lively and heartfelt conversation, identical twins Melissa and Michelle Macedo opened up about their bold new psychological body horror film Thinestra — a project where they not only star as lead character Penny and her grotesque doppelgänger but also serve as producers and composers of the haunting score.
The film follows Penny, a woman battling severe body dysmorphia and binge eating, who impulsively takes “Thinestra,” a mysterious Ozempic-like weight-loss drug promising miracle results. Overnight, she sheds pounds — but at a horrific cost: she literally births a ravenous, cannibalistic alter-ego named Penelope, embodying her darkest hungers and societal pressures. Directed by Nathan Hertz, Thinestra blends campy gore, practical effects, and sharp social commentary on diet culture, social media comparison, and the desperate pursuit of perfection.
“We’re really excited that people are starting to see it because we really support the message and we’re passionate about it,” Michelle shared. “It’s a crazy movie… what are we so desperate for that we don’t care what the consequences are?”
The twins, who play two halves of one fractured psyche, described the indie production as “eventful” and “super fun,” despite moments that left them genuinely grossed out. “We had an amazing special effects team, and we did a lot of stuff practically,” Melissa said. A highlight? The scene where one twin devours an entire box of donuts on camera — no spit buckets needed. “It was my time to shine,” she laughed.
As lifelong horror fans, the Macedos are thrilled to join the current wave of body horror films exploring self-image, citing influences like The Substance (which they filmed Thinestra before knowing about) and upcoming titles tackling similar themes. “I love how horror can explore those [ideas]of what we as people put ourselves through to be this idea of ourselves that we think we should be,” Michelle noted.
Adding to the film’s unique vibe is its Christmas setting — complete with a “creepy, spooky, sad” soundtrack composed by the duo behind the pop act MACEDO (boasting over 1.7 million Spotify streams). “We loved making some of the music so much that we wanted to make an entire Creepy Christmas EP,” they revealed, with three singles already out and more dropping soon. Their dark holiday tunes even feature in the trailers.
For the Native American/Hispanic twins (who are strong LGBTQ+ allies, with Michelle identifying as queer), the project hits close to home. As identical twins, they’ve faced constant physical comparisons their entire lives — an experience that makes their lens on identity and perfection uniquely powerful. “Sometimes out of what we feel like are our biggest flaws come something amazing and unique,” one shared. Their ultimate hope? Audiences walk away with “self-compassion.” “We’re all human, and it’s okay to have some self-compassion.”
Thinestra has already turned heads on the festival circuit, selling out its world premiere in London (adding a second screening), premiering at Raindance, winning the Grand Jury Vortex Award at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, and screening at Screamfest LA and the Cannes Marketplace. Critics have hailed it as “one of the best horror pieces of the year — in fact, one of the best of the last decade” (Cut to the Take).
When asked for advice for aspiring filmmakers, the twins emphasized resilience: “It’s endurance… the people that make it are the people that have the stamina to handle the rejection.” Calling Thinestra their “Hail Mary” moment — a multi-hyphenate passion project where they shaped the story across acting, producing, and music — they urged dreamers to “keep going” and focus on the work.
With more music on the horizon (including a single early next year produced by Ali Federer) and acting gigs (catch Michelle on ABC’s High Potential Season 2), plus previous credits like TIFF’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (opposite Eva Longoria), Netflix projects, and more, the Los Angeles-based twins show no signs of slowing down.
“This is the dream we’ve wanted probably since we were a kid,” they reflected. “We’re very lucky to be doing it.”
The film is a must-see for horror fans craving substance with their scares — and a timely reminder that the real monsters might just be the ones we create chasing an impossible ideal.
