Summary
“House of Spoils” is an American film directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy. Set to premiere in 2024, it is a blend of psychological horror and thriller. This movie captures a tale of personal trauma, relentless ambition, and haunting remorse interspersed with a touch of beauty at a remote restaurant.
The narrative revolves around Abby (Ariana DeBose), an optimistic young chef wishing to etch her name in the culinary world. Abby’s character portrays a strong-willed individual seeking to escape her turbulent history. Hence, she grabs the opportunity to inaugurate her farm-to-table restaurant at a stunning yet remote farmhouse which has a rich and mysterious past.
The initial phases of setting up the restaurant with her small but loyal team goes smoothly for Abby, until she begins to notice disturbing occurrences. A myriad of strange noises, flickering silhouettes, and the feeling of being incessantly observed all come into play. For a very reasonable period, these unique occurrences are doubted by Abby herself, as she assumes these pressures to be constructs of her anxious mind.
But soon the events spiral out of control. Abby starts having horrifyingly vivid fantasies. She perceives fleeting images of a woman—the ghost of a would-be restaurateur who has met as much blighted failure as this house. This shape of fury, remorse, or perhaps an ominous sign, is seemingly bent on destroying all of Abby’s attempts.
Simultaneously, Abby must face the pressures of the ‘living’ world: the harsh investors, dwindling rapport with the staff, and the chilling reality that her dreams could become dormant. The fragile balance of her confidence gets uneasy as the gap between fact and fiction narrows down. Is the “spiraling” figure truly a haunting, or a malevolent spirit exposing her rot under layers of emotion?
As the opening day draws closer, everything comes to a head. Relentlessly, Abby faces literal and psychological hauntings, which must be dealt with before losing everything she has burnt her bridges for. The ultimate confrontation brings out the horrific decision she had to make, subduing her self-destructive ambition inspired by her ghostly predecessor’s tragic life.
“House of Spoils” is a gripping clash of good and evil; a haunting vision, portraying irrevocable obsession and vague perfection that aims to expose fear.
Cast & Crew
Ariana DeBose as Abby
With her Oscar-winning performance in West Side Story fresh off her belts, Ariana DeBose grips audiences once again with a chillingly vulnerable performance as Abby. The audience cheers for her and fears for her at the same time as the character displays both determination and turmoil within.
Barbarian’s Lead Actor (in a supporting role)
While marketing has remained opaque about revealing full details, the breakout star of Barbarian takes the role of one of Abby’s trusted staff, though they become increasingly ambiguous and tension-laden as the plot unfolds.
Director(s): Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy
Known for their acclaimed film Blow the Man Down, Cole and Krudy’s “House of spoils” showcases their talent for atmospheric storytelling centered on female protagonists. Strong direction lays out psychological dread that builds tension rather than cranking out low-quality scares.
Screenplay: Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy
The writing duo merges supernatural horror, suspense, and striking character drama into Abby’s emotional arc in the witches tale, crafting her journey seamlessly through supernatural events.
Cinematography: Noah Greenberg
The cinematography captures the beauty of the countryside estate in its decay. To mark Abby’s sense of entrapment, Greenberg uses tight, claustrophobic kitchen shots and open, eerie compositions of the outside.
Ariel Marx’s work includes the musical composition.
Her score for the documentary amplifies the psychological tension with eerie kitchen sounds and abrupt pauses, utilizing subtle strings and silences to construct an unnerving atmosphere.
IMDb Scores
At the time of this documentary’s release, “House of Spoils”, had an IMDb score just above 6.8/10 which suggests a lukewarm rating.
Critics seem to appreciate the film for its slow build of tension, the general ambiance, and for Ariana DeBose’s strong portrayal. It is frequently highlighted that “House of Spoils” is different from it’s counterparts in the horror-thriller genre, as the film’s focus is on psychological horror instead of gore and cheap thrills.
Audiences discuss the reason behind Abby’s character spiraling into insanity and how the presence of other-worldly forces reflect the protagonist’s emotional breakdown. Although Abby’s conflict with the ghost is not overtly expressed, it makes the horror justified instead of unearned.
Some critiques argue that the film’s pacing will be challenging to those looking for something more fast-paced. A minority argued that Abby’s relationships with her sous-chef and investors were underdeveloped and could have raised the emotional intensity of the film.
To summarize, “House of Spoils” is regarded as a thoughtful, atmospheric piece of character-driven horror.
Concluding Remarks
With strong psychological elements and emotional depth, “House of Spoils” creates a haunting atmosphere that reinvents the genre by shifting attention from external terrors to internal vulnerabilities. The film’s haunting atmosphere does not depend on jump scares or violence; it arises instead from a deep sense of dread.
Ariana DeBose is the undisputed star of the film. As Abby, she is not a brave protagonist or a weak victim; she is a real person — imperfect, driven, terrified, and utterly resolute. DeBose portrays bravado so seamlessly, it heightens the impact of Abby’s descent into fear, which we become ever more distanced from.
Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy have an impressive mastery of balancing real beauty and stunning oppression within the crafted environment of the film’s world. The kitchen, traditionally a place of creation and mastery, warps into a nightmarish realm where trust decays into paranoia, and the struggle for survival turns into an empty spectacle.
Both self-destruction and being haunted by others are central to “House of Spoils.” Abby’s ambition and perfectionism, once considered strengths, become detrimental with the added weight of expectation, grief, and suffering. The house, with its decaying walls and restless spirit, symbolizes the unchecked rot that unchecked ambition and molded self-destruction bring forth.
“House of Spoils” is visually marked by an unsettling mood. In the climactic quiet of the kitchen, close-up shots generate an intimate sense of claustrophobia made psychologically deep by Abby’s emotional landscape, which is further emphasized by the surrounding estate’s blue skies but starkly serene emptiness. The soundscape combines overly familiar sounds with unnatural alterations to keep viewers on edge.
”House of Spoils” does have its shortcomings, however. Some viewers may critique its slow pace or lack of traditional horror elements. While those who enjoy horror stories with layers of emotional depth concealed beneath the surface may find the film expresses its terror through subtle means, character-driven stories, those in search of deep emotional currents paired with strained family bonds will be amply rewarded.
To summarize, I would say that “House of Spoils” is an elegant, heartbreaking horror-thriller driven by a breathtaking central performance, strong world-building, and insight into the destructive nature of ambition. It reminds us that the most terrifying elements are not apparitions, but rather the deep-seated fears lurking within us.
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