INGREDIENTS | Omeleto

A young writer finds himself in a situation that blurs the lines of fact and fiction.
INGREDIENTS is used with permission from Hannah Michielsen. Learn more at willowsandwindmills.com.
Sam is a young writer in Toronto facing a case of severe writer's block, who can't seem to come up with an idea for his fiction. He is also frustrated when he compares his life with his successful, smooth roommate Justin.
But one weekend, Justin goes on a romantic getaway to propose to his girlfriend, allowing his cousin Fred to stay. Fred is another writer, in the midst of a different sort of crisis. But together, the pair connect -- and soon find themselves in a situation that blurs the line between fact and fiction.
Directed by Hannah Michielsen from a script by Paul Carere, this cerebral mystery-thriller short is a slow burn, taking its time to build character, atmosphere and intrigue. Through a coolly dispassionate eye, it patiently constructs a deep look at two creative but frustrated souls and then steps back to watch as their chemistry plays out in a slow-motion implosion.
The storytelling is resolutely focused on building Sam's character. He's smart and a discerning cinephile, and he's hungry to make great work and become a success. But through all the pressure he places on himself, he can't quite get a viable idea on the page. The excellent writing also pays close attention to Sam's relationships, playing out his scenes with his roommate Justin, who is amiable, easygoing and confident. Justin is also a clear contrast to Sam, and while the pair have the ease of long-time friends, their different trajectories also make Sam feel inadequate.
But the momentum begins to move when Justin's cousin Fred enters the picture. Fred is a strange presence: dark, sardonic and depressed. But Fred and Sam have an affinity: both are writers, and highly imaginative and intelligent. Their dialogue has a slight stylization, an archness that happens when two people who are too much in their heads find one another -- and discover they are on the same wavelength.
Something between them clicks, and they share long, wide-ranging conversations as well as meals. Actors Daniel Maslany and Eileen Li have a palpable connection even through their neuroses, almost like two people trapped in their bubbles finally looking up to discover the other. They can reveal aspects of their selves to one another that they hide in other parts of their lives. For awhile, the film even feels like it could veer into a romantic, albeit left-of-center, direction. But the cool-toned, almost antiseptic visuals and the moody atmosphere indicate there's more to the film -- and Fred -- than meets the eye. And as Fred's deeper character comes to the fore, it also draws something out in Sam.
It's fitting that Sam talks about the films of Alfred Hitchcock so much in INGREDIENTS, because the spirit of the classic master of psychological suspense animates the film, whether it's in the disciplined, restrained camera or the penetration into the murkiness under people's facades, where obsession and poisonous resentments teem. As the film heads into its final movement, it veers into a direction that's truly Hitchcockian, in its masterful suspense and its ice-cold appraisal of people's inner motives. Finding a compelling story requires digging deep into the self -- but what Sam discovers could be harder and darker to face.

[@HelloItsYou]

Just left this man with a life long regret of how that final interaction went with her the night before she killed herself. Makes me think of the last morning my brother and i were fighting. we just looked at eachother, i said nothing but gave a bit of a dirty look.. Not much but I felt it.. who knows if it could be actually READ on my face... But anyway, he hung himself a few hours later in his room.. i was feet away from him hanging doing laundry that whole rest of the day. Next day. I continue my laundry, only a few loads left, smells down there.. I figured it was his dog.. The next morning i am woken up in a Screaming manor that my brother is dead. My dad decided to check to see if his Dog needed to be left out as it was whining and Found him. I wish i said im sorry or someting, when he did that long pause before going down to his room .

[@Flash1857]

Am so sorry

[@HannahMichielsen]

I am so sorry to hear that.

[@MAILLADY2010]

As hard as it might be to hear ... it wasn't you that caused him to take his life.

[@ruth532]

Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Let God give him peace

[@shashasayed1992]

Thanx for the spoiler. At least put out an alert at top of your verbage.

[@wendycorrea1]

Great acting. Very natural. Good story line.

[@KutWrite]

@Digby Dooright: I was confused too.

[@jenniferlawrence9473]

@@KutWrite I think she was setting up her own death but pretending it was a storyline for the roommates play. The guy thought she was talking about him, but she was actually talking about her own suicide.

[@KutWrite]

@@jenniferlawrence9473 OK, that fills in the hole for me. Thanks!

[@slaquers]

I specifically noticed myself just cause I smoke pot, the little nod as they smoke a joint the are you passin it or hittin it deal, look at them then look at the weed...did that well, and great story

[@holygoat188]

This was amazing. Didn't see that ending coming a mile away.

[@stuntcellist3338]

Ten minutes in and I have that “Omg, this is an Omeleto film so someone is going to die” moment. 😅

[@Godisfirst21]

WOW, I did NOT see that coming at all. This is FANTASTIC! I loved all of you, but the woman is outstanding. I'm thrilled!

[@magnetdesignandadver]

Absolutely love this film. Starts off casually and flows perfectly. And then it gets more interesting. Unexpected. Well done

[@jivanvasant]

Art imitates life imitating art. Full circle. Complete. Wholeness.

[@syamilysasi8677]

I am not sure what this film is trying to communicate.. Fred says that no matter how successful you seem to be, if you can't find peace with your inner self, you would find yourself running away from the real issues and once you run out of breath, you just helplessly succumb to your deep buried wounds. For Fred it is more easy to kill herself than pushing away the final battle with yourself as long as you can and when you have got nothing left but the battle, you must face it and there awaits your defeat following a slow death. To Fred this is the destiny of man no matter how happy and content is he with his material life. So she chose to not face that. She chose her way of death and the one who executes it and thereby she sort of has wrote her own destiny. Until the very end she was the one in control, using her pawns to do their job.

[@nolaprince01]

After watching this it makes me feel we all should be aware of others feelings and mental health.

[@bhing1483]

We should have been all along.

[@stregahex]

@@bhing1483 Agree. We don't have to wait to learn it from a film to "find out & be aware". That happens every time, every day in front of us. We just pretend to be blind until a movie "teaches the public" to do so.

[@bhing1483]

@@stregahex Exactly. COVID has only further exposed how far apart we all have become. We all just now decided to notice it.

[@skyinuri8868]

explain to me please

[@KutWrite]

Hi @@bhing1483! You're Shel's cousin, right?

[@sarvene1798]

This was brilliant… loved the storytelling, had to watch twice.

[@BQwain]

Up to four times now. The subtleties grow with every view. Just like the aroma from slow roasted garlic.....

[@AutoFOCUSED.]

The lighting in a lot of the scenes were A+. Love the hazed out volumetric lighting as well.

[@lizziem]

This plot was superb, didn't see that one coming at all

[@KutWrite]

Let me see if I got it. Did Sam think Fred was going to kill Justin out of jealousy, then maybe kill him in anger, but instead she killed herself?

[@nancyx591]

😂

[@gemstar7286]

It seems that way , but i also wondered if she was trying to frame him .. seen as she TOLD HIM to use GARLIC . But i guess it was still a suicide mission . Very messed up & bizarre.

[@eugenetswong]

It feels like a ridiculous plot. I'm no expert, but to involve somebody in one's own suicide is cruel.@@gemstar7286

[@kim2306]

You're so smart.

[@TheJoya1234]

I knew she would be his muse, but wow!

[@horrorfan7148]

Love the video especially that the dog was in credits lol

[@FIONA21ful]

Stunning! Literally a stunner of a finale. Huge congratulations to all involved in making this tricky masterpiece. The actors were so good I quickly became totally invested in the story & possible outcome, yet it was so subtly clever I didnt see that twist coming.🎉 Best piece of film ive seen in a while. So refreshing to be shocked at how intelligent & entertaining it was. love it! On 4th watch!

[@HannahMichielsen]

Thank you Fiona!

[@Colin-Fenix]

It was too slow, drawn out and unbelievable.

[@thisisme5487]

@@Colin-Fenix A little slow and drawn out for the overall prize, sure, but you'll have to explain how it was unbelievable. We're not given nearly enough information to say that imo.

[@Colin-Fenix]

@@thisisme5487 - I had to rewatch since I made this comment 6 months ago. Yup, I stick by the unbelievable. She committed suicide and covered it up as an accident? If nothing else, it's too "plot-twisty" for its own good. As you said, we aren't given enough story to really buy any of the plot, so perhaps I am just reacting to what I see as a trend in our modern "everyone gets a prize" YT culture and saying my opinion, it wasn't that good and no, I don't find the story or plot twist believable. His acting was okay, the other two... nah, not so much.

[@silloweet]

I need the author to fully explain the motivation

[@Monica-hv4rf]

this one, great!! was not expecting that ending. bravo everyone.

[@metermorphose]

Heavy burden for the roommate and the cousin. Brilliantly created and acted film!

[@cahidijoyoraharjo7833]

So Fred wanted to commit suicide? That's why she told Sam to put garlic in the meatballs?

[@Cate7451]

Weird, though to do it in front of others.

[@cahidijoyoraharjo7833]

@@Cate7451 Maybe she's desperate enough to do it that way?

[@lizziem]

Yes, that way she doesn't have to die alone.

[@cahidijoyoraharjo7833]

@@lizziem Well, she did died alone. Cause she's the only one who's allergic to garlic. So what do you mean by that? Cause she had no intention of killing her cousin or his roommate. If she did, she would've sprinkled poison into the spaghetti.

[@Cate7451]

@@lizziem that’s a good point. Suicide is always in front of others.

[@emergentform1188]

Bloody hell. So ridiculously and deliciously twisted. Masterful. Bravo!

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Wonderfully done!

[@nat9013]

I loved this. One of my favourites! (I also loved that it was based in Ontario!)

[@mhjgh3834]

Everything was wrong about the cousin from second 1. She scared the roommate and she scared me.

[@theclubslyricsreborn4724]

Ok, left me in my feelings but I really have to share it

[@Prof.Tarfeather]

Didn't see it coming! Fantastic Acting! Wow thie Ingredients were/was great!

[@kestrelfeather]

Great script . . . great video!

[@OhkayCarlos]

Ooooo great modernism style suspense and drama. Great writing! Refreshing short and story.

[@thedevilsadvocate5434]

Love the unpredictability

[@kaydenpat]

Unexpected twist.

[@YouTubeallowedmynametobestolen]

An allergy to garlic? That's a new one on me.

[@JustinHaskellWheelz]

Really? It's in every vampire story.

[@YouTubeallowedmynametobestolen]

@@JustinHaskellWheelz Good point!

[@omniscient159]

Surely garlic is easy enough to taste from the first bite -come on cuz

[@jackhills2440]

One of the best.

[@cynthiawillis6701]

Can someone please explain? Did she purposely put garlic in the meatballs so that she could die?

[@ToyotaKTM]

It depends on how well the roommate sells it.

[@rebeccadixon4645]

Uh...yeah.

[@stregahex]

She didn't do it. "The roommate does." No wonder she didn't touch the meat in the first place. But he follows her instructions pretty well.

[@rebeccadixon4645]

@@stregahex Semantics. She PURPOSEFULLY told him to put it in. This was a pure case of suicide. Similar to "suicide by cop."

[@allisonjames2923]

Yes she did. She told him to put 3 cloves of garlic in knowing she’s anaphylactic to garlic

[@compositestechbb9087]

"No one to cry to.....no place to call home.." - Layne Staley, Nutshell

[@Yanky820]

LOVED IT!

[@svietka202]

I need to stop reading the damn comments before watching….ruin it for me every damn time

[@berylrobinson9921]

Same

[@ellemay2755]

Brilliant!

[@thasukisonyahsone1323]

This is so good. But so sad.

[@kalypsoalphonse6863]

Why try and frame him? Just so her family could have a better peace of mind.

[@hcutter]

Total Hitchcockian!!

[@AW_7_7_7]

My thoughts exactly!

[@stevethomas74]

That was quality!

[@lovelife2day]

Is this the actor Detective Llewelyn Watts from Murdoch Mysteries. I love his character on MM.

[@oHas1]

Behind every story there is a tragedy

[@Maykil107]

ingredients are awesome

[@GinaGreenlee]

Ooohweeeeeeee that was fantastic. Great acting, story, plot.

[@khasheeeeeeeessshhhchoooww5991]

she left him with a story to write

[@dfb2913]

I loved the music in the film

[@Souchi-ito]

I spoiled myself reading the comments 😞

[@ohheyemmi]

First time on the internet?

[@emiliebova]

Nothing is simple anymore. Very hitchcockian

[@HelloEarthling]

reallly liked this quintessential toronto life

[@piccalillies]

I've seen the Bergman but I've totally forgotten it. lol

[@IAMGiftbearer]

This was really creepy, but a good plot!

[@chaisepomme4070]

Very sad. It reminds me of the tortured writer trope. In another life and another time, Detective Watts would be looking into the case.

[@lolinpinguin]

Rojo Amanecer. #1 apartment movie.

[@agentbey]

What a gripping ending! Very engaging. A tragic rainbow after the storm.

[@midnightwarriorrider9187]

WOW this was awesome home run out of the Ball Park 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@tanrose8645]

BRILLIANT! 👏👏👏🌹♀️ PLEASE Stay 'safe', everyone❣️ Blessed be ✨💫🌟🌛🌹🌜

[@IndrasChildDeepAsleep]

Blessed be

[@tanrose8645]

@@IndrasChildDeepAsleep Ostara blessings to you my friend 🌹🌛🌸🌜

[@cheebacheeobusiness3893]

Brilliant! She was in a way too good mood - that gave me some clue about something... But not this tho 😁

[@christinekaye6393]

Great catch! People who deside to commit suicide often seem to be in a better mood than they had been in.

[@lkkpov]

I'm speechless.

[@quentinfairchild2263]

Is an allergy to garlic a real thing? Or was she a vampire?

[@stregahex]

Yes. It is called Anaphylaxis. Being allergic to garlic & onions, shellfish, nuts, milk, eggs, etc.

[@allisonjames2923]

@@stregahex Anaphylaxis is a life threatening allergic response to anything, not just garlic or onions. Most common is medication such as penicillin, and peanuts/nuts, shellfish, eggs, bee/wasp venom etc.

[@cahidijoyoraharjo7833]

Not just garlic, nut allergy, dairy products allergy, etc. Even water allergy. I heard that once. It's very rare.

[@cwayzums]

She was a vampire 🧛‍♀️

[@rullmourn1142]

No, the apartment in Repulsion, is Not better than the one in Rosemary's Baby.

[@RHKhan86]

So she came here to kill herself. As she told him to put Garlic in the Meat Balls. Good & scary film 📼 though.

[@dapooch2521]

Awesome

[@alexander191297]

Ofc he gets stoned, writers and weed go together like oil and frying pans! 😅

[@selinaoakley3613]

Clever

[@Dumpsack]

He reminds me of mark rober.

[@robertgiles9124]

NEVER SAW ANY BERGMAN? They say like it's a good thing. Absurd. Bergman influenced every good Modern Diector because he's so damn great.

[@kharl92]

This was so good. My wife's brother is dealing with suicidal idealation and going to have to show her this one.

[@bjb7587]

What? Why?

[@kaylinbalogun1853]

what is wrong with you ? that's a terrible idea

[@Dayvit78]

I'm so conflicted with some of the Omeleto shorts. They're so well made, but the message is difficult. Just don't know. (Also spaghetti for breakfast? Only in Canada?)

[@SamStone1964]

Lunch. He said he was getting back by noon on Sunday.

[@rme1383]

They stayed up late and woke up at lunchtime

[@7yep4336dfgvvh]

Not everything needs to have a message. What is this dar man lol

[@missgaia12]

💯

[@rullmourn1142]

Huh, death by garlic?🤔

[@LabGecko]

Garlic allergies are rare, but do exist. Anaphylactic shock to a food-based allergen can cause the throat to swell, restricting breathing. It's possible to suffocate from this.

[@craftsandstuff3349]

I don't get it.

[@paulabrown6840]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🏆🏆🏆

[@Poorleeno]

actors who play stoners should learn to light joints properly

[@1208bug]

👍👍👍👍

[@hoagie911]

The whole "I wrote a script about writing a script" is already completely played out

[@yozh8214]

Затянуто, скучно, непонятно по какой именно причине она покончила с собой

[@spacecowgurl57]

Jiminy Crickets 🏏

[@Jsgaden]

Characters are too caricatural.

[@titsarmageddon]

What the fuuuuuu

[@IgorOcash]

interesting - a stoner able to engage in repartee without breaking down into giggling fits or fixating on an empty 7-up bottle. then the girl shows up and its mumbled repartee and not as clever. So it 9:43 into the short, and there's still no story, only buildup. Maybe I'll watch some more later....

[@maddiejankow8306]

You are so small minded it’s actually entertaining lmao

[@silloweet]

Bozo

[@bastymanguy]

Well for once Asian people are making and eating non-Asian food, with out chopstix mind you. And there’s no medication she could be on that would kill the guy via spiking the food either. She would only be taking an anti-depressant or anti-psychotic which doesn’t kill, sorry but it’s a plot blunder

[@PreApocalypseJitters]

Talking about Hitchcock. Polarized about the director's output. Defecating on his memory with this predictable "thriller".