The story begins when Davis (Joseph Cross) is visited by a cousin he never knew he had, Alexis (Adelaide Clemens). The discovery of an entire hidden half of his family leads Davis to investigate what happened to create a rift between his father (Richard Schiff – Toby Zeigler from “The West Wing”) and uncle (Ricky Jay). As the mystery unravels, Davis’ relationship with his cousin deepens to a dangerous level, and his attempts to reunite his family prove disastrous at best.
While not too complex, the tension and intricacy of the plot would do writers like William Faulkner proud. In fact, with the exception of the upstate New York setting, it feels like a classic Southern Gothic narrative. “The Automatic Hate” flirts with madness, but also has a droll wit that keeps it from becoming overly serious. Though dark and occasionally menacing, the movie is funnier than you would think, particularly thanks to the casting.
Cross and Clemens are both engaging enough as the main characters, but the best parts of the movie are those with Schiff and Jay. Both actors are masters of understatement and portray the grudge between them superbly with barely concealed rage.
The conflict around which “The Automatic Hate” revolves is a difficult one, and most viewers will find it hard to pick a side. Nevertheless, the movie presents an edgy, but amusing, take on taboos and family bonds.
[email protected]. Nick Gonzales is one of The Durango Herald newsroom’s resident film buffs. He welcomes movie recommendations. Follow him on Twitter @lackingzones.
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