A Pirate Movie Is A Period Piece, And ‘The Bluff’ Has The Best Pirates Of All
Key takeaways
- Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
- An action movie, with its actors and stunts and stunt people, puts some challenges on costumes that are unique to the genre.
- “Believe it or not,” Messam laughed, “not as many as The Book of Clarence.
Style & Beauty A Pirate Movie Is A Period Piece, And ‘The Bluff’ Has The Best Pirates Of All Antoinette Messam, costume designer for the film, on recreating an island paradise threatened by pirates, and what how costuming a period action film really happens. By Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Fashion design, costume design, and haute couture stories.Follow Author Jun 08, 2026, 03:00pm EDT'The Bluff', with costumes designed by the incomparable Antoinette Messam.© 2026 Amazon Content Services LLCEarlier this year, The Bluff was released through Prime MGM Studios, first in theaters and then through Amazon’s streaming platform. A pirate story yes, but also a story about the Island culture around Jamaica in the 19th century. It’s a wonderful film, cathartically violent with bad guys we’re comfortable rooting against because of how blatantly evil they are. Our hero is a lady, and in this story, which was written by Frank E. Flowers and Joe Ballarini and directed by Flowers, she is allowed to be as capable as a character with her backstory would be. Ercell, Priyanka Chopra (in yet another role which ought to reaffirm her role as action super star of the 21st century), has a lot on her plate but lives a life filled with love on Cayman Brac, and only returns to who she once was under duress.
The costume designer for the film, Antoinette Messam, who I spoke with last year about The House of Clarence, is one of the best period designers working today, and I was thrilled to be able to speak with her again about her latest project.