The Seasoning House (2012)

Posted on June 8, 2015 by emmakwall

‘The Seasoning House’ – sick revenge thriller review

The Seasoning House is a 2012 British thriller starring Rosie Day, Sean Pertwee and Kevin Howarth. The story centres around a deaf mute girl called Angel (Day) who is kidnapped by military men along with other teenage girls from her village.

kidnapped

Now, this film is billed as a thriller. But so is that song by Michael Jackson and The Seasoning House leans more on the side of horror a lot of the time. It’s certainly not a film for the faint hearted. The kidnapped girls are subsequently ‘given’ to a man named Victor (Howarth) who traps them in his dingy, depressing house. Victor keeps the girls so he can sell them for sex.

seash1

The story is set during 1996 and I’m not sure where exactly but judging by the (occasionally dodgy) accents I’d guess somewhere in Eastern Europe. It’s classic Jason & the Argonauts Syndrome where no-one speaks the language of their native land. Oh well, not everyone likes subtitles I guess – ooh I’m such a bitchy snob aren’t I! In actual fact, I’m not bothered by the accents at all. I’ve seen Sean Connery in Highlander.

So the evil Victor takes a shine to Angel and because of this and the birthmark on her face, decides not to put her with the other girls but to instead make her his personal assistant. This is not a desirable job but is marginally better than what the other girls are put through. And of course it gives the story a semblance of hope and intrigue – Angel is our protagonist after all.

She soon realises she can fit through the ventilation system and can move around the house undetected, visiting the other girls secretly and showing them the compassion they are denied the rest of the time.

The girls are kept tied up in separate rooms, guarded by Victor’s henchman. One of Angel’s duties is to prepare them for male visitors – apply their make-up, wash away the blood and inject them with heroin. Nice eh? They’re in squalid conditions and are mistreated VERY badly by the men who pay Victor to have sex with them. Some of the men are so aggressive they leave the girls with broken bones. In one unforgettable scene, it is revealed that one of the girl’s has a broken pelvis. Victor, apparently unfazed by this, just charges the man more money.

The-Seasoning-House

And that’s pretty much how this awful, depressing story plays out – in a hellish routine of rape, violence and darkness. To be honest I wonder why they even make these movies sometimes, let alone why I watch them.

I mean yeah it’s billed as a revenge movie and yeah the time does come where Angel dishes out a little retribution but it’s too little and it’s too late. The whole film is horrible and the ending isn’t great – there basically just isn’t enough satisfying vengeance to rid the sour taste afterwards.

The Seasoning House is undeniably a captivating film. My hand involuntarily went over my mouth in shock. I spoke out loud (“oh my god”) despite watching it by myself. And sometimes it is refreshing to watch something so shocking and nerve shattering that it really does have such an emotional effect. I was rooting for Angel and the girls so much – my eyes didn’t stay dry but all in all, it was just far too unpleasant to ever be something I’d watch again.

There was one scene in particular that was awful and actually frightening to watch. The rapist / antagonist in this scene was a huge, giant of a man and the way he prowled the room, the way he looked at the girl he was about to abuse and the fear in her eyes, I have no doubt that even in years to come, I will remember that scene. It scared me and after the film ended I checked my windows were closed and made sure the front door was locked.

picture1

On the plus side the gore was really well done and there were some super realistic violent scenes which thankfully were aimed at the right people (woo hoo). Satisfying pain which made me both wince and rejoice that a little comeuppance was happening. Oh and Sean Pertwee is in it – always a delight, even though he was a right bastard in this.

All in all, if you’re a fan of extreme subject horrors or just one of those people who has to ‘watch everything’ I would still recommend this film as a genuinely tense and shocking piece of cinema. But don’t expect a warm and fuzzy feeling afterwards. In fact maybe plan for some Family Guy or something.

About emmakwall

Films, books, soundtracks, good humour
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

53 Responses to The Seasoning House (2012)

  1. Pingback: Films I Watched in: April | emmakwall (explains it all)

  2. beetleypete says:
    March 12, 2016 at 18:31

    I finally got around to watching this film. (I know, but I’m slow…) It is set in Bosnia/Croatia, (anywhere that used to be Yugoslavia…) during the civil war there, I believe. That hardly matters, as it could be in any godawful place during any war.
    I agree with virtually everything you say, especially about some of the toe-curling violence, and very good special effects. However, I thought the twist ending (no spoilers) was actually quite clever, and it would have been so much easier to give it a very different ending indeed. Pertwee was up to his usual standard, (i wish I was a spaceman…) and the other ‘nasties’ were suitably nasty too.
    But praise has to be given to the young woman who acted the lead, Rosie Day. She is in virtually every scene, has to do a lot of stunts, all the time looking dirty and dishevelled, and portrays the downtrodden Angel perfectly. When the time comes, her revenge-taking is always believable, and not at all sensationalised. I haven’t seen her in much else, but I read that she received four best actress awards for this film alone. And it is unmistakably her film. She’s excellent in it.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • emmakwall says:
      March 14, 2016 at 11:52

      Hi Pete! How are you?

      I didn’t mind the ending, I just thought it SUCKED when she got to that house and we presumed she was safe only for that horrible doctor to be there. It seemed slightly ridiculous and after all the bloodshed and violence it would have been nice to have had a triumphant ending for Angel! 😦 nothing’s wrong with a happy ending!

      Glad we agree, as usual 🙂

      xxx

      Like

      Reply
  3. vinnieh says:
    June 15, 2015 at 09:24

    Seeing as you love Pertwee I reviewed Event Horizon recently.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. vinnieh says:
    June 12, 2015 at 10:49

    Great review, looks very stark, realistic and brutal.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Laura says:
    June 11, 2015 at 20:37

    Hey Emma, I nearly watched this but got a bit squeamish about the subject matter and sexual violence. I might stick with Dog Soldiers.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • emmakwall says:
      June 12, 2015 at 08:41

      Dog Soldiers is brilliant!!! I like the characters and I always thought the werewolves were cool – kinda ‘realistic’ if there is such a thing?!!

      I found The Seasoning House a bit horrible in places. And there were certain bits that played on my mind for ages, which isn’t always that nice.

      Must say I had more fun watching Insidious 3 haha, you know where you are with bastard demon!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. theipc says:
    June 9, 2015 at 13:46

    Clam!!!!!!

    I was out yesterday so I missed this but ——> GREAT STUFF!!!!! This movie was pretty good but did leave some open plot lines…. sorry if I scared you!

    Love Pen!!!!!!!!

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    P.S. O _ o o _ O

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • emmakwall says:
      June 9, 2015 at 13:50

      Dear Pen! I’ve missed you!! ❤

      That's okay! Thank you for reading now 🙂 yeah it was a very good film, I just thought the ending let it down A BIT. I thought perhaps it was trying to be TOO clever maybe? But still, a great film. And I am still madly in love with…………….Mr Pertwee!

      Oh that's okay, I've been scared before 🙂 that scene with Ivan just shit me up that's all. I've actually looked up pics of the cast whilst they were filming (and smiling!) and feel better now. Not the first time I've done that either !!!!!

      I need to do some commenting on The IPC too! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Love Clam! xxxxxx

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • theipc says:
        June 9, 2015 at 13:57

        My Dear Clam!!

        I’ve missed you too. These weekends are sucky without you : ( : ( I totally agree with you on everything except that I didn’t get scared. I haven’t been scared in anything since I saw The Descent the first time.

        Love Pen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        #seanpertwee
        #anfernee

        P.S. O _ o < 3 o _ O

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        • emmakwall says:
          June 9, 2015 at 14:42

          They’re sucky without you!

          It was weird, I was scared after more than anything! Maybe after all the drama settled down and it was just me at home with the film on my mind. Urgh!

          I didn’t enjoy The Descent THAT much but maybe I’m due a re-watch! I thought it was a cool film but don’t remember thinking it was outrageously good.

          I’m going to watch Insidious 3 at the cinema tonight so hopefully I’ll get scared tonight! ❤

          (to be honest…….it doesn't take much!)

          #seanpertwee #anfernee #pensandclams
          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

          P.S O _ o ❤ o _ O

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          • theipc says:
            June 9, 2015 at 15:20

            We need to make a habit of saying high over the weekends : )

            That part in The Descent when she turns around with that camera and that thing was there – scared the poop out of me – I sure wasn’t expecting that!!

            Have fun at the movies tonight!!!!

            #pensforever

            Love Pen!!!!

            < 3 < 3 < 3 < 3 < 3 < 3 < 3

            #extras

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply
            • emmakwall says:
              June 9, 2015 at 15:24

              Definitely!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤

              Like it was nice talking about the party 🙂 (which I still need to hear more about!)

              I can't even remember that bit, shows how long ago it was. But I definitely watched it, the girls go inside a cave and one of them is Asian and bossy (not a direct link, just something I remember) and there's weird, scary creatures in there who eat people.

              I will watch it again, very soon 😀

              Thanks Pen! I like the Insidious films (sorry it's not Fury Road!!!!!) so looking forward to it!

              Shall I 'tweet ya later'? 🙂 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

              Liked by 1 person

            • theipc says:
              June 9, 2015 at 15:32

              Please do!!!!!

              #tweetme

              Love Pen!!!

              Liked by 1 person

            • emmakwall says:
              June 9, 2015 at 15:43

              I will do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #tweets #anfernee #pens
              xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Love Clam!

              Liked by 1 person

    • Laura says:
      June 11, 2015 at 20:35

      Hi guys, I hate to butt in but had to say the The Descent is awesome! One of the only films to actually frighten me, and yes, that bit Eric mentioned made me jump.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  7. movierob says:
    June 9, 2015 at 09:04

    doesnt sound like it’s for me. great review Ems!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Tom says:
    June 8, 2015 at 19:34

    Yipes!!! This sounds tough to get through for ninnies like me…..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. That Other Critic says:
    June 8, 2015 at 18:17

    Well, great post, but I’m afraid that this film just isn’t my cup of tea. Literally and figuratively speaking, of course.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. beetleypete says:
    June 8, 2015 at 17:05

    Didn’t know this one, but as a fellow Pertwee fan, I would probably enjoy it. Given the subject matter, I shouldn’t really say that I suppose, but what the hell. that sort of thing went on a lot in Slovenia, Bosnia, and other places in the region, so I suppose they settled on a generic Eastern European location to cover all the bases.
    It’s only £3.85 on Amazon, cheaper than a cinema ticket. Cheers Emma.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • emmakwall says:
      June 9, 2015 at 09:49

      Exactly! Good old Amazon. I bought mine on there too 🙂

      I love Sean Pertwee!! Yay! And he’s not in a ton of stuff, so we have to make sure to watch everything we can 🙂

      That’s okay, you’re allowed to enjoy this film Pete! I know what you mean, almost feels like it should be a bit ‘weird’ but it’s not weird. It’s just a film! 🙂

      Cheers Pete x

      Like

      Reply

Leave a reply to emmakwall Cancel reply