“Final Wager” is a Must-See Holiday Movie
“Final Wager” is a whole new kind of Christmas movie. Santa does not make an appearance. Neither do reindeer nor elves. But viewers will never forget that, in the movie, it’s Christmastime. That’s not only because of all the holiday decorations and tunes, but also — and most importantly — because the lead character, a recovering gambling addict named Chance (played by actor and producer Scott Hamm Duenas), discovers he can’t lose a bet on Christmas Day.
In “Final Wager,” the protagonist can’t lose… or can he?
If Chance is a recovering gambling addict, then how does he figure out he can’t lose a bet? He succumbs to the temptation to gamble under only the most intense pressure. On Christmas Eve, he visits his beloved foster mother only to discover that the nursing home that oversees her 24/7 care is going to evict her the day after Christmas.
He asks the facility’s director why, and it turns out that she owes them $64,000.
How is Chance supposed to raise that kind of money in only two short days? In the opening scenes of the movie, we find him $5,000 in the hole, having broken his six-month-long clean streak from gambling. The football games just aren’t going his way.
But Chance is risking a lot more than just failure by starting to make wagers again. He has been planning to propose to his girlfriend (played by actress Fernanda Romero) this Christmas. He even has the ring in his pocket. But she has said she’ll dump him if he ever places another bet.
Late that night, Chance is in debt, farther away from helping his mother than before. He has also started lying to his girlfriend, pretending nothing’s wrong.
In desperation, he calls his gambling addiction counselor, who advises him to go back through his entire history of bets and total up just how much he has lost over the years. He embarks on this grim task when a strange pattern leaps out at him — yes, he has lost an insane sum over the years, but never once has he lost a bet on December 25.
That’s when midnight strikes, and Chance’s luck does a 180-degree turn. Is it Christmas magic? Or is he just fooling himself, as gamblers are famous for doing all too often?
The inspiration for this unique story sprang from an unexpected source.
The Making of “Final Wager”
Actor Scott Hamm Duenas decided to accept the part of Chance soon after reading the script, which was written by Jerry Artukovitch, an Emmy-award-nominated casting director who has worked on major television series such as “The Golden Bachelor,” “America’s Most Wanted,” “The Voice,” and many others.
“Jerry is an old friend of mine, and he sent me this script and said I was perfect for the role of Chance,” Hamm Duenas says. “He went on to say that in fact he wrote it with me in mind. He also made sure to craft this amazing story so it could be made on an indie film budget. Needless to say, I loved the script and wanted to find a way to bring it to life.”
Hamm Duenas’s own previous experiences with gambling attracted him to the story so much that he knew he wanted to help produce it as well as star in it.
“I immediately knew I wanted to produce this film because the script was so near and dear to my heart,” he says. “The sports gambling angle to ‘Final Wager’ hits so very close to home because I’ve been a longtime sports bettor and fantasy football player myself.”
Indeed, he and Artukovitch went on many gambling sprees together. But those days are long over.
“The house always wins,” Hamm Duenas explains. “No matter what unique angle you might think you have as a bettor, it’s not true. You’re still at a disadvantage compared to the oddsmakers. That can be a really expensive lesson to learn, as I know from personal experience. Gambling is no way to make a living.”
It is, however, a great premise for a movie.
“Final Wager”: A Holiday movie with an edge
Like “Bad Santa” and “Die Hard,” “Final Wager” will leave you asking: Is this a Christmas movie or a movie that takes place on Christmas? While Hamm Duenas won’t commit himself to one side or the other, he does enjoy the debate. “I love that angle,” he says.
“Final Wager” has a star-studded cast that includes the renowned Michael Madsen and Tom Arnold. In addition to Hamm Duenas and Artukovitch, director Kenny Yates and Kipp Tribble also serve as producers.
If you’ve ever dreamt about having the power to win every bet, then “Final Wager” is the escapist holiday fantasy for you. It is currently streaming on multiple platforms, including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Pay, YouTube, and Fandango.
Once you meet Chance, you’ll thank your own good luck.
About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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