Steve Ayala

Steve Ayala’s name pops up across some seriously buzzy films lately, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why people keep noticing him. So let’s break it down: Palmer (2021) is one of those movies that tugs at your heartstrings without being all sappy about it. You’ve got Justin Timberlake playing a guy fresh out of prison, trying to get his life back together, but – plot twist – he ends up taking care of this little kid who’s nothing like your average kid in small-town America. The movie does a killer job at showing those weird, complicated bonds people form when life gets messy. Ayala’s involvement here? Not front and center, but his fingerprints are all over the mood and energy of the film. Then there’s Shadow in the Cloud (2020), which is totally different. Like, WWII action-horror with a wild gremlin twist? Yeah, sign me up. Chloë Grace Moretz is the lead, stuck on a bomber with a bunch of suspicious dudes and some straight-up supernatural chaos. The pacing is nuts, the tension ramps up quick, and it’s one of those movies that doesn’t really let you breathe. Ayala’s work behind the scenes blends the action and horror bits so they don’t clash, and you kind of leave the movie feeling like you just stepped out of a fever dream. Daddio (2023) is a bit more stripped down—almost like a stage play, except you’re in the backseat of a cab in New York City at night. Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn just riff off each other, talking about life, regrets, weird relationships, and whatever else comes up on a long cab ride. There’s an intimacy to the whole thing, and Ayala manages to keep it from getting claustrophobic or, worse, boring. It’s all about the vibe, the words, and what’s not being said.