The Housemaid

Synopsis: A woman with a troubled past accepts a job as a live-in maid for a wealthy, seemingly perfect family. 

Movie Review: 

"The Housemaid" is directed by Paul Feig and is inspired by the well-known book of the same name. It’s a fun throwback to the exotic mystery thrillers from the late 90s, delivering campy silliness and over-the-top performances that made it one of the most surprising films of the year for me. Sydney Sweeney stars as Millie Calloway, a young woman with a troubled past, and she gives a subtle, charming, and impressive performance that makes you care about her and root for her, especially considering all the tragic events she’s faced. Amanda Seyfried plays Nina Winchester, the wealthy wife, and her loud, incredibly over-the-top, and delightful performance steals the show; I absolutely loved her in this role. Brandon Sklenar portrays Andrew Winchester, Nina's husband, and he delivers a charismatic performance as this handsome and charming guy with some dark secrets, making him another standout. He shares some great chemistry with Sydney Sweeney, which is steamy and erotic, making me root for their relationship at times. The film has some effective twists and turns that kept me guessing, surprising and disturbing me, especially near the end, leading to a satisfying third act. One of my main issues with the movie is that it can get a bit over-the-top and cheesy, feeling like a big-budget Lifetime movie at times. When the romantic scenes occur, they often play a popular pop song that pulls me out of the moment and had me rolling my eyes at certain points. There were also supporting characters like Elizabeth Perkins and Michele Morrone, who played important roles but felt wasted and had little to do. Despite these issues, it was still a fun and entertaining thriller that we don’t see much of anymore, featuring three great performances. I’m giving "The Housemaid" a 3.5/5 stars.

Director: Paul Feig 

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Indiana Elle, Arabella Olivia Clark, Megan Ferguson, Ellen Tamaki, Amanda Joy Erickson and Alaina Surgener 

Runtime: 131 Minutes