Breaking Glass Pictures is honored to announce the upcoming release of JOE HALADIN: THE CASE OF THE MISSING SISTER, the final and most commanding performance of the late actor Samuel French, who tragically passed away in May 2025 at the age of 45.
Widely recognized for his role as Agent CJ Robinson in Killers of the Flower Moon—including a memorable scene with Robert De Niro—French brings extraordinary depth to the role of Joe Haladin, a former sheriff turned private investigator in this genre-defying mystery.
In the film, Haladin is hired by a wealthy woman, Eloise Slaughter, to investigate her twin nieces who have become entangled in a secluded religious cult. When one twin agrees to speak with Joe and insists everything is fine, while the other refuses to come forward, a deeper, more unsettling mystery begins to unravel. As the search intensifies, so does Joe’s internal reckoning—he is not the same man at the end of the case that he was when it began.
Written and executive produced by Ralph Cinque, Missing Sister pays homage to classic noir thrillers of the 1950s, with a modern psychological edge. Inspired in part by Chinatown (1974), the film boldly explores themes of identity, faith, and transformation.
“Joe Haladin is like a Philip Marlowe detective with a Texas twist,” said Cinque. “Sam made him into this straight-talking country boy with endless horse sense. His Texas twang belies how smart he really is. He’s a great character—and he is Sam’s character.”
The film also stars Reagan Kelly in dual roles as the twins Colette and Abigail; Clinton Springer as the unnervingly sincere cult leader Reverend Case Jones; Arianne Martin (Fancy Dance) as Joe’s wife Laura; Carlton Caudle as Sheriff Dave Caulder; and Bethany Becker as Joe’s loyal sidekick Lacey.
JOE HALADIN: THE CASE OF THE MISSING SISTER was a breakout success on the festival circuit, selected by 73% of the festivals entered through FilmFreeway and earning Best Actor awards for Samuel French at nine different film festivals.
“Samuel French gives a career-defining performance in this powerful, atmospheric mystery,” said Rich Wolff, CEO of Breaking Glass Pictures. “We are incredibly proud to release his final film, which captures the full range of his talent and heart. This is his legacy, and audiences will feel that.”
Unconventional, emotionally resonant, and at times provocative, Missing Sister is both a gripping detective story and a psychological deep-dive into the human cost of belief. It’s a story that changes its characters—and its viewers.
Festivals & Awards:
-International Independent Film Awards | Won – Platinum Award Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jeff Weber); Gold Award Best Narrative Feature
-AltFF Alternative Film Festival | Won – Fall Award Best Actor (Jeff Weber)
-Cinemafest | Won – Best Feature Film
Official Trailer: Watch Trailer Here
Production Details:
Production Year: 2023
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Language: English
Production Country: US
Production Company: Lost Maple Productions
Runtime: 100 Min.
Writer: Ralph Cinque
Director: Jody Stelzig
Producer: Jeff Caperton
Cast: Samuel French (Joe Haladin), Clinton Springer (Reverend Case Jones), Reagan Kelly (Colette Townsend/Abigail Townsend), Arianne Martin (Laura Haladin)
Short Synopsis: P.I. Joe Haladin is hired to find and assess twin sisters, age 19, who are mired in a religious cult, and it changes his life forever.
About Breaking Glass Pictures:
Founded in 2009, Breaking Glass Pictures is a leading independent film distribution company based in Philadelphia, PA. With direct relationships across all major and niche digital platforms, as well as physical media and international sales, BGP is committed to bringing bold, diverse, and thought-provoking cinema to audiences worldwide. Known for championing emerging talent and distinctive storytelling, the company has built a catalog of over 1,000 titles spanning drama, thriller, LGBTQ+, horror, documentary, and more.
