High End Dying

High End Dying is a modern-day surreal horror inspired by an angry food review the writer Jordan Symes read online. The author's re-telling of their experience with upscale dining was so bizarre that Jordan felt it almost read like a horror tale. Thus, he decided his next script would be an actual tale of horror set in the world of fine dining; soon, a bloody version of Ratatouille meets Whiplash was born. In High End Dying, elite-level chef Eloise literally puts herself into her craft as her attempt to impress famed food critic Alistair descends into a bloodbath. 

When I first read the script, gorgeously bloody images and grandiose music rushed into my head. I strongly relate to the relationship between Eloise and the Alistair. As a creative, I constantly have people critiquing my work, but it’s the comments from people I deeply trust that encourages me the most. The harsh notes push me to improve and do better work. The relationship goes beyond purely art and criticism, it becomes a personal connection that lasts. I knew this was a film I needed to make. 

Being raised in a foodie family, cooking has always been a big part of my love language. I naturally grew to love eating and cooking different types of cuisine. Food elements are a constant in my films; the more I learn about restaurants, the more I find similarities to a film set. Both have long-standing hours, rely on teamwork, and have high stress and tension. High End Dying puts a dark twist on the universal theme of pursuing one's dreams and passion, pushing it to the extreme, to the point where our protagonist literally puts her heart into her craft. 

High End Dying shows how people break down in an unhealthy work environment when they focus too much on their work and ignore their mental health and the signs their bodies send to them. I want this film to open a conversation for people who love their job and to have people thinking about their relationship between work and self-care.