Dead Man’s Hand is a 1933 crime tragedy written and directed by Houston Sasselli. On the night of his son’s eleventh birthday, mob boss Lorenzo Corvelo gathers his family and closest men beneath his home, where a deck of cards becomes the measure of power, loyalty, and blood to decide the fate of the gang.

As betrayal unravels the family from within, the game turns to Russian roulette, and a son upstairs awakens to the echo of gunfire. Told in chiaroscuro tones and fatal symmetry, the film examines how corruption seeps from father to child—how every hand, once dealt, must be played to the end.

The film was written with inspiration not from classics like The Godfather, but rather old radio plays from Suspense and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. It can be described as a suspenseful noir thriller, seeded more in drama rather than the crimes themself.

We made this film with a crew of 5 people, with actors filling in for some roles in production, and under a very low-budget. One of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had the please of being a part of.