The Housemaid review: A thriller that keeps everyone guessing
‘The Housemaid’ adapts a novel about two women who are nearly destroyed by the many secrets they each keep.
Everyone has secrets. They’re the things we hide about ourselves because we’re afraid of other people’s judgement or rejection. But just because someone feels they need to conceal something doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Often, it’s more of a reflection of those they’re hiding from rather than what they’re hiding. Then again, no one’s rushing to air the skeletons in their closet — real or metaphorical — either. The Housemaid is bursting with secrets and everyone is straining to stay tight lipped.
Millie (Sydney Sweeney) desperately needs a job and a place to live. Nina (Amanda Seyfried) needs a live-in housemaid to help maintain her immaculate home and care for her daughter (Indiana Elle). It’s the perfect match. Of course, the key detail Millie omits from her resume is she’s on parole following her early release from prison. This secret puts her at Nina’s mercy. Unfortunately, every day is a challenge when working for someone experiencing drastic mood swings. Luckily, Nina’s saintly husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), is always ready to step in and act as mediator. But the worse it becomes, it’s impossible not to wonder if Nina is actively sabotaging Millie — even if she can’t figure out why she’d want to.
At the post-screening Q&A, director Paul Feig noted he approaches genre films similarly. Whether he’s making a thriller or comedy, he wants to elicit a response from audiences. This movie adeptly draws gasps when the unexpected happens, cringes during unpleasant scenes and shouts of “No!” when characters are on the brink of a monumental mistake. Audiences become deeply engrossed in Millie and Nina’s rollercoaster of a relationship. Each time Nina becomes irrationally neurotic, audiences pity Millie’s impossible situation.
Even though this scenario is extreme, unreasonable bosses are very relatable. This essential connection to the narrative quickly allies viewers with Millie. Meanwhile, Nina keeps everyone on their toes by always doing the unexpected. Every encounter with the housewife is a roll of the dice since there’s no way of knowing which version of her you’re getting until it’s potentially too late.
The film is based on Freida McFadden’s novel of the same name. However, if you’re not already familiar with the source material, it’s best to go into this movie cold. There are hints sprinkled throughout the picture that allude to the narrative’s direction. As a result, it’s not entirely unpredictable. But it’s still incredibly fun to watch the game of cat and mouse unfold, all while trying to decide who’s the predator and who’s the prey.
Much of the film’s success must be accredited to the excellent cast. A movie with this many secrets requires layered performances. It all has to be on the screen, whether audiences realize it or not. That’s why, Feig points out, the picture plays very differently on a second watch. At that time, audiences can recognize and appreciate all the small details that lacked meaning the first time around.
Feig remarked that he’s primarily interested in making films about three-dimensional women because there aren’t enough of them. Notably, he doesn’t like the term “strong women” because that too flattens their personalities. Here, Feig once again unquestionably delivers a story featuring complex characters and women audiences won’t quickly forget.
This psychological thriller keeps viewers on the edge of their seat as it peels away the layers of a complicated and potentially deadly onion.
Director: Paul Feig
Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar
