The Boy I Hate

starring: ELISE LUTHMAN & LEIF ERIK OFFERDAHL

When her boyfriend bails on a cross-country trip to her best friend’s wedding, Samantha Smiles ends up stuck driving from LA to NYC with the one guy she’s tried to forget—Tristan Montgomery, her best friend’s older brother and the boy who once had all her firsts.

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This ties with My Girl for being the best vertical I have ever watched.

We are in award winning film territory here in my mind. And all because someone at ReelShort decided to trust us, the audience, and commission something with nuance and emotions.

No slaps. No violence. No sexual assaults. No toxic relationships. No power plays.

Just an incredibly well written story about 2 people who unintentionally hurt and misunderstand each other, and then find their way back to each other.

2 people trying to do the right thing. Who communicate. Talk about emotions.

We have a positive female friendship. We have a male lead who won't sleep with the female lead when she is drunk because he doesn't want to take advantage.

We have sun dappled scenes by the lake. We have a stunning car and road trip. We have chemistry and sex without gratuitousness.

We have 2 leads who give insanely good performances

I think Elise Luthman is new to verticals, and potentially lured in by the excellent script. My word she is brilliant. This feels like one of the early crossings over of someone who has been in more mainstream TV like Euphoria and Nickelodeon shows to verticals, and we will have more if this quality of script continues.

Now I have watched Leif Erik Offerdahl in a few verticals and it's fine, but nothing has really stuck. Now this is a star making performance. He is mesmerizing, and has this amazing ability to show some of Tristan's vulnerability and then bring the shutters down and put the facade back on when he closes up again. It's so revealing how brilliant vertical stars like Leif are when they are given a script this good.

These 2 should be on magazines. This needs to go viral. This should be one of the movies of the summer.

The whole thing is bathed in sunshine. All that is missing is the accompanying road trip soundtrack. Hopefully this is something that will come to verticals soon.

Rest of the cast are also super especially Lauren Bonham as Renee and Kierron Molet as Phin. Again very well written, mature characters.

This is such a gift and I want to thank everyone who made this happen.

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

It is one long moment, that will keep you in it’s grip from beginning to end. Because when you have a script this good, and leads who nail it - wow. And there are actual conversations about emotions and feelings.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

We have ex boyfriend Steven, but he fades away as it is all about the central pairing, and how they overcome misunderstandings to get together.

😂 Comedy gold:

Not applicable for this - but if you want something, well Sam learns to swim after the lake rescue. Enough said.

🎺 Unsung hero:

Whoever at Reelshort who commissioned this. THANK YOU. Thank you for believing in us as an audience, creating content of this quality and standard.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director Nick Fabiano | 2025

Available on ReelShort