The singer Haddaway once questioned in a song and dance club anthem, what is love? In the dark comedy Lovers of Hate, a formerly married couple, a brother, and a cabin in the mountains give us a few good examples.

The new film by relative newcomer Bryan Poyser is definitely a sight to be seen and Poyser is someone to watch. Shot in just 19 days after Poyser attended the Sundance Film Festival, he used a cabin he was staying at there as the backdrop for this simple yet complex tale of love and betrayal.

Lovers of Hate takes the story of two brothers, one successful and the other believing the success should have been his all along, and the older brother’s former wife, who is thrust in the middle of this sibling rivalry. What happens from there is something I won’t reveal for therein lies what makes this film so interesting. For as the story continues we learn more and more about this complex situation and how it came to be, adding just the perfect blend of story, structure, and mystery.

Written as a chance to show off many of these actors’ talents, the film does just that. To say these characters deliver “powerhouse performances” would almost be an understatement. The talent behind the acting in this film is so well-done simply because it’s so believable.

After the film ends, we ask ourselves, “what happens next?” and yet with the characters so well drawn out we don’t feel like we need more to make our own conclusions.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film because it has a story and characters that never doubt the intelligence of the audience. Because whether or not we can relate to this particular situation or any of the characters themselves, the film gives us more than enough familiarity to find something to hold onto. I highly recommend this film, the story is rich, the actors are talented, and if that’s not enough for you to see this film, then maybe you’re just a lover of… you get it.

Lovers of Hate is currently available on IFC’s VOD. Check out the trailer here, and the official website here.

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