The premise of the American horror film Bitter Feast is remarkably simple.
Chef Peter Gray loses both his job and his television show thanks to a nasty review written by snobby food critic JT Franks. Furious, Gray decides to get even with Franks by capturing and torturing him. Sounds simple enough, but viewers will be horrified by the creative (and cruel) lengths the cross cook will go to to prove his point. As a relentless horror-junkie, I’ve seen it all when it comes to murderers and their tragic back stories: the abused sadist, the ex-cop, the serial killer, the escaped convict, the mental patient, etc. etc. - but a chef? This one was new to me, but it works frighteningly well. Here are a few reasons a chafed chef makes a chilling madman:Knives
Every horror movie has to have them - they’re the perfect way to achieve maximum gore. Well, here’s a villain that really knows how to use them. After spending hours upon hours hunched over a chopping block, a chef has some serious skill when it comes to slicing and dicing, no matter the type of flesh.
Poison
With their extensive knowledge of flavour combinations, they can accent or mask anything. How do you know that delicious bite of apple pie wasn’t laced with cyanide? Your next meal could be your last!
Appliances
You don’t need to be baking a cake to use an electric mixer, do you? And that blender isn’t just for smoothies...
Heat
Even the most careful cook has had a mishap with an oven, microwave, burner, or pot of boiling water - and it hurts! The kitchen is full of fire and needs to be navigated carefully, or in the case of a deranged chef, creatively.
Trust
Think about it - rarely (if ever) do you get to actually see someone prepare your meal, but you wolf it down anyway. That makes you vulnerable, AKA: an easy target. Even the chef at your local diner has the opportunity to take advantage of that. Have you ever thought to examine your plate for secret garnishes like pins, needles, razor blades, or rat poison? No. But I bet you will now...
I’m not going to divulge which of these devices Peter Gray puts to use- you’ll just have to see it for yourself! Bitter Feast plays tonight, September 25th, at The Plaza at 11:30 PM. Get your tickets online at www.calgaryfilm.com - but make sure you grab dinner first, you may not feel like chowing down afterward...
Bon Appetit!
