The Automatic Hate

An outstanding cast brings off-kilter energy to this oddball story about a buried family secret. Davis (Joseph Cross) is a Boston chef and the only child of emotionally remote psychology professor Ronald (Richard Schiff). When he is visited by a previously unknown cousin named Alexis (Adelaide Clemens), Davis learns that the father he thought was raised alone actually has a brother living in woodsy upstate New York. Leaving his longtime girlfriend (Deborah Ann Woll) in an anxious and confused condition, Davis travels to meet up with Alexis and her twin sisters. The other shoe in this quirky tale drops when Alexis's father, Josh (Ricky Jay), tries to chase his nephew off, unwilling to discuss the terrible events that drove a wedge between him and Ronald. Things grow more complicated when an unwholesome attraction develops between Davis and Alexis—as if driven by some invisible hand—and a family tragedy forces a painful reunion of Ronald and Josh. Director Justin Lerner brings palpable eccentricity to the off-the-grid, hippie-ish existence of Josh and his daughters' world, which stands in sharp contrast to the orderly, button-down life of Ronald. And Cross is very good as the amorphous young adult drawn to his cousin. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include an audio commentary by director Justin Lerner and costar Joseph Cross, the bonus 2015 short film “Patriot” (15 min.), deleted scenes (13 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a strange and effective drama.] (T. Keogh)