‘House of Spoils’ is an interesting movie on Amazon Prime. It tells the story of a professional chef who wants to open a fine dining restaurant in a broken-down old house. She gets help from her friend and investor named Andres. Together, they have a dream to make this restaurant popular. But there is a twist! The ghost of the house’s previous owner starts to haunt them, ruining the food and causing problems for the chef. The movie explores many themes, including growth, decay, and the challenges of being a woman in a man’s world. Co-directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy, this horror film uses its creepy setting to create an unsettling atmosphere.
Where was House of Spoils filmed?
The filming of ‘House of Spoils’ happened entirely in Hungary, which is in Central Europe. The crew went to Budapest, the capital city, and also filmed in a small village called Ráckeresztúr. The main filming began in late August 2022 and finished by late November of the same year. Ariana DeBose, the lead actress, trained for a week with NYC chef Ayesha Nurdjaja at a restaurant called Shukette. She wanted to learn how to be a good chef for her role.
Ariana shared in an interview, “I was raised in a kitchen, but that doesn’t make me a chef. So I did train… I continued to train while we were making this movie with our food stylist, Zoe Hegedus. I literally sharpened my knife skills every day. I really tried; I put in the effort.”
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is a beautiful and lively city that played an important role in the movie. It showed the busy life of the chef before she decides to leave her job and follow her dream of opening a restaurant. The city life is full of energy, which contrasts with the quiet and spooky old house where she moves later. While filming during fall and winter, the city became foggy, which added to the scary and mysterious feel of the film.
Eric Lin, the cinematographer, loved the pretty views of Budapest. He captured images of trams and the city at night. He also talked about how the fog created a magical atmosphere for the movie. In his Instagram post, he wrote, “Been back for a week, but it’s hard to shake the beauty of foggy Budapest. When we started shooting, I asked for lots of haze for select exterior scenes, but by the end of the shoot, we often had no choice but dense fog. The mistiness lent a magical atmosphere to our shoot.”
Ráckeresztúr, Hungary
The small village of Ráckeresztúr is located in Fejér County, Hungary. This village provided the beautiful forest background seen in ‘House of Spoils.’ The haunted house in the film is actually a real place called the Pázmándy-Brauch kastély, or the Brauch Manor. This manor is not run-down or spooky in real life; instead, it was made to look old and creepy for the movie. Production designer Alexandra Schaller worked hard to give the house a haunted look, as if nature was taking over.
The Brauch Manor was built in the 1820s by the Pázmándy family. It has a family crypt beneath it, which makes it a great place for a horror movie. The 8-hectare estate also includes a granary, a neo-Gothic chapel, stables, servant quarters, and a wine cellar. It is open to the public for tours, private events, and filming. Over the years, it has been used as a filming location for various movies like Attila Szász’s ‘Demimonde,’ ‘Those Who Remained,’ and Disney’s ‘Hands Off My Dad!’
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – House of Spoils
Q: Where was House of Spoils filmed?
A: House of Spoils was filmed entirely in Hungary. The main locations include Budapest, the vibrant capital city, and the village of Ráckeresztúr, where the Brauch Manor served as the haunted estate featured in the film.
Q: When was House of Spoils filmed?
A: Filming for House of Spoils began in late August 2022 and was completed by late November 2022. The production team took advantage of the fall and winter seasons to capture the film’s eerie atmosphere.
Q: What is the release date for House of Spoils?
A: House of Spoils was released on Amazon Prime Video on October 3, 2024.
Q: Who is in the cast of House of Spoils?
A: The film stars Ariana DeBose as the lead character, a professional chef. The cast also includes actors like Christian Camargo, who plays Andres, and others who support the story. The film features a mix of established talent and rising stars.
Q: Who directed House of Spoils?
A: House of Spoils was co-directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy. Both directors are known for their work in the horror genre, and they brought a unique vision to this film.
