With The Bear, kitchen drama is back in style. As if the trials and worries of working in high-pressure situations in a kitchen weren’t enough, the new Blumhouse introduces another element to deal with: a ghost. The chef in question here is Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, who you may remember more as the BAFTA host who went viral because of her iconic line, “Angela Bassett did the trick.” Alas, here she is, doing all those things and then some – quitting her job, choosing a haunted mansion, fighting ghosts, having nightmares, and cooking to save her life. even after doing so much thingShe can’t save the House of Spoils. (Also Read: Nobody Wants This review: Kristen Bell and Adam Brody are perfect in new binge-worthy rom-com)
House of Spoils keeps it safe
Writer-directors Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Cruddy play it too safe here. There’s not enough thrills, not enough adventure or indulgence to create any kind of discomfort with the character’s insecurities. The straightforwardness with which the story progresses turns out to be its main weakness—as we follow an unnamed chef (Ariana DeBose) who leaves her prestigious restaurant after seven years with the determination to start her own restaurant. Gives. With the help of an investor named Andres (Arian Moed, who is so succession-coded here as to not make an impression), they plan to open some kind of ‘destination restaurant’ called just for the vibes! It doesn’t help that she herself doesn’t trust the first sensation this remote mansion gives off: creepy.
Next, our chef is too busy relaxing alone in this mansion, but it’s definitely not going well. She tries gardening but that too does not end well, as it takes her a day or two to realize that the place is infested with insects. These little insects crawl everywhere; In the kitchen, the bread she makes rots, and then catches up with her nightmares. There are young chefs joining in (led by Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreira), and she has to trust her instincts to come up with a menu as quickly as possible.
a bad taste
Ariana DeBose rises above the ingredients she’s given, making her chef a woman who shouldn’t let her guard down and keeps it in check. She is nervous yet composed, scared but also determined. Yet none of that excess establishes itself in his film’s script, which always plays it safe. Because the film itself is so predictable and reserved for taking any risks, their performances feel out of place at times. The reasons and revelations, when they arrive, are quite poignant in the larger context of the film, but fail to make any impact until the end.
House of Spoils is too distracted by its choices to make any commentary about consumer culture. The finale leaves a ridiculously bad taste. There’s not enough meat to chew on, not enough texture to contemplate, and too few thrills that ultimately leave you hungry for more. No sir!
House of Spoils is available to stream on Prime Video.
