House of Spoils (2024)

Co-directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy, this gastronomic thriller offers more than meets the eye.

That's not to say it's a great film, far from it, but it's interesting how it manages to capture your attention thanks to the presence of a masterful and talented protagonist who elevates the intensity of the mystery it hides and at the same time makes everything even more important. More believable, even if sometimes it's hard to know where the story is taking us.

Ariana DeBose's talent is always felt and the actress brings to life a complex character who seeks excellence and recognition, a strong performance from a very good actress.

Her mere presence sets the tone and makes us never stop knowing all the secrets this film holds, and then we find a secondary character that also gives us the opportunity to complement everything the main character does.

The scripts written by both directors also have a very fine point of view that makes you really get involved in the story, and we would add that both directors have the wit to guide the direction so that you enjoy the culinary worlds they immerse themselves in.

Then we find that it has flaws in how it decides to make certain decisions or resolve certain conflicts that take away some of the depth and end up not being entirely convincing.

Still, I appreciate the film's courage in bringing it to the point where the conflict isn't just about quick scares, but giving us the opportunity to consider and perhaps pay attention to the level of need or utility that can be attributed to certain things.

The things that can really cause conflict go beyond the individual.

I am left with a proposition that goes beyond a light thriller, with a deeper look that is perhaps not quite finished and developed properly, but certainly gives the film a special appeal that allows us to enjoy culinary elements such as witches in a friendlier and richer way.

As you can imagine, this won't be one of the best films in the genre this year, but it's a great weekend treat for those who like to cook and be scared together.