Sinner Supper Club — NewFest Review
Source: Factory 25
It’s important to judge a film on its own terms rather than getting hung up on how it compares to other movies, especially when the filmmakers are working with limited resources. Nora Kaye and Daisy Rosato's Sinner Supper Club was shot on an iPhone in only six days, so it wouldn’t be fair to measure it against productions with significantly larger budgets. What makes the film interesting is what it manages to achieve within those constraints. Sinner Supper Club is a scrappy, rough-around-the-edges film, but its DIY sensibilities lend it an atmosphere of authenticity.
Set in Brooklyn, the film follows a group of friends as they gather to throw a “funeral” for Genevieve (Genevieve Simon). However, Genevieve is very much alive and among the attendees at this “eviction funeral” to commemorate being priced out of New York City. The fact that the film takes place in New York City in the middle of a heatwave calls to mind Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, but the conversations and games the group plays while trapped together evoke Halina Reijn's Bodies Bodies Bodies. The sweltering temperatures and cramped city apartment create an undercurrent of tension and claustrophobia. Moreover, there’s also a supernatural element to the story as it doubles as a ghost story.
Source: Factory 25
Much of the film’s appeal lies in its naturalistic depiction of queer friendships. The performances make the characters feel like real people, and watching the film feels like being an outsider invited to a party hosted by an established friend group. There’s always that one friend in every group who’s late to everything, and here it’s Nora (Nora Kaye). Then there’s the familiar awkwardness of a friend bringing a new partner, as Alice (Elise Kibler) arrives with Ash (Ashil Lee), who isn’t dressed appropriately for the occasion. Jayae (J. Riley Jr.), meanwhile, is that one friend who would rather be anywhere else but still showed up anyway. These character quirks all feel so true to life. There’s a sense that these characters have their own little community and shared history, while the improvisational dialogue lends their conversations an honesty and spontaneity. Even as their problems and repressed feelings begin to bubble to the surface, the interactions never feel forced. For better or worse, the film perfectly captures the energy of a Brooklyn party.
While the film’s guerrilla filmmaking style may be part of its appeal, it can also be one of its biggest drawbacks. The extreme close-ups create a feeling of intimacy, but the shaky camera and erratic editing can become a bit chaotic and overwhelming. As someone prone to motion sickness, I sometimes found the camerawork to be a bit nauseating.
In addition, the free-wheeling nature of the story isn’t always satisfying. The most enjoyable aspect of the film is simply spending time with these characters, but viewers who prefer more conventional storytelling and a stronger sense of plot development may find themselves disappointed. The supernatural element, in particular, is introduced so late in the narrative that it feels somewhat jarring. Fortunately, I knew going in that Sinner Supper Club was a ghost story; otherwise, the sudden genre shift would have caught me completely off guard.
Source: Factory 25
The film has a charming tenderness and sense of humor, but there’s also a surprising emotional depth beneath its chaos. Genevieve’s former roommate, Sophie (Sophie Sagan-Gutherz), passed away, contributing to Genevieve’s financial difficulties and forcing a move upstate. The tragedy creates a rift within the friend group, with unresolved feelings and tensions gradually simmering beneath the surface of their otherwise playful interactions.
Sinner Supper Club feels like a loving tribute to mumblecore and the Dogme 95 movement, but filtered through a distinctly and unapologetically queer lens. Its improvisational style, naturalistic performances, and emphasis on characters and dialogue over plot are trademarks of mumblecore. Meanwhile, its voyeuristic, rough, unpolished aesthetic is reminiscent of the Dogme 95 movement’s rejection of cinematic artifice. Although its chaotic camerawork and loose narrative structure didn’t quite work for me, I can’t help but admire the film’s scrappy resourcefulness and authentic portrayal of queer friendship. There’s a palpable sense of creativity and artistic ambition throughout, extending even to the end credits. Sinner Supper Club is a testament to what can be accomplished with limited resources and a strong creative vision. It may be rough around the edges, but it’s a reminder that you don’t need the best equipment or the biggest budget to make something that feels uniquely your own.
Sinner Supper Club had its East Coast premiere at NewFest on October 19, 2026.
