The House (2022)

Originally announced as a television miniseries, The House (2022) became an anthology film, telling different stories about the same house set in different worlds and characters. The story tells three stories about madness, wealth, and the pursuit of true happiness. It is a three-part anthology film produced by Nexus Studios in London for Netflix.

I – And heard within, a lie is spun
Mabel, a young girl, resides with her father Raymond, mother Penny, and new sister Isobel in a state of relative poverty. Following a visit from their wealthy and patronizing relatives, Raymond stumbles into the forest inebriated and encounters the enigmatic architect Mr. Van Schoonbeek. The next day, Van Schoonbeek’s employee Mr. Thomas visits the family and persuades them to accept his offer of moving into a lavish new home at no cost. As they settle into their new abode, Mabel notices some peculiarities about the house and its ever-changing workers. Her parents, on the other hand, are captivated by the opulence of their new dwelling. Raymond becomes increasingly fixated on the fireplace, struggling to ignite it while Penny busies herself with sewing curtains.

II – Then lost is truth that can’t be won
In this world of talking rats, the house is up for sale in a bustling city street. The developer, who had to let go of his construction team for budgetary reasons, is now working solo on the renovations. Despite his efforts to rid the house of fur beetles and their larvae with boric acid, the infestation persists. On the day of the showing, while most visitors are unimpressed, a peculiar couple shows great interest in buying the property. In order not to jeopardize the potential sale, the developer agrees to let them spend the night. However, as days go by, the strange duo becomes more firmly ensconced in the house and the bug problem worsens. Meanwhile, persistent demands from the bank for repayment of business loans add to the developer’s stress.

III – Listen again and seek the sun
In a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by anthropomorphic cats, the house is constantly surrounded by rising water. Rosa, filled with nostalgia for her childhood in this house, dreams of restoring it to its former glory. Despite her financial struggles, she remains determined to make it happen. However, her tenants – fishermen Elias and his “spirit partner” Cosmos, along with hippie Jen – have yet to pay rent despite her reminders. While ignoring their pleas for help with the water issue, Rosa enlists Cosmos’ assistance in renovating the house. She is outraged when she discovers that he has been using the floorboards to build a boat for Elias instead. As Cosmos continues to work on the house against Rosa’s wishes, tensions rise between her and Elias. Hurt that he wishes to leave on the makeshift boat, Elias accuses Rosa of being afraid to do the same. Eventually, he departs with Cosmos on their newly built vessel.