Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea

Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea
Poster
Directed byTony Olmos
Written byBrian Patrick Butler
Produced byTony Olmos
Starring
CinematographyJustin Burquist
Edited byBrian Patrick Butler
Music byAnton Elms
Production
companies
Distributed byBayView Entertainment
Release dates
  • November 18, 2023 (2023-11-18) (San Diego Film Week)
  • November 26, 2024 (2024-11-26) (VOD)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$29,000

Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea is a 2023 American satirical dark comedy film directed by Tony Olmos and written by Brian Patrick Butler. Butler also leads the ensemble cast that includes Kimberly Weinberger, Aimee La Joie, Randy Davison, Merrick McCartha, and Nick Young. Olmos and Butler produced the film together through their companies Rosewood Five and Charybdis Pictures. The story focuses on tenants who grapple with each other while attempting to oust their fascistic landlord.

The film is set in a fictional dystopia in Riverside County, California but was filmed in San Diego County with a microbudget in 2021. Some key aspects of the film involve capitalism and fairy tales, as well as slasher film and zombie apocalypse tropes. The film premiered in 2023 at Digital Gym Cinema for San Diego Film Week, screening at Oceanside International Film Festival and Hemet Film Festival in 2024. It was released on video on demand on November 26, 2024 where it was distributed by BayView Entertainment.

The film was received as a political satire with mixed reviews from critics. Some complimented the originality, humor, special effects, and performances of Weinberger and Butler, while others found issues with pacing, some dialogue, and unlikable characters. Butler received nominations for acting, screenplay, and editing at the 13th Oceanside International Film Festival.