If you are looking for a serious, grounded drama, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you want a glossy, erotic thriller that is just as funny as it is suspenseful, The Housemaid is exactly the kind of “guilty pleasure” cinema we have been waiting for.
Based on Freida McFadden’s massive bestseller abd directed by Paul Feig, takes the book’s twisty plot and turns the volume up to eleven. It stars Sydney Sweeney as Millie, a young woman who is desperate for a win after being released from prison for an unknown crime. When she lands a job as a live-in maid for the ultra-wealthy Nina and Andrew Winchester (played by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar), it feels like the ultimate fresh start. The house is gorgeous, the pay is good, and the family seems perfect.
However, things get weird almost immediately. Nina’s behaviour isn’t just “difficult”, it is borderline erratic and theatrical. One minute she is kind, and the next she is accusing Millie of things that didn’t happen. Meanwhile, her husband Andrew acts so much like a “perfect gentleman” that it starts to feel creepy. Millie soon realises that the Winchesters’ polished life is hiding something much darker.
Director Paul Feig is usually known for comedies like Bridesmaids, and you can really feel that influence here. He brings an over-the-top energy to the story that makes THe Housemaid feel like a high-end soap opera. While the jump from comedy to psychological drama is a bit bumpy at times, the film’s knowingly silly vibe is what makes it so much fun to watch. It is not trying to be a masterpiece; it is trying to be a blast.
That said, the movie does have a few hiccups. At over two hours long, the middle section slows down quite a bit. Also, if you are a fan of the genre, you might spot some of the big “shocks” coming from a mile away. The film does not have much subtlety, but it makes up for that with sheer colour and style.
Sydney Sweeney gives a solid performance as the fish-out-of-water Millie, but it is Amanda Seyfried who steals every single scene. She is absolutely brilliant as the unhinged Nina, delivering a performance that is equal parts terrifying and hilarious. She recognises exactly what kind of movie this is, and she leans into the madness perfectly.
The Housemaid might lack genuine scary menace, but it is undeniably entertaining. It is a fast-paced, stylish, and hilariously campy ride. It is loud, it is messy, and it is a total riot from start to finish.
