A mysterious grifter appears on an isolated seaside estate claiming to be a wealthy family's new chef. When the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 descends on the island, the mischievous cook rouses his fellow staff to rebel and take over the mansion.
Acting
Peter Sarsgaard's slippery charm masks genuine menace
Production
Gilded-age estate becomes claustrophobic pressure cooker
Writing
Script balances satirical bite with genuine tension
Director
Austin Stark
Peter Sarsgaard
Floyd Monk
Billy Magnussen
Jay Horton
Sarah Gadon
Julie Horton
Skye P. Marshall
Mrs. Tidwell
Faran Tahir
Kaan
Kristine Nielsen
Ms. McMurray
Fisher Stevens
Upton Sinclair
Callum Vinson
Tom
Julia Ford Collier
Photographer / Thief (as Julia Collier)
Willa Dunn
Molly
Roy William Gardner
Mr. Monk
Mike Liscio
Burly Thief
John Posey
Sheriff
Joe Rashbaum
Gravedigger #1
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot during actual COVID-19 lockdowns, making the 1918 pandemic setting accidentally topical in the most cursed way.
The 'homme fatale' conman archetype here inverts classic noir gender dynamics—Floyd seduces through domestic labor rather than traditional masculinity. Sarsgaard reportedly studied real 1910s etiquette manuals to perfect his performance of servility.
US
