“WHAT YOU WISH FOR” is a noir culinary thriller that would like you to dial into whether the grass is always greener on the other side. Directed by Nicholas Tomnay (The Perfect Host) the title stars Nick Stahl (What Josiah Saw) and is the perfect film to settle in with if you need a darkly humorous cautionary tale that delves into the world of the ultra-wealthy. The second feature film for this director, “What You Wish For” showcases Tomnay’s noir-inspired storytelling.
The film revolves around Ryan, a struggling chef portrayed by Stahl. Ryan’s life takes a treacherous turn as his gambling debts lead him to an unnamed Latin American country to reunite with Jack, played by Brian Groh. Ryan finds himself caught in a web of unexpected consequences when he reconnects with an old culinary school friend. This friend happens to be a private chef for the elite.
What You Wish For is a Twist of Fate
It has been twelve years since they last saw each other. While Ryan has been toiling away, cooking ordinary dishes in a Dallas chain hotel, Jack has become the Gordon Ramsay to the rich. He is known for being at the helm of extravagant dinner parties in breathtaking locations around the world. As Ryan catches a glimpse of Jack’s million-dollar bank account on his laptop, the green monster of jealousy starts to rear its head.
Jack’s latest assignment lands him in a high-class mansion, entrusted with preparing an exquisite meal for a group of privileged elites. When Ryan voices his envy, Jack dismisses it. Jack suggests that his seemingly glamorous life is not as great as it looks. Then when his friend turns up dead, Ryan contemplates a new plan. He realizes that even a fraction of Jack’s wealth could help him pay off the loan sharks who are threatening his safety and that of his mother.
A Fresh Start With a New Menu
Driven by his desire for a better life, Ryan takes on the identity of his friend Jack. However, the truth behind Jack’s luxurious existence soon unravels. He discovers the dark lengths Jack has gone to maintain the lifestyle he so desperately craved. What You Wish For could become a reality, but what if what you wish for comes with a heavy price?
Cinematography left me with a feeling of immersion into the storytelling rather than feeling like I was someone looking in on events. Lots of close shots of plates of food and facial expressions. The score was carefully selected to marry with the color scheme that changed with the introduction of tonal shifts and ideas.
As for the ingredients for the menu, What You Wish for doesn’t dwell on the macabre fate of its integral players. Instead, it concentrates all its efforts on creating an empathic thread for Ryan as he bumbles his way through a situation he could have never thought possible. Executed with the stoic energy only Nick Stahl could accomplish, Ryan sets about achieving his worth as a chef. For those with a penchant for the gruesome, there is certainly just enough to satiate even the more boundary-pushing cinema enthusiasts, despite it being very short-lived.
Movies About Greed
This is a title that doesn’t break new ground. Movies like The Menu, The Cannibal Club, and Fresh have all touched on this setting before. What You Wish For is nonetheless an excellent noir thriller with plenty to unwrap and comes highly recommended. For more movies you need to watch check out the Now Playing Network video website.
What You Wish For is an exceptional second film for Nicholas Tomnay after what I list as one of my favorite films of all time, The Perfect Host. In this instance, this title was worth the 13-year wait.
What You Wish For is rated
4.5 A Perfect Host should be careful what he wishes for out of 5
New Movies You Won’t Want to Miss – What You Wish For
Writer/Director: Nicholas Tomnay
“I’ve always felt that a genre film is the best Trojan horse to express philosophical or societal ideas. Before writing the screenplay I was struck by an overwhelming feeling that the powerful in America had become completely uninterested in the world a s a community. In particular, I was stunned by the inaction concerning climate change, and when I thought about it further, it was clear to me that greed was the reason for all of it.”
Director Nicholas Tomnay on his film, “What You Wish For.”
WHAT YOU WISH FOR pays homage to the suspenseful style of Alfred Hitchcock and has been a labor of love for Tomnay. The movie premiered at Montreal’s Fantasia Festival, receiving critical acclaim. The moralistic thriller movie is scheduled to be screened at Screamfest in Los Angeles. Moreover, there are plans for an upcoming festival run in the UK.
