House of Games (1987)

In the heart of Seattle, renowned psychiatrist and best-selling author, Margaret Ford, grapples with her sense of powerlessness as she attempts to save her client, Billy Hahn, from a lethal cocktail of desperation and debt. Billy owes a staggering $25,000 to Mike, a shrewd and cynical gambler operating out of the House of Games, an enigmatic den of deceivers where pool is the front for the real action - poker in the backroom. Fearing for Billy's life, Margaret steps into this murky underworld, promising to help him in exchange for his firearm. Upon entering the House of Games, Margaret encounters Mike, who downplays Billy's debt to a mere $800, offering her a way out if she assists him in a high-stakes poker game. Margaret, who believes she's observing 'tells' - the subtle body language that betrays a player's hand, soon discovers she's been skillfully maneuvered into a scam, designed by Mike and his cohorts to swindle her. Her professional life spirals as she struggles to assist her patients, leading her friend and advisor, Dr. Maria Littauer, to suggest a pause in her practice and the pursuit of another book. Intrigued by the thrill and deceit of the confidence games she fell victim to, Margaret seeks out Mike once more. This time, she intends to study his schemes, not as a victim, but as a keen observer, eager to document her descent into this shadowy world. The line between morality and vice blurs as Margaret embarks on a dark and complex journey, where the rules are written by the players and the stakes are far more than just money.

House of Games is a crime movie featuring Lindsay Crouse.

House of Games is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Freevee and The Roku Channel and it's also available on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy House of Games on AMC on Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Redbox, Vudu and YouTube.