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The Wayne Ayers Podcast has released a new episode that features A-listers Lili Reinhart and Joel Fry and there couldn’t be a more timely release: their new thriller American Sweatshop hit theatres today. Today, August 29th. Call off the weekend.

What Went Down During the Podcast?

Wayne Ayers has a way of summoning Tinseltown’s biggest names just before their most talked-about films drop, and this week was no exception. Reinhart and Fry drove by for a visit about their new movie, but what transpired was more than a promo tour roadstop, it was a glimpse into the mental turmoil at the center of American Sweatshop.

Talking on the pod, Reinhart admitted Daisy Morris, her content moderator character, is one of her most disturbing roles yet. And Joel Fry? He reiterated just how timely (and HORRIFYING) this film is in the age of bottomless scrolling. Get it in your queue. Now.

From Nightmarish Job to Obsession

We meet Daisy, a female working a nine-to-five watching the internet’s darkest corners. Don’t worry about memes and kitten videos, her day’s dose is hate rants, physical attacks, animal abuse, and child mistreatment. All for a buck and some change. No medical coverage. No sick leave. Trauma on the computer monitor. Period.

And then there’s the video that breaks her. A hammer-and-nail beating. Daisy faints. She reports it. The system shrugs. Now she’s not only deleting content, she’s out for it. From dark web to barroom fights, Daisy goes rogue and gets addicted to violence. And the most horrifying part? It makes her feel good.

Get To Know Minds Behind Madness

American Sweatshop is the feature directional debut of Emmy-nominated titan Uta Briesewitz, who applies a slick, gimlet eye to Matthew Nemeth’s script. Casting is highly impressive:

• Lili Reinhart (Riverdale) exchanging teen soap for genuine psycho-h.
• Joel Fry (Cruella, Game of Thrones) bringing understated grit.
• Daniela Melchior, Jeremy Ang Jones, Josh Whitehouse, Tim Plester, and Christiane Paul filling out.

Behind the scenes, some big names like Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana support the project, so this isn’t some indie shock humor, this is prestige nightmare fuel.

Why Everyone’s Talking

Because it’s not just a thriller. It’s a cultural punch in the face. American Sweatshop forces audiences to think about the unseen army of moderators scrubbing the internet clean while corporations rake in billions. These are the people keeping your feeds “safe,” and they’re breaking under the weight of humanity’s worst impulses.

The movie doesn’t just pose the “what if someone snapped?” question, it demonstrates what happens when they did. And it’s visceral.

The Big Dates Today, August 29, 2025: American Sweatshop opens in select theaters. September 19, 2025: The film shall be released on On Demand for the bold at heart that would rather have nightmares from their own home.

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