Watchlist Wednesdays: The House of Yes (1997)

If your Thanksgiving gatherings are a little too harmonious this year, The House of Yes offers a sharp, darkly comedic alternative that dives headfirst into the chaos of a truly dysfunctional family. Starring Parker Posey in one of her most iconic roles, this twisted tale of family dynamics, delusion, and unchecked eccentricity is a biting satire that feels like a deranged holiday car wreck you can’t look away from.

Set during a stormy Thanksgiving evening, the film drops us in front of Marty (Josh Hamilton) as he brings his fiancée, Lesly (Tori Spelling), home to meet his wealthy but deeply unhinged family. His twin sister Jackie-O (Parker Posey), obsessed with the Kennedys and harboring a disturbing fixation on Marty, quickly becomes the center of a whirlwind of tension and psychological warfare. As old secrets and rivalries resurface, the family’s thin veneer of civility crumbles, revealing a labyrinth of dark desires and toxic bonds.

For anyone who’s ever felt like their own family holiday was a little too intense, The House of Yes takes that tension to absurd extremes. The film satirizes the concept of the “perfect family,” turning a traditional Thanksgiving into a storm of jealousy, obsession, and dark realization. The dialogue crackles with menacing wit, offering a biting portrayal of familial love gone horribly wrong.

Parker Posey’s unforgettable performance as Jackie-O stands at the heart of the film. Eccentric, dangerous, and darkly charismatic, she embodies a character who is both mesmerizing and terrifying. Posey’s portrayal is a masterclass in controlled chaos, blending dark comedy with unsettling intensity. Her fixation on the Kennedy assassination—and her own warped family history—makes Jackie-O a uniquely compelling anti-heroine.

The rest of the cast delivers equally nuanced performances. Tori Spelling brings surprising depth to Lesly, the outsider thrown into the family’s bizarre world - playing the role with a mix of naiveté and growing horror that transmutes into her own dark decision making. Freddie Prinze Jr., as younger brother Anthony, offers a more understated but compelling performance, capturing the quiet frustration of a character overshadowed by family chaos. Josh Hamilton comes through with his traditional indie charm, but this time inserting a very dark undertone -  made more unsettling by how weirdly calm he manages to stay throughout the breakdown of everything around him. Together, the ensemble creates a palpable tension that makes the film’s descent into madness feel both believable and chilling.

Much of the film’s tension stems from its confined setting. Taking place almost entirely within the family’s opulent but suffocating home, the space becomes a pressure cooker where emotions boil over and dark secrets emerge. The house’s luxurious but outdated decor mirrors the family’s decaying facade of respectability, creating a gothic atmosphere where the walls seem to close in on both characters and viewers. It's no surprise this plot was loosely based on The Fall of the House of Usher. Mark Water’s direction keeps the camera tight on the characters, emphasizing their isolation and the intensity of their interactions. This claustrophobic environment heightens the film’s themes of entrapment and dysfunction, making every exchange feel loaded with unspoken threats and repressed desires.

The House of Yes is available for streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Tubi. It’s the perfect antidote to overly saccharine holiday fare, offering a sharp, cynical look at the darker side of family gatherings.

The House of Yes is a darkly hilarious, deeply unsettling portrait of a family unraveling under the weight of its own secrets and obsessions. With its sharp dialogue, unforgettable performances, and twisted take on family dynamics, it’s the perfect film to remind you that, no matter how wild your own Thanksgiving may be, it probably isn’t this dysfunctional.