If you’ve seen The Bear, you’ll know that there’s no place on the planet more stressful than inside a kitchen. It’s hot, it’s chaotic, and everyone’s screaming something or another that only half makes sense. Really, it’s the perfect set-up for a horror film, and a new clip from Prime Video’s upcoming thriller House of Spoils sets out to prove it.
Star Ariana DeBose gets no name other than Chef as the clip opens, which hints at the dehumanizing nature of the environment she works in. (Isn’t that how it always works with rich people?) It doesn’t seem like her coworkers are giving her much help, either, as the clip shows off utter chaos, with Chef unsatisfied with everything her underlings produce for her wealthy clientele.
Things turn from bad to worse when her stress starts to manifest in other ways, with hallucinations taking her from simply overworked to something else entirely. But is it really her mind getting to her, or is there something else at play on the remote island where she’s opened her restaurant? What threats lay behind the freezer door — or worse, in the dining room?
Not only does the Blumhouse film co-star Barbie Ferreira and Arian Moayed, but it also features food styling from Zoe Hegedus, who specializes in creating food for film and television, as well as “edible tablescapes.” Her previous work includes films like Poor Things and Midsommar, meaning she’s a perfect fit for the slowly rotting atmosphere DeBose finds herself in in House of Spoils.
The film also features stars Amara Karan, Mikkel Bratt Silset, and Marton Csokas, and is the second project from writer-director team Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy. It’s not the first time we’ve seen a kitchen as the centerpiece for horror film chaos — just look at 2022’s The Menu — but it’s the first time vengeful spirits have been involved, and who knows what happens when you let ghosts around your steak knives?
For those readers lucky enough to be at Fantastic Fest this weekend, the film will also have its own activation at the festival, at Joann’s Fine Foods in Austin on September 21 and 22. From 10AM to 6PM, the 17+ activation will feature photo opportunities, special merch, and of course, some freaky food.
House of Spoils hits Prime Video on October 3. Check out the new clip below:
