The Coffee Table (2022) | This very dark Spanish horror drama is guaranteed to make you scream in shock and awe!

There’s a scene towards the end of The Coffee Table (AKA La mesita del comedor) that will have you screaming ‘WTF!’, ‘No! No!’ and lots of other expletives! It’s been hard trying to write up this post without giving too much away – but here goes. And deffo no spoilers.

The table in question is of a kind that would suit the garish decor favoured by dictators, gang lords, the Kardashians and their ilk. A pair of reclining imitation gold nudes display their assets beneath a smoke-coloured glass top. María (Estefanía de los Santos) thinks it’s ‘shit’, but husband Jesús (David Pareja), who is constantly being belittled by his wife and her throaty laugh, is determined to have it.

Convinced by a pushy salesperson that the said table is unbreakable, Jesús lugs it up the stairs to their apartment, where the couple are in the midst of redecorating, having only completed the baby room for their newborn son, Cayetano. Assembling it, Jesús’ pride takes another bashing (thanks, María!) when he discovers a screw missing – which sets in motion a chain of excruciating events…

Throw in a very awkward dinner party where Jesús’ brother (Josep Maria Riera) and his new girlfriend (Claudia Riera) have been invited around to check out the couple’s new pad and baby, and a neighbour’s 13-year-old daughter (Gala Flores) who is obsessed with Jesus running away with her – and poor Jesús’ is about to experience the worst two hours of his life.

I’ll say no more, except I have now watched this twice, and my word, The Coffee Table is so darn good. Spanish director Caye Casas (Killing God) and co-writer Cristina Borobia have crafted a fantastically horrifying interior drama that casts a spotlight on the emotionally emasculated man, parental expectations and a marriage in crisis.

Ibsenesque in parts, with shades of Luis Buñuel and of Thomas Vinterberg’s Festen, this really is a play for today featuring virtuoso performances from the two leads and brilliantly shot with a claustrophobic eye that echoes Roman Polanski’s Repulsion. Once you have seen it – you’ll so want to watch it again! But a word of warning – don’t read the Wikipedia entry for the film, as it gives away the entire plot.

The Coffee Table makes its UK debut thanks to Second Sight Films, and is available on UK digital now.