The Automatic Hate 2016

In the midst of a tumultuous relationship with Cassie, Boston chef Davis Green’s world is turned upside down when a mysterious woman follows him home from the bar. As he investigates this enigmatic figure, she introduces herself as Alexis Green, claiming to be his cousin - a revelation that sends shockwaves through Davis’ understanding of his family tree. The encounter leaves Davis feeling uneasy and uncertain, especially after Cassie witnesses their conversation and demands that Alexis leave.

Seeking solace in the world of behavioral psychology, Davis sits in on his father’s university lecture, where he grapples with the age-old debate between nature versus nurture. His attempts to connect with his parents are met with resistance, however, as his father, Ronald, condescendingly declines his offer to cook a meal for them. It is then that Davis begins to rummage through his father’s mementos, uncovering a photograph that hints at the possibility of a long-lost sibling.

As Davis’ curiosity gets the better of him, he decides to investigate further and follows Alexis’ cryptic clues to upstate New York. There, he meets her two sisters, who introduce themselves with a mixture of warmth and wariness. As they explore their shared family history, Davis discovers that all three sisters have had a complicated relationship with a local man, whose braided beard becomes the focal point of a heated confrontation.

As tensions simmer beneath the surface, Davis finds himself drawn into Alexis’ orbit, and soon he is sleeping over at her place, sharing her bed and seeking comfort in her presence. However, when Aunt Josh reveals that she knows the truth about his family’s past, Davis is forced to confront the reality of his own identity and the secrets that have been hidden for so long. With a mix of emotions swirling through him, Davis asks Alexis to drive him into town, setting off on a journey that will challenge everything he thought he knew about himself and his place in the world.

As tension simmers between them, Alexis confronts Davis about the true nature of his departure, prodding him with pointed queries and subtle implications of a mutual attraction. Davis, taken aback by her forthrightness, reveals that Cassie’s recent confession has left him reeling: she had terminated the pregnancy they were expecting. Though he acknowledges the undeniable chemistry between them, he firmly asserts that it’s not the reason behind his departure. Alexis’s persistence ultimately convinces Davis to investigate the mysterious hunting lodge, and their shared curiosity leads them down a path of discovery.

Their findings, however, are nothing compared to the revelations that await them as they delve into the lives of their forebears. As they watch 16mm footage of their fathers cavorting with a young woman and exchanging tokens of affection, Davis and Alexis find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. The sparks fly as they surrender to their desires, only to be interrupted by Cassie’s arrival in New York bearing news that will shake them to their cores: Davis’s grandfather has passed away.

In the aftermath of this devastating loss, the trio converges on Boston for a funeral that promises to be a tense and emotional affair. As they navigate the complexities of their relationships with one another, Alexis and Cassie engage in a series of escalating power struggles, each seeking to claim Davis’s attention for herself. But when Alexis attempts to tempt him with the thrill of being caught, Davis’s ire is piqued, and he delivers a stinging rebuke.

The dinner that follows is a strained and awkward affair, with everyone struggling to find common ground amidst the simmering tensions between them. As they gather around Davis’s carefully prepared meal, Josh and Ronald are coaxed into sharing a plate together, their animosity momentarily set aside in favor of family unity. But it’s not long before Alexis flashes the bracelet she found at her father’s lodge, setting off a chain reaction that culminates in a brutal fistfight between Josh and Ronald.

As the dust settles on this explosive confrontation, Davis seizes the opportunity to reassert his dominance by punching Alexis into submission. Her humiliation complete, Cassie departs Boston without another word, leaving the remaining trio to grapple with the fallout from their collective revelations.

In the days that follow, Davis finds himself drawn into Josh’s world of grief and regret as they work together to lay his grandfather to rest. As they dig a grave in the cold, unforgiving earth, Josh finally reveals the truth about Rebecca, their sister who died under circumstances shrouded in guilt and shame. Her tragic tale serves only to deepen the rift between the brothers, each convinced that the other is responsible for her untimely demise.

Ronald’s venomous assessment of Josh’s family as “mentally ill” strikes a chord deep within Davis, who can’t help but feel a growing revulsion towards them. But it’s not until he finds himself alone with Alexis that he seizes the opportunity to make his feelings known, tenderly kissing her before telling her to leave.

Meanwhile, Cassie listens patiently as Davis confesses his attraction to her, accepting him back into their fold without condition or recrimination. The curtain falls on this turbulent tale of family secrets and forbidden desires, with Davis left to ponder the true meaning of loyalty, love, and the devastating consequences that can follow when we dare to uncover the truth.