The Housemaid Review: A Twisted Tale That Feels Like a Classic Erotic Thriller

Domestic thrillers were a popular genre in movies in the ’90s, but they have since become a thing of the past. However, the genre seems to be making a comeback with some trashy fun, twists, and turns thanks to Paul Feig’s newest release, The Housemaid.

Based on the 2022 best-selling book, this psychological thriller features female leads Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. It centers on Millie (Sweeney), who gets hired by housewife Nina (Seyfried) as a housemaid at her home occupied by her husband Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar) and their daughter. However, things are not what they seem once Millie starts uncovering secrets behind this family.

Millie comes from a difficult background, where she finds it hard to get work. When she lands a job as a housemaid working for socialite Nina in her humble abode, it seems like her financial troubles have been solved.

But there is something underneath the surface of this picture-perfect household that puts Millie in the crosshairs of her new employer.

What Feig excels at is setting the atmosphere for a good mystery, just like with A Simple Favor. There is plenty of soapy fun to be had with our two female actresses as they play off each other in a cat-and-mouse game. It’s smart and sleek in the way Feig directs this thriller, which is reminiscent of those ’90s domestic thrillers that were popular in the theaters.

With a story that has different perspectives, it can only work if the characters are convincing to the audience. The cast does a great job in giving their point of view of events that take place in the film. It’s the core trio of Seyfried, Sweeney, and Sklenar who capture the wild and delightful energy that they share onscreen.

The main characters all have dimensions to them, making them very interesting to watch. Millie is the girl everyone would be rooting for, and Sweeney does a great job in portraying this young woman who’s trying to make ends meet. She has a dark past, which will have audiences invested in her development throughout the film.

Seyfried gives it her all as Nina with her powerhouse performance. Her character has different sides to her, giving the actress the difficult task of prepping physically and mentally for this role. She pulls out all the stops with this character, making her the true standout of the whole movie.

Sklenar shows plenty of range in The Housemaid with his role as Nina’s husband, Andrew. He has that innocent charisma with his character, but he also showcases some inner struggle in his scenes with Seyfried and Sweeney.

There are those twists and turns that would shock most audiences, even if some could come across as predictable.

That said, it doesn’t take away the enjoyment of the big reveals that come out of the surface when it’s uncovered. These mystery thrillers tend to keep everyone guessing till the very end, which this one does so splendidly.

The Housemaid is a great thriller that is worth the price of admission thanks to the film’s plot and the way it’s framed to be both serious and a little silly.

Seyfried and Sweeney both showcase how well they are together on screen and keep everyone on their toes with what their characters do next. The film is a nice throwback to the domestic thrillers of the ’90s with a modern lens.

The Housemaid is currently playing in theaters.

 

 

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