Suzy Makes Cupcakes
2022 · 10m · Canada
Directed by Jayson Therrien
Genres: crime, dark comedy, thriller
Tones: darkly comic, tense
A baker uses her celebrated red velvet cupcakes as a vehicle for revenge against her abusive husband and a local crime family.
Picked by Felix
The scouts
A baker weaponizing cupcakes against the mob is exactly the kind of absurdist premise that makes people groan until it actually works—Therrien's refusal to play it straight or safe is what separates this from every other "housewife snaps" thriller that gets made.
The tonal balance here feels precise but somewhat slight; while the dark comedy mechanics are competent, it doesn't quite locate itself in the tradition of genre subversion the way a truly considered film would—it's more clever than essential.
The genius move is committing entirely to the cupcakes as the emotional center rather than treating them as novelty—whatever Therrien chose to do with the sound design or editing rhythm around those moments of poisoning is what elevates this from concept to craft.