Set in a striking Spanish Revival-style house in the Hollywood Hills, The Uninvited unfolds over one unsettling evening, rich with emotional nuance, stylish design, and layered symbolism. Film and Furniture’s Paula Benson spoke with Nadia Conners, the film’s writer and director, for a deeply insightful conversation about storytelling, interiors, and how architecture and décor can reflect the inner lives of characters.

Nadia shares the real-life inspiration behind the film, her philosophical approach to home and identity, and also confirms that she is officially becoming a fan of Film and Furniture! Additionally, we discover that her husband, actor Walton Goggins (The White Lotus, Justified, The Hateful Eight), who also stars in The Uninvited, is a passionate and talented interior designer in his own right.

The story centres around Rose (Elizabeth Reaser), a former actress turned semi-reluctant mother, and her husband Sammy (Walton Goggins), a stressed talent agent, as they prepare for a party at their home. But when an elderly woman (Lois Smith) arrives, convinced the house belongs to her, tensions rise, and long-buried secrets come to the surface. The house and its design play a key role in reflecting the unraveling relationships and the complex dynamics of the characters.

Pedro Pascal, Rufus Sewell, and Eva De Dominici also star.

We invite you to read on and watch the video interview from our YouTube channel below for more insights. You can also listen to The Film and Furniture Podcast on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all your favourite podcast platforms.

A Real Party, A Real Inspiration

What’s truly fascinating about The Uninvited is that its premise is inspired by a real-life experience of Nadia and her husband, Walton Goggins. Both have worked in Hollywood for decades—Walton in front of the camera, most recently starring in the massive hit White Lotus (Season 3), and Nadia behind the scenes as a writer and director, including on The 11th Hour.

When asked about the film’s inspiration, Nadia revealed a strikingly personal connection. “Walton and I once threw a party where an unexpected elderly woman showed up, believing the house was hers.” This unexpected incident served as the seed for The Uninvited, blending personal experience with satire, and exploring themes of aging, identity, and the often surreal nature of Hollywood life.

The Hollywood Hills Setting

The house in The Uninvited is a star in its own right. Its Spanish Revival style, a hallmark of Southern California architecture, immediately evokes a sense of old Hollywood glamour. This architectural style, which became popular in the early 20th century, features smooth stucco exteriors, red-tiled roofs, and soft, rounded arched windows and doorways. The wrought-iron details on balconies, gates, and light fixtures, along with lush courtyards and fountains, are all emblematic of the Spanish influence that still dominates the Hollywood Hills today.

“The house was representative of a lot of things,” Nadia explained. “It’s the epitome of Hollywood wish fulfillment, yet outside its gates lies the real Los Angeles—chaotic, noisy, and relentless.” The house, then, serves as a metaphor for the Hollywood bubble, a place of glamour that also hides deeper truths and unspoken tensions.

The Uninvited house was owned by friends of Nadia’s from Sweden: “I had been to parties at this house before,” Nadia shared, “and when we were looking for a location, I asked if we could rent it for the film.” Luckily, they agreed.

Nadia and some of the crew stayed in the house during filming. This intimate connection with the location allowed them to truly connect with the space, exploring its nooks and crannies and understanding how the light shifted throughout the day. “It gave us a deep sense of how to shoot the house,” Nadia explained. “We lived in the space, which helped us capture its essence in the film.”

Vignettes: A Beautiful Opening

The film begins with a series of meticulously styled vignettes or tableaux that set the tone for the rest of the film. These beautiful still-life arrangements are more than just eye-catching, they serve as metaphors for the characters’ lives, offering a glimpse into the emotional landscape of the story. The concept of vanitas, a genre of still-life painting that reflects the transience of life, is deeply embedded in these opening shots. The objects arranged throughout the scenes symbolise both the beauty and fragility of life, as well as the inevitability of decay and death, setting the stage for the themes of loss, memory, and identity that permeate the film.

The first of these vanitas features sculptural flowers in a green vase, a brass monkey candle holder, and a magnifying glass – small objects that invoke a sense of mystery and curiosity. Another features a piano and a clock – timeless symbols of life and the passage of time.

We also see a beautifully arranged outdoor table setting with food and flowers ready for the party guests – a perfect setup for a glamorous Hollywood party, yet the undercurrent of tension is already palpable. 

These vignettes are intricately designed, not only to establish the visual beauty of the world but also to evoke deeper emotional undertones that carry through the rest of the film. The use of vanitas underscores the film’s exploration of life’s impermanence and the characters’ struggle to reconcile with their pasts, their desires, and the looming inevitability of change.

House tour

Join us for a room by room tour of The Uninvited house which affords us a wealth of interior design and furniture inspiration:-

The Living Room 

The living room serves as the heart of the house and a place where much of the action unfolds.

We find an eclectic mix of styles, including the Mario Bellini Camaleonda sectional seating paired with a more traditional cream sofa, a mid-century Serge Mouille three-arm ceiling pendant light, a glass shelving unit used as a drinks bar, and abstract art in muted tones, all adding a sense of luxury and style.

A beautiful fireplace becomes a central feature in many of the film’s key moments.

A secondary living area features a Paul Frankl style sofa: This vintage piece, with its playful, tropical print upholstery, contrasts brilliantly with Pedro Pascal’s character’s shirt, adding a touch of quirkiness to the scene. A Mid-Century multi-globe light hangs from the ceiling.

The Bedroom 

The main bedroom is where the tension between past and present comes to a head, particularly in the moments when Rose grapples with her age, identity, and multiple costume changes as she decides what to wear for the party.

We find a Mid-Century sputnik light which brings a sense of vintage flair, perfectly suited to the eclectic design of the room. A grand bed and oversized bedside lamps, contribute to the room’s sense of comfort and style.

Off to one side sits a walk-in wardrobe and a dressing area which houses an Art Deco 1920’s walnut dressing table hinting at a sense of glamour and bygone elegance.

 The Kids’ Bedroom

Wilder’s bedroom offers a striking contrast to the rest of the house, filled with vibrant energy and youthful expression.

We love the real branches behind the bed and the wall mural of pine trees. The seahorse bedside table lamp adds a playful touch, underscoring the room’s joyful vibe and referencing the story Rose tells him of the sea.

The bed is dressed in black-and-white checked linen, which contrasts with the space-themed bedding that is paired with it.

The Kitchen and Dining Room

The Garden – A Glimpse of Hollywood Glamour

The garden setting is set over several levels which features a swimming pool and outdoor globe lights.

Walton Goggins – A Talented Interior Designer

In a fascinating revelation, Nadia shared that her husband Walton is also a gifted interior designer. “He’s the brilliant interior designer in our household,” Nadia said with admiration. “He has an incredible eye and can find the exact right lamp or piece of furniture. He literally spends hours scouring antique markets or the internet to find the perfect item for a room.”

Nadia humbly admits that while she shares similar tastes, Walton’s talent for transforming a space is unmatched. “He could literally be an interior decorator,” she added with admiration, noting that their own home was recently featured in Architectural Digest.

The Uninvited is a film that leans heavily into nuance, balancing the lightness of a satirical look at Hollywood with the weight of deeper emotional and philosophical themes. Through the lens of its beautiful, layered design, the film explores issues of identity, motherhood, and the passage of time. The house in which the story takes place is not merely a backdrop but an active participant in the narrative, echoing the struggles and aspirations of the characters within it.

The Uninvited is showing in select cinemas from 9 May, including over 100 locations across the UK and Ireland. Find your nearest screening here: https://theuninvited.movie. From 11 June, it will also be available on demand via Amazon Prime Video, Google Play and Apple TV.