"The House of the Spirits": The Winona Ryder Film Critics Destroyed But Audiences Loved

Picture a film featuring a whole pack of legendary actors. Among them Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Winona Ryder, and Antonio Banderas. Seems like a project that should be a guaranteed hit, right?

A film with this cast really did come out in 1993, and it's "The House of the Spirits." And yes, it made a big splash. Thing is, it was a blank shot—bombing at the box office and getting crushed by critics.

Today, in honor of Winona Ryder's birthday (she turned 54 on October 29), we're diving into why this movie turned out way better than the reviews suggest.

What It's About

In short, "The House of the Spirits" is an epic family saga based on Isabel Allende's novel.

At the story's center is Esteban (Jeremy Irons), a ruthless, domineering man who claws his way from poverty to wealth and power, becoming a senator.

He marries Clara (Meryl Streep), an upper-class woman with gifts of telekinesis and prophecy.

Their daughter Blanca ( ) falls for Pedro (Antonio Banderas)—a poor farmhand and revolutionary.

Each character's story unfolds against the backdrop of a military coup.

Why Critics Hated It

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has just 32% from critics. The reviews practically drip with disappointment.

Many reviewers wrote that director Bille August took a great novel and "cut out" all the magic and half the characters. What remained was just a "skeleton of the story," and the film became a "sluggish 1950s Hollywood melodrama."
Woman in black clothing with mouth open, on the right actress Winona Ryder holds a man's face with her palms
Frames from "The House of the Spirits" trailer
Source:
Others, like Philadelphia Inquirer on RT, complained: "How do you take a great novel, cast brilliant actors, and make such a... bland film? It's a mystery."

And critic Anthony Lane from The New Yorker quipped that the film achieved the impossible—making Irons, Streep, Ryder, and Banderas "deliver the worst performances of their careers."

Many were also thrown by English-speaking actors (British and American) playing Latin Americans.

All this led to "The House of the Spirits" being called nonsense that tries to look like "Gone with the Wind" but ends up just "pretentious" fluff.

Why Audiences Loved It

But audiences on that same Rotten Tomatoes gave it 71% (and 6.9 on IMDb). Regular people who watched the movie without reading the book saw way more positives in it. Maybe that's exactly why.

In their reviews, they write that they were thrilled to see such a cast in one frame. Others call the film "a solid drama" and "serious cinema" that "grabs you from start to finish," despite its 2.5-hour runtime.

They also praise the acting. Lots of kind words go to Glenn Close in the role of Ferula, Esteban's lonely sister. What else people are saying in the comments on RT:
  • "One of the best movies of all time. 30%? Shame on you."
  • "I know critics didn't like it, but the story is so good and the level of acting is just phenomenal."
  • "Magnificent cast and beautiful sets. I think the rating is low because the film doesn't quite match the book."
  • "I liked this movie because of the drama and romance."
  • "This movie is so good you can watch it for hours, the stunning cast and references to history just keep me glued to my bed."
Bottom line: here's a heads-up for viewers planning to watch "The House of the Spirits" — watch the film first, then read the book.

Or read the book, but keep in mind that this is an adaptation inspired by the work. Because if you tried to follow every plot thread — one film clearly wouldn't be enough.

Otherwise, the film stands strong on its own. It's a serious, unhurried drama. If you're looking for action, you'll definitely be bored.

But if you want to dive into a family saga, especially with this kind of cast — this is exactly what you should watch today.
And earlier on zoomboola.com, we told you about the film "The Voices," in which a cat suggests Ryan Reynolds become a serial killer.