Summary
Nele Mueller-Stöfen’s directorial debut delivers a haunting thriller with atmospheric precision and incisive social commentary.
If there is ever a resounding example of a hidden gem on Netflix, look no further than the German thriller film Delicious. What makes it even more surprising is that this is the directorial debut of Nele Mueller-Stöfen, a seasoned actress who has starred in over 70 TV and film projects. If this is the beginning of her filmmaking portfolio, we have a highly talented visionary director, ladies and gentlemen.
Unfortunately, Delicious is one of those films where I will spoil the twist if I analyze it too deeply (which I honestly did not see coming until the very end).
The story follows a wealthy German family heading to their villa in southern France. Surrounded by the idyllic scenery of Provence, mother Esther (Valerie Pachner, A Hidden Life), father John (Fahri Yardim, Dogs of Berlin), and their two children, Alba (Naila Schuberth, Bird Box Barcelona) and Philipp (Caspar Hoffmann), are experiencing a typical family holiday. One evening, on their way back from a restaurant, they encounter Teodora (Carla Díaz, Elite; Zero to Hero), a mysterious injured woman at the side of the road. John believes he hit her with his car, and the family decides to take her in and hire her as a maid to compensate for the physical hurt caused.
The story’s mood, tone, and themes slowly evolve from here, bringing an ominous third act.
Nele Mueller-Stöfen’s skill in creating an atmospheric film is evident in Delicious. The film keeps you guessing about Teodora’s true intentions while also revealing the family’s hidden wounds.
The mother, Esther, is a workaholic, often prioritizing her career over her family. The father, John, is hitting a midlife crisis, feeling the weight of his responsibilities. The daughter, Alba, yearns for more love and attention from her mother, feeling neglected and unimportant. The son, Philipp, is a typical hormonal teenage boy struggling with his identity and his place in the family. The marriage between Esther and John is strained, reeking of many unspoken words, where too many years have gone by with built-up resentment and a growing lack of care.
Setting aside Teodora’s external plans, her outside influence weaves a compelling storyline as she sows division and gradually breaks the family down. Even if there had not been an overarching twist, and it was just depicted as a family slowly revealing their cracks, the film would still have been intriguing to watch, which is the sign of a great movie.
The entire cast shows up, but I must emphasize Carla Díaz, who portrays Teodora. Her captivating performance, coupled with the director’s vision, makes the story compelling. Díay embodies multiple personalities and embraces the film’s ominous tone, even during the seemingly lighter moments.
There’s a lot to discuss about wealth disparity in Delicious. At the film’s start, the German family gets stuck in traffic because of violent protests in France arising from economic despair.
Additionally, there are subtle scenes in the film; for instance, various moments depict servers during and after work, underscoring the importance of recognizing the service industry. Teodora is part of a young group of friends, and an underlying sense of silent rebellion runs throughout the film, conveying that the younger generation feels let down by their elders and the government.
In a salient scene, Teodora delves into small dialogue, dissecting how the Old World is over in place of the New World and that monsters will rule.
I don’t believe there’s a single frame or scene that acts as a mere coincidence in Delicious. Everything is crafted to be thought-provoking, enhancing the film’s ending to be even more, well… delicious.
