Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose takes a step away from her usual musical roles in an upcoming supernatural horror film. In “House of Spoils,” DeBose plays an ambitious chef who opens her first restaurant in a remote estate. Soon after, unsettling events begin to threaten her culinary dreams and the opening of her new business.
Produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Blumhouse Productions, “House of Spoils” is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video on October 3. DeBose’s character believes running a high-end kitchen will be challenging enough without any other problems. However, she faces horrifying consequences after ignoring warnings against using ingredients from the previous owner’s garden. Scenes from the trailer show moldy meals and insects crawling out of dishes, hinting at the supernatural challenges that come.
The film follows DeBose’s character as she struggles not only with the usual stresses of opening a new restaurant, but also mysterious forces at the estate. Directors Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy said the production presented many difficult challenges. In an interview, Cole explained they asked a lot of DeBose, including filming night scenes where her character crawled through dirt repeatedly. However, the directors also said “House of Spoils” explores important themes of leadership and self-discovery.
Beyond DeBose, the movie features other notable actors like Barbie Ferreira from “Euphoria,” Arian Moayed from “Succession,” and Marton Csokas from “The Equalizer.” Food stylist Zoe Hegedus, known for her work on “Midsommar” and “Poor Things,” served as a consultant to help make the film’s culinary elements feel authentic. “House of Spoils” continues the partnership between Amazon MGM Studios, Blumhouse Productions and many veteran filmmakers of the production team.
For DeBose, taking a lead role in a horror film marks a change from her previous acclaimed performances in musicals and animated works. Known for “West Side Story” and “Hamilton,” as well as the voice of “Wish,” DeBose shows her versatility in tackling an intense new genre. As the October 3 release of “House of Spoils” approaches, it promises to deliver both culinary ambition and creepy supernatural chills with DeBose at the center.
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