You are here:

The House of Secrets

Name: The House of Secrets
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
Released: 2023
Duration: 119 min

Representation Score

5.3/10

Fair

2023

16+

Director

Niyi Akinmolayan

Runtime

119 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The House of Secrets succeeds in providing a non-Western cinematic perspective, centering African narratives and moving away from standard Anglo-centric clichés. This cultural shift provides a refreshing departure from mainstream Hollywood structures. However, the film struggles with conventional character dynamics. The female lead's role is somewhat undermined by a plot that relies on her relationship with a male spy, and the romantic framework remains strictly straight-centered. Ultimately, the film is a nuanced character study that balances traditional clichés with a unique cultural setting, offering a meaningful alternative to Western-centric dramas.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The House of Secrets have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any explicitly LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships. The main romantic storyline follows a typical structure focused on a spy lover.

How does The House of Secrets portray gender?

Fair

A female protagonist drives the plot, playing a key role in keeping important secrets. However, her story remains tied to the actions of a male partner and traditional romantic dependencies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The House of Secrets?

Excellent

Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, the film offers a non-Western perspective. It features African casting and moves away from Anglo-centric storytelling frameworks.

How does The House of Secrets represent religion and culture?

Good

The story explores systemic consequences and the reconstruction of memory. It focuses on moral complexity by delving into secrets and the subversion of a sheltered past.

Does The House of Secrets include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities portrayed in the narrative. No characters are identified as having physical impairments or neurodivergent traits.

Present on Screen

Provides a significant departure from Western-centric cinematic norms.
Centers African perspectives and non-Western narrative structures.
Features a female protagonist as a central, active keeper of information.

Limited or Absent

Relies on traditional straight-centered romantic structures.
Maintains a dependency on male-driven plot catalysts for the female lead.
Lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities or neurodivergent characters.

Official Synopsis

A sheltered woman's past comes back to haunt her when she's thrown in jail for being an accomplice to her spy lover, and 20 years later, a group rescue her from jail and sets up a semblance of her old house to make her remember a secret number her spy lover hid with her.

How are these scores produced? →