Ariana DeBose mesmerizes as "Chef" unraveling in the eerie foodie horror "House of Spoils"
We wanted to wait until closer to the Amazon Prime release to talk about House of Spoils, the new feature from Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy. House of Spoils stars Ariana DeBose as "Chef" who leaves her prestigious culinary career to start her own exclusive dining experience. She soon discovers strange herbs and roots she’s never seen before, and a looming presence begins to surround her and the property. After opening, she starts seeing moldy, rotten, insect-infested dishes, haunting her daily routine and potentially driving her mad. House of Spoils adds to the current wave of foodie horror, exploring how decaying beauty can still captivate audiences.
Ariana DeBose is a star from the outset. It’s clear the entire narrative is built around showcasing her talent both on and off the screen. She delivers such a compelling performance that the anticipation for the film's "gross factor" grows to almost unattainable heights. This leads to the only major issue with House of Spoils: while the film has its rancid moments, it never quite reaches the unsettling intensity promised by DeBose’s character. Despite this, a strong supporting cast, including Barbie Ferreira and Arian Moayed, helps keep the story engaging.
The lore surrounding House of Spoils leaves something to be desired. Though the performances and execution are spot-on, the film feels like it’s missing a crucial element. It tells a fascinating story of a woman’s struggle with hierarchy, establishment, stress, and entrepreneurship, but not enough about fear. If the tension and eerie elements were ramped up to match the strength of the cast, this film could have been outstanding. Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy excel at getting the most out of their talent, but the story could benefit from more fear, risks, and challenges to push the characters beyond what's expected.
Still, House of Spoils is definitely worth a watch!
Rating: 3/5
Check out our exclusive interview with Ariana DeBose and Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy soon!
Written and Directed by Bridget Savage Cole & Danielle Krudy
Produced by Greg Gilreath, Adam Hendricks, Drew Houpt, Alex Scharfman, Lucas Joaquin, Jason Blum
Executive Produced by Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold, Chris Dickie
Starring Ariana DeBose, Barbie Ferreira, Arian Moayed, Amara Karan, Mikkel Bratt Silset and Marton Csokas
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