Midwestern Nice

LOGLINE

A young woman brings her longtime boyfriend home to meet her father and, consequentially, her stepmom.

SYNOPSIS

Katelyn reluctantly brings her longtime boyfriend, Nick, home to meet her father and his relentlessly cheerful wife, Rochelle. What begins as an awkward family dinner quickly spirals as Rochelle’s overbearing hospitality gives way to unsolicited advice, invasive questions, and increasingly offensive remarks, all delivered with a smile.

As Katelyn struggles to keep the peace, Nick gets a front-row seat to the family dynamic she’s spent years trying to escape. But when Rochelle pushes one boundary too many, Katelyn’s frustration turns toward the person who has remained conspicuously quiet: her father. Forced to confront years of resentment, Katelyn must decide how much of herself she is willing to sacrifice for the sake of keeping things “nice.

About This Film:

Midwestern Nice was written, filmed, and edited from January 2025 to April 2025,

Shot in Rochester in February and March over 4 different evenings, 2 different locations, and in less than 36 hours total.

I was the director, screenwriter, producer & production designer of the film.