Mia Goth
Mabel (voice)
Overview
Across different eras, a poor family, an anxious developer and a fed-up landlady become tied to the same mysterious house in this animated dark comedy.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
3 min readThe plaster keeps breathing
I cannot shake the walls in The House. They swell. They recede.
The plaster looks like it is inhaling under whoever is currently trapped inside. Netflix's 2022 animated anthology treats the building as a character with a pulse, a memory, and a cruel sense of humor. People come and go.
The rooms stay sharper than they do.
The house is crooked and labyrinthine, and the architecture shifts with the eras it survives. Three segments, each from a different animator, move through time. A 19th-century fable of greed.
A modern real estate nightmare. A post-apocalyptic elegy for whoever is left. The house holds the stories together.
Each one asks whether you can belong somewhere while the world tries to unmake you.
The first segment feels like a lost Brothers Grimm tale restaged by Tim Burton. A destitute family follows a mysterious architect through the door. The animation is stop-motion, or it feels like it.
Every surface is textured. You can almost feel the grain of the wood and the damp chill of the stone. Their descent into madness plays as dark comedy, with a queasiness under the jokes.
The house is not a backdrop. It helps undo them. Matthew Goode voices the father with desperation mixed into delusion.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A visually striking but uneven stop-motion anthology that divides viewers with its surreal storytelling."
The film’s unique animation style and atmospheric tone earn praise, with many appreciating its creative ambition and eerie charm. latestnetflix.com's view is that however, the fragmented narrative and lack of clear cohesion leave some feeling disconnected, with pacing and character depth cited as weak points.
What viewers praise
- Unique animation style The stop-motion visuals are widely praised for their creativity and distinct aesthetic, setting it apart from conventional animated films.
- Atmospheric tone The eerie, dreamlike atmosphere resonates with viewers who enjoy surreal and unconventional storytelling.
- Creative ambition The film’s bold approach to storytelling and design is noted as a refreshing departure from mainstream animation.
Common complaints
- Fragmented narrative The anthology structure and lack of a cohesive storyline frustrate some, making it difficult to follow or invest in the characters.
- Pacing issues The slow, meandering pace is criticized for dragging in parts, particularly in the middle segments.
- Underdeveloped characters Many characters lack depth, leaving viewers emotionally unengaged despite the film’s visual strengths.
Recommended for
Stop-motion animation fans Surreal storytelling lovers Atmospheric film enthusiasts Indie animation seekers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsInside Netflix’s The House (2022): A Dark Fairy Tale with Star Power and Hidden Depths
Netflix’s The House (2022) is a stop-motion animated anthology that weaves three eerie, interconnected stories around a single, ever-changing house. While the film’s visual style and voice cast—led by Mia Goth and Matthew Goode—have drawn attention, behind-the-scenes details remain scarce. latestnetflix.com's read is that here’s what we know (and what’s still shrouded in mystery) about this unconventional project.
A Star-Studded Voice Cast with Gothic Flair
The House boasts an impressive lineup of British talent, with Mia Goth (Pearl, X) and Matthew Goode (The Crown, Watchmen) anchoring the cast. Goth’s voice work aligns with her penchant for dark, unsettling roles, while Goode’s smooth delivery contrasts with the film’s macabre tone. Other notable names include:
- Miranda Richardson (The Hours, Harry Potter), whose sharp, theatrical voice adds gravitas.
YTYouTube·The House Movie Review | The House (2022) Netfli… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om-E3j2xWhkYTYouTube·The House (2022) HONEST REVIEW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3NcfO_aYt4- Jarvis Cocker (Pulp frontman), lending his distinctive baritone to a key character .
- Stephanie Cole (Doc Martin) and Mark Heap (Spaced), rounding out the ensemble with dry, British wit.
The cast’s involvement suggests Netflix aimed for prestige, but details about their recording sessions—whether they worked together or in isolation—remain unconfirmed. Rumors swirl that Goth and Goode recorded their parts separately, a common practice in animation, but no sources confirm this .
Stop-Motion Animation: A Labor of Love (and Time)
The House stands out for its meticulous stop-motion animation, a technique known for its painstaking production process. While the film’s directors (Paloma Baeza, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, and Marc James Roels) have spoken publicly about the project, Netflix has kept specifics about the animation pipeline under wraps. Key unanswered questions:
YTYouTube·The House (2022) Theories, Themes & Symbolism Ex… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWikgsTyG6IYTYouTube·The Meaning Behind The House 2022 (Netflix) Expl… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaCell5cjxM- How long did production take? Stop-motion films often require years, but The House’s timeline is unclear. The film’s seamless transitions between stories hint at complex, overlapping shoots .
YTYouTube·The House | Official Trailer | Netflix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqbZlAEUb5w- Who designed the house? The titular structure evolves across the three tales, shifting from a decaying mansion to a surrealist nightmare. Concept art and behind-the-scenes footage are scarce, leaving fans to speculate about the creative team behind its design .
- Was there a live-action reference? Some stop-motion films use live-action performances as a guide, but no evidence confirms this for The House .
Themes and Symbolism: A House That’s More Than Bricks
Critics and fans have dissected The House’s layered symbolism, with theories ranging from capitalism’s decay to the cyclical nature of human folly. Key interpretations include:
- The house as a metaphor for greed: The first story follows a family lured into a grand but cursed home, mirroring themes of materialism and exploitation .
YTYouTube·The House Netflix Ending Explained & Review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYZrc5hgvf4- The house as a living entity: The second segment reimagines the structure as a sentient, parasitic force, feeding on its inhabitants’ desperation .
- The house as a purgatorial space: The final chapter suggests the house exists outside time, trapping souls in an endless loop of renovation and ruin .
Jarvis Cocker’s musical contributions—including the haunting track This House—amplify the film’s themes, though details about the soundtrack’s creation are limited. A separate album, A House of Dynamite (2025), was later released, but its connection to the film is unclear 
.
Why the Secrecy?
For a Netflix original, The House has flown under the radar compared to live-action hits like The Witcher or Stranger Things. Possible reasons:
- Anthology format: Standalone stories may have made marketing trickier than a serialized drama.
- Stop-motion’s niche appeal: While beloved by animation fans, the technique lacks the mass-market draw of CGI.
- Netflix’s shifting priorities: The streamer’s focus on immersive experiences (like Netflix House venues) may have overshadowed the film’s release .
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.