What You Wish For (2023) User Reviews

Understands what it is and takes us on a well balanced and wild journey

[jtindahouse · 9/10 · 1 October 2023]

Short review: The synopsis for 'What You Wish For' was so vague I really had no idea what to expect going in. The little we did get about a chef with a gambling problem assuming someone's identity didn't even scratch the iceberg though. This film was an absolute blast from start to finish.

I don't think I'll ever forget the minute the ball drops in this film. It was said so casually and reacted to so calmly that I thought I must've misheard or misunderstood. I didn't though and from there on out we were on a wild ride.

The film is dark, but also often hilarious. It finds a great balance in terms of how seriously to take itself, certainly leaning heavily towards the serious side, but just enough tongue-in-cheek moments to realise just how out there of an idea this is. I really enjoyed this one. 9/10.

What You Wish For

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 18 October 2023]

Ryan (Nick Stahl) has left the boring life of working in a chain hotel kitchen to travel to the rainforests of Latin America and meet up with his culinary school classmate Jack (Brian Groh). It may not have been by choice that Ryan has left his job, as he's run up some bad debts and has someone even worse after him.

Jack is living the life that Ryan always wanted. So when his friend disappears and gives him the chance to take over his life - and his money and status - well, sign Ryan up. The problem? Jack wasn't exactly working his dream position. Now, Ryan has all of his problems.

Directed and written by Nicholas Tomnay, this finds Ryan working for some of the most horrific rich people ever, lorded over by their employee Imogene (Tamsin Topolski), and forced to stay one step ahead of both their frightening culinary demands and the police who are looking for the real Jack, who by the way hung himself this morning.

Ryan always wanted to make a meal more exciting than roasted chicken. This meal is way more interesting - and maybe final - than any he imagined. What an interesting idea for a film and one that really delivers.