The Housemaid

I went into this film not having read the book beforehandso I went into it without knowing all the twists and turns. And from perspective I can say that it is a really good thriller with well executed twists and reveals The psychological aspects of the film is also really well done at making mentally tense moments carry out to the audiencemaking the audience experience the uncomfortable feeling of being gaslit and manipulated.

The main cast also delivers really solid performances. Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney have excellent chemistry on screen and they both play really well against each other.

My only problem with the film is Michele Morrone's characterwho simply did not work for me. He felt out of placedidn't do muchand it wasn't really clear of why he was there how his character came into the picture of the plot.

But all in all this is a great film for people who like a goodwell executed thriller.

Hate to be cliche and be another one who says "the book is better than the movie!!" But that truly is the case here.

The first half of the movie felt like a weird low budget film that was just trying to set up a scene of Sydney Sweeney topless. It was weird vibes and just really felt rushed until her intimate scene.

After thatit actual felt like the real thriller story it should have been.

With that saidmaybe I'm just not a Sydney Sweeney fan... I found her acting to be so dry and dull. Amanda on the other hand saved the entire film and was great.

The film overall was bleh. If I hadn't read the bookI would think it was fine. But remembering how into the book I wasit fell short for me. I wouldn't rewatch it.

The film follows a young woman who becomes a housemaid for a wealthy family. Soon the housemaid finds out that there's more than meets the eye.

What carries this film are the three central performances from SweeneySeyfriedand Sklenar. Seyfried is a particular standoutaptly balancing instability here in the first part of the filmand a kind of charm and gentleness later. It's also nice that the two female leads aren't just ditzy and have some interiority.

As long as you don't take it too seriouslyyou'll have a good time. The suspensetensionand dread ratchet up slowly until it reaches an explosivesatisfying ending. The twists are shocking and unexpected. The film is unpredictable and pleasingly chaotic at times. (Disclaimer: I didn't read the source material.) The action scenes are cool and at times graphicand the romance is hot.

This is not only a fun little thrillerbut it also has some substance to it. It can be cathartic and poignant at points. It's not often that mainstream films portray domestic violence in the upper echelons of societyand this film does that while simultaneously offering an entertaining time. I myself was in an abusive relationship not too long agowith a good-lookingsuccessfuland wealthy person similar to the abuser depicted in this filmthat lasted for several years. Like the family in this filmwe lived in the suburbs where no one suspected a thingbut of course underneath that manicured exterior he was abusing me. It was relatable and refreshing to see my experience represented on screen.

Mind youthis film is by no means perfect. It feels campy and cheesy for much of the runtime due to the extremity of some actions taken by characters. And the couple sex scenes feel gratuitous. But at the same timethat can all be forgiven as the extremeness and high tension only adds to the fun in this little popcorn flick.

And for those who've been in abusive relationshipsparticularly with wealthy partnersthis film offers the added benefit of being therapeutic. You should know that you're not alonethat there is help out thereand you can always leave the abuse behind.

Enjoy this throwback to the thrillers of the 90s. It's fun.

Homelessjobless and just released from a ten year prison sentence for manslaughter Millie (Sydney Sweeney) accepts an unexpected position as a housemaid in the wealthy Winchester household in NassauLong Island. The behaviour of mother of one Nina (Amanda Seyfried) then becomes increasingly erratic and abusive towards Millie at the same time as a relationship starts to develop between Millie and Nina's husband Andrew (Brandon Sklenar). Desperate not to lose her jobwhich carries the risk of a return to gaolMillie is taken on a terrifying psychological rollercoaster ride in which seemingly nothing is as it first appears. Filmed in New Jersey this 2025 feature film is a psychological mystery thriller based on the novel by Freida McFadden (as adapted for the screen by the hilariously named Rebecca Sonnenshine)and directed by Paul Feighaving the same kind of twisting and turning plot as Feig's impressive 'A Simple Favour'. Visceralcontrivedat times unconvincingmore than a touch operatictinged with occasional humourand extremely manipulative as a story (one of the film's main themes of course is manipulation) the film deals with a number of themes and issues including genderclasssilent hidden victims (whether through exploitation in employment or domestic partner abuse)and the socially damaging effects of the so called 'justice system' (stigmadiscriminationamongst other things) and mental health system (the common problem of misdiagnosis - and worse - by doctors). And like any good thriller of this sort it saves one of it's twists til the endinvolving Andrew's mum Evelyn (Elizabeth Perkins).

The Housemaid arrives with a curious mix of expectations and skepticism. Sydney Sweeney's recent box office outings haven't exactly set the world on fireand opening opposite the latest Avatar installment doesn't do the film any favors commercially. Going inexpectations are understandably tempered. But surprisinglyThe Housemaid doesn't take long to find its footing and when it doesit leans hard into its psychological thrills.

The real engine of the film is Amanda Seyfriedwho delivers a chillingly unhinged performance as Nina Winchestera wealthy housewife whose polished exterior begins to fracture almost immediately. Seyfried plays Nina with a simmering instability... her smiles linger too longher outbursts hit without warningand her behavior steadily escalates from eccentric to outright disturbing. It's one of those performances where you're constantly bracing for the next emotional whiplash.

Sydney Sweeney stars as Millie Callowaya young woman with a troubled past who takes a live-in housekeeping job out of sheer necessity. Millie is observantcautiousand quietly unsettled by Nina's erratic behaviorbut her fragile position in life makes walking away impossible. Sweeney's performance is restrainedsometimes almost too much sobut that muted quality works early on as Millie tries to survive rather than confront what's happening around her.

As expectedAndrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar) enters the equationand the film follows a familiar erotic-thriller path: lingering lookslate-night drinksand one bad decision that sends Nina spiraling. At this pointThe Housemaid feels like it's heading toward a predictable third-act meltdown.

That's where the film earns its credit.

Instead of saving its biggest twist for the finaleThe Housemaid flips the script near the end of the second actshifting the narrative focus squarely onto Millie. From that moment onthe film becomes something darker and far more interesting. The power dynamics changemotivations are recontextualizedand Millie's character steps fully into the spotlight.

While this isn't Sydney Sweeney's strongest individual performanceher chemistry with Brandon Sklenar is what ultimately elevates the film. Togetherthey give the latter half of The Housemaid a sharper edgegrounding the psychological turns in something more emotionally believable. Their scenes add tension without relying solely on shock valueallowing the story's darker implications to breathe.

Director Paul Feigstepping away from comedyhandles the genre shift with confidence. The film is sleekintimateand deliberately uncomfortableleaning into paranoia and emotional manipulation rather than outright violence. It may not reinvent the erotic thrillerbut it understands the genre well enough to play with audience expectations.

The Housemaid isn't flawlessand it won't silence every criticism aimed at Sweeney's recent career trajectory. But thanks to Amanda Seyfried's standout performance and a well-timed narrative twistit's far more compelling than it initially appears.