A Good Hand Wasted (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

A Good Hand Wasted is a thriller-horror film set during a luxury island getaway that takes a brutal turn. Six friends enter a poker game hosted by a mysterious dealer, only to discover that each losing hand triggers a round of Russian roulette and tests their trust, secrets and will to survive.

A Good Hand Wasted turns an exclusive island escape into a high-stakes survival game. The 2026 thriller-horror film follows six friends whose poker night becomes a deadly contest controlled by a mysterious dealer.

With Russian roulette attached to every losing hand, the premise places friendship, betrayal and survival at the center of the story. The film is written by Rhyan Lamarr and features an ensemble cast led by Jessica Lindsey, Phil Tyler and Giovanni Watson.

A Good Hand Wasted movie details

Story without spoilers

The story begins with six friends arriving for a luxury getaway on a private island. Their plans change when they join a poker game hosted by a mysterious dealer. The rules are severe: losing a hand means taking part in a round of Russian roulette.

As the game continues, the group must confront an escalating threat while suspicion and secrets complicate their chances of survival. The setup combines a confined location, competitive pressure and life-or-death consequences without revealing how the game unfolds.

What to expect

A Good Hand Wasted is positioned as a contained thriller with horror elements. Poker provides the central structure, while Russian roulette raises the physical danger of each round. The supplied premise also points to interpersonal tension involving friendship, betrayal and hidden secrets, giving the survival scenario a psychological dimension.

The private-island setting and small group of players suggest a story focused on pressure, mistrust and difficult choices rather than a broad-scale action plot. Its listed runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes indicates a relatively compact presentation.

Cast and creative team

Jessica Lindsey plays Lena, alongside Phil Tyler as Tom and Giovanni Watson as Eric. The cast also includes Ninja N. Devoe as Stacy, Alfred Nolan Thomas II as Chad, Jonathan Hugh as Jake, Chelsea Tavares as Sarah and Terrence Howard as Marcus.

Rhyan Lamarr is credited as the writer. No director is listed in the supplied production information.

• Jessica Lindsey as Lena
• Phil Tyler as Tom
• Giovanni Watson as Eric
• Ninja N. Devoe as Stacy
• Alfred Nolan Thomas II as Chad
• Jonathan Hugh as Jake
• Chelsea Tavares as Sarah
• Terrence Howard as Marcus

Release and production context

A Good Hand Wasted is a United States of America production in English. It is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of October 28, 2026, and a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. The production companies are The RED Collective, Inc., DarBry Red Diamond Inc. and Turnstr Plus Inc. The film is categorized as both a thriller and a horror title.

Production companies: The RED Collective, Inc., DarBry Red Diamond Inc., Turnstr Plus Inc.

Movies Dock view

A Good Hand Wasted builds its story around a clear and immediately dangerous premise: a private poker game where losing carries a potentially fatal price. Its island setting, ensemble cast and focus on trust and betrayal provide the framework for a compact thriller-horror experience, while the supplied details leave the game’s outcome undisclosed.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb