Stranglehold (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Stranglehold follows Bailey, an exotic dancer with ambitions beyond small-town Arkansas, and her Army veteran husband Tim as they plan a risky robbery at her workplace. Directed by Clark Duke, this English-language comedy thriller features Ashley Benson, Jake Lacy, Justin Long and Ron Perlman in key roles.

Stranglehold is a 2026 comedy thriller about a struggling Arkansas couple who see a robbery as their way out of financial hardship. Bailey works as an exotic dancer, while her Army veteran husband, Tim, is tired of barely making ends meet.

Directed by Clark Duke, the film combines a crime premise with an offbeat comic setup. Ashley Benson and Jake Lacy lead the cast as Bailey and Tim, with Justin Long, Ron Perlman and David Arquette among the supporting players.

Stranglehold movie details

Story without spoilers

Bailey has big ambitions, but life in small-town Arkansas has left her and Tim struggling to get by. Looking for a dramatic solution to their circumstances, the couple decides to rob the strip club where Bailey works. Their plan places the pair at the center of a crime story shaped by comedy, risk and the consequences of taking matters into their own hands.

What to expect

The supplied genre information places Stranglehold between comedy, thriller and crime. Viewers can therefore expect a story built around an illicit plan, with Bailey and Tim’s difficult circumstances providing the central motivation. The premise also suggests a balance between criminal tension and humor, while the ensemble cast gives the film several notable supporting characters.

Cast and creative team

Ashley Benson plays Bailey, and Jake Lacy portrays Tim. The cast also includes Justin Long as Junior, Chandler Duke as Leon, Ron Perlman as Roger, Elle King as Taylor, David Arquette as Flyin' Bryan, Brian Posehn as Chauncey, Kayla Becker as Crystal and Sandra Kate Burck as Candy.

Clark Duke directs the film and shares writing credit with Chandler Duke and Billington Garrett.

• Ashley Benson as Bailey
• Jake Lacy as Tim
• Justin Long as Junior
• Chandler Duke as Leon
• Ron Perlman as Roger
• Elle King as Taylor
• David Arquette as Flyin' Bryan
• Brian Posehn as Chauncey
• Kayla Becker as Crystal
• Sandra Kate Burck as Candy

Release and production context

Stranglehold is a United States production from Yale Productions and Rabbits Black. It is in English and is listed with a release date of October 2, 2026. The supplied metadata identifies its status as Released, while no runtime is provided.

Production companies: Yale Productions, Rabbits Black

Stranglehold official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

Movies Dock view

With its small-town crime setup and mix of comedy and thriller elements, Stranglehold centers on a couple attempting to change their circumstances through an unusually risky plan. The cast and creative team give the film a clear ensemble identity, while the robbery premise establishes its main source of conflict.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb