Beauty From Pain. Photo: Passionflix
Passionflix has another hit on its hands with its latest original movie Beauty From Pain, adapted from the Georgia Cates bestseller. Filmed on location in Australia, Beauty From Pain brings Cates’ sexy and scintillating novel to life and is easily one of the streamer’s top ten adaptations of all time. I had a chance to screen the movie ahead of its December 18 release and it’s an absolute triumph for the romance streamer.
Beauty From Pain features Samantha Allsop as Laurelyn Prescott and Jackson Gallagher as Jack McLachlan. The movie was directed by Christine Luby from a screenplay written by Brian Frederich.
The story begins with Laurelyn as she heads Down Under for an Australian getaway with her best friend. She needs to escape from her life for a while; she’s ready for fun and adventure. The last thing on her mind is a new romance, but her world shifts when she has a not-so-chance encounter with the mysterious “Lachlan,” aka Jack Henry McLachlan. Like Laurelyn, Jack will be in Wagga Wagga for three months and he makes her an offer: be his. “There’s no pressure,” he says of keeping things short and sweet and wrapped up with a time limit, “and that’s fantastic.”
At first, Laurelyn is hesitant. It sounds like her new mystery man is looking for an escort. After some assurances, and the promise of the best three months of her life, she gives in with the stipulation that she’s only going to get to know him and see where things go. “If you say yes, I’ll pamper you every day like a princess,” he tells her as he’s carrying her to the car so her feet don’t ache. (Cue the swoon!) What follows is a whirlwind romance that’s the stuff of Passionistas’ fantasies.
The only problem, of course, is that Jack keeps Laurelyn at a distance. He offers her a taste of his gold-plated lifestyle but she’d rather have the one thing that’s not on the table: something more than the three months they agreed upon. It doesn’t take long for things to get hot and heavy between “Lachlan” and “Paige,” so much so that it catches them both off guard. They both have their secrets and their damaged pasts that keep their present-day lives in check, but once the flame between them is ignited, it can’t be extinguished.
Allsop and Gallagher dazzle. From the moment they first make eye contact, Laurelyn and Jack’s passion ignites onscreen with fiery aplomb. Allsop delivers Laurelyn’s wit and wisdom with a smile and an adorable Southern drawl while it’s damn near impossible not to get lost in Gallagher’s baby blues as he builds walls to hide Jack’s secrets – and the vulnerability that lies just beneath the surface.
The passion we see on screen is a testament to Allsop and Gallagher’s chemistry as actors as they play off each other with scorching intensity in every scene. It’s their world and we’re living in it. (Side note: I’m proposing a new category for the Passionista Awards – Best Locked-Eyes While Showcasing Chiseled Abs And Crawling Seductively Across A Bed Moment and the winner is Jackson Gallagher by a landslide) “We may only have a few months together,” Jack growls, “but you’re mine while you’re here.” Yes, yes, yes!
There’s so much chemistry between Laurelyn and Jack at every turn. Even their post-coital brekkie oozes chemistry. So. Much. Chemistry.
If you’ve read the book, you know how the story ends. All I can say is this: Sequels, please!!!
As Passionflix speeds toward its tenth anniversary (the streamer celebrated eight years in September 2025), the streamer’s evolution and growth are evident. Beauty From Pain, a joint effort from Passionflix and Jaggi Entertainment, would be just as suited for the big screen as it is the small screen. From sprawling villas to flashy sports cars and sparkly evening gowns, this feels like Passionflix’s biggest movie to date. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2026 as 2025 comes to an end on such a high note.
Beauty From Pain will no doubt end up on Passionistas’ shortlists of favorite Passionflix adaptations. It has everything we love: a couple worth rooting for with courageous Laurelyn and devastating Jack, oodles of chemistry, scenery to die for and enough “toe-curling yumminess” to keeps your spirits merry and bright all winter long.
Beauty From Pain premieres Thursday, December 18, only on Passionflix.
