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Follow us on XHollywood makeup artist Allie Shehorn is being publicly celebrated after her ex-boyfriend, actor Nick Pasqual, was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison over a brutal domestic violence attack that nearly killed her.
alyssa.sfx shared a post on June 3 praising Shehorn, who worked as the film’s department head for makeup and special effects. The post described her as part of the team behind the breakout horror hit, which has now become one of the year’s biggest indie success stories.
But behind the celebration is a horrific real-life case.
Pasqual, who appeared in shows including How I Met Your Mother, was sentenced on June 2 after being convicted over the 2024 attack on Shehorn at her Sunland home in Los Angeles. Prosecutors said he broke into her home after their relationship ended, beat her and stabbed her repeatedly.
Shehorn survived, but the injuries were catastrophic.
Allie Shehorn Returned To Work After A Horrific Attack
Shehorn has built a career behind the camera, working in makeup and special effects on productions including Mean Girls, Rebel Moon, Babylon and Obsession.
Her work on Obsession has taken on extra meaning for fans after the film’s official account highlighted her involvement. The horror movie, directed by Curry Barker, follows a man whose wish for his crush to love him spirals into something disturbing and dangerous.
The film itself deals with obsession, control and the terrifying consequences of someone believing love gives them ownership over another person. That has made Shehorn’s real-life survival story feel even more chilling to people now discovering her connection to the movie.
According to The Motion Picture Association’s The Credits, Shehorn was brought onto Obsession after previously working with Barker on a video where she transformed him into a zombie. Barker recalled that the team remembered her work and hired her for the film.
Nick Pasqual Sentenced After Court Heard Harrowing Details
ABC7 Los Angeles reported that Pasqual was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison for the 2024 stabbing of Shehorn. He had been found guilty of attempted murder, first-degree residential burglary with a person present and injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend or child’s parent.
During the sentencing, Shehorn gave a victim impact statement in court.
She described lying on the floor in her own blood and wondering whether that was how her life would end. She also addressed Pasqual directly, telling the court that someone she had once trusted had decided her life was something he could take away.
The court also heard that Shehorn had taken out a restraining order before the attack. She testified that the relationship had become abusive.
According to People, Pasqual had been arrested after an earlier alleged domestic violence incident and released on $50,000 bail just days before the stabbing.
The Judge Questioned Pasqual’s Remorse
At sentencing, Pasqual was given the chance to address the court. ABC7 reported that he said Shehorn “did not deserve” what happened to her and that no words could properly apologise for what she endured.
But the judge questioned the sincerity of his remorse, referring to a recorded phone call in which Pasqual allegedly mocked Shehorn’s ordeal. ABC7 reported that the judge said Shehorn’s injuries were so severe that she was clinically dead twice.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman praised Shehorn’s courage after the sentencing. He said her testimony helped secure the conviction and said the case showed how domestic violence can erupt into life-threatening violence.
Obsession Fans Are Now Learning The Story Behind The Makeup
The Obsession Instagram post has now become more than a simple crew appreciation post. It has introduced many fans of the film to the story of the woman behind some of its most disturbing effects.
Public reactions across social media have largely focused on Shehorn’s strength, her return to work and the unsettling parallel between the movie’s themes and what she survived in real life.
Sending strength and grace and all of the applause. The word Survivor doesn’t describe the breadth and weight of what has been survived. Exquisite grit and determination 👏 — rosemcgowan
Some commenters praised her resilience. Others said they had no idea the film’s makeup department head had gone through something so traumatic before working on the horror hit.
The renewed attention also comes as Obsession continues to perform strongly at the box office. The Associated Press reported that the low-budget horror film has grossed more than $224 million worldwide, making it a record-setting success for Focus Features.
A Survival Story Behind A Horror Hit
Shehorn’s story is not just about a court sentence. It is also about what happened after.
After surviving a violent attack, enduring serious injuries and testifying against the man convicted of attacking her, she returned to the work she had built her name on.
A film about obsession has become connected to the real story of a woman who survived control, violence and a near-fatal attack. Now, as Obsession continues to find a massive audience, many fans are learning that one of the people who helped create its horror had already lived through something far worse.
