House of Spoils is a great combination of culinary and witchy, but not a perfect blend. Still, Ariana DeBose once again proves how talented she is.
I have to admit, I went into House of Spoils expecting something like The Menu. Not exactly like it, but certainly not like what I was given – and that is a good thing. Ariana DeBose once again proves just how talented she is, as she takes on the role of Chef. A movie that is a little bit witchy and a lot bit empowering, House of Spoils will certainly keep viewers entertained.
When a young Chef is given the chance to realize her dream and open her own restaurant, she leaps at it. The concept is unique, as the restaurant will be inside of an old house, that she will also be living in. The first chef backed out and even though she is unsure why, she is not going to lose out on a chance to make her dream come true.
It doesn’t take long after moving into the house for her to realize something is strange about it. Is it all in her head or is there a presence that is trying to tell her something? More is revealed as the movie goes on, and it will likely end up in a place that you will never expect.
As with most culinary movies, there are lot of close foods shots and scenes of people eating. This is the part that is similar to The Menu, which remains one of my favorite films of all time. The cinematography choices elevate the film, boarding the line between delicious and disgusting.
The biggest issue with this film is the disconnect between the culinary aspect and the witch aspect at first. It takes a while for them to truly connect and blend together in a way that make sense in the film, but once they do, there is no looking back. While the beginning of the movie does showcase what is to come in terms of the witchiness, it almost feels as if it was an afterthought. Like someone realized there was a disconnect and tried to fix it. Still, I cannot be that mad at it as I really enjoyed the film overall.
While there are some moments that do not work, there is a long list of things that do. DeBose and Barbie Ferreira make a great team and are a complete joy to watch on screen. There is no doubt that this movie is about female empowerment at its core, which is something I can absolutely get behind. The final sequence had me cheering, as well as wishing this was a real place I could visit. No spoilers, but you will know exactly what I mean when you see it.
House of Spoils is funny, entertaining, exciting, scary, and empowering. I know that is quite the combination of adjectives but watch the movie and try to tell me I am wrong. I love the major twist and how it plays out. The way that it is revealed is smart, and clearly a testament to the brilliant writing, directing, cinematography, and acting. It could have easily been a mess, but instead it becomes one of the most unforgettable moments of the film.
Ariana DeBose gives her all in this role, something she repeatedly does with her performances. There is no doubt that she is a talent, and I truly enjoy watching her on screen. Seeing her embrace herself, truly embrace herself, in the third act of this movie is something that will stick with me for a long time. It empowered me, and I hope it empowers many others. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are or what to do, be you and be completely comfortable in it, and you will be just fine.
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About House of Spoils
It tells the story of a chef who opens her first restaurant where she battles kitchen chaos, a dubious investor and self doubt, but the pressure heats up thanks to the spirit of the estate’s previous owner who threatens to sabotage her.
House of Spoils comes to Prime Video on October 3.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.