“The Housemaid” An Intense Thriller That Fans of the Novel Will Enjoy

“The Housemaid” is a 2022 psychological thriller novel by author Freida McFadden and published by Bookouture. The 2022 novel sold roughly 3.5 million copies and counting and spawned a couple follow ups (“The Housemaid’s Secret” in 2023 and “The Housemaid is Watching” in 2024). Now, the popular novel hits the big screen that will surely be loved by fans of the novel and even newcomers.

“The Housemaid” is a wildly entertaining thriller that plunges audiences into a twisted world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems. Trying to escape her past, Millie accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Nina and Andrew Winchester.

But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous - a seductive game of secrets, scandal and power. Behind the Winchesters’ closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end.

Even though the pacing of “The Housemaid: can be slightly uneven in a few spots, it definitely won’t stop you from enjoying this tense thriller. “The Housemaid” delivers an entertaining, wild ride that’s filled with a lot of twists that you really don’t see coming - unless you’re familiar with the novel. The film adaptation of the novel also features some intense, energetic moments throughout the film that will really keep the fast-paced thriller moving along.

While Sydney Sweeney had a few decent moments scattered throughout, it was really Amanda Seyfried who absolutely stole the show. Throughout a good portion of her scenes, Seyfried’s performance can be both completely unhinged and deep at the same time. With how incredible Seyfried was in the film, the actress better get some kind of award recognition for her performance.

Director Paul Feig did an incredible job balancing the high stakes tension that we see on screen with some campy humor and slightly over the top drama. A lot of the intense

drama involves an epic spiral staircase confrontation and a moment that involves a pair of pliers and a tooth - not saying anything else about that scene.

“The Housemaid” also features several twists and turns throughout the film’s main narrative that are absolutely crazy. I’m definitely not going to go into spoiler territory for sure so the only hint I will give out is that almost every major character may or may not be who they seem to be.

Overall, even though “The Housemaid” may not be a perfect film, it’s definitely a very entertaining guilty pleasure. The film blends thriller and dark comedy so well and it also has a “throwback” feel to some previous domestic thrillers, such as “Gone Girl” or “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” from the early 90s. So, even if you’re not familiar with the 2022 novel, you will still be entertained with this intense and slightly over the top thriller.

Cast: Sydney Sweeney (Millie Calloway); Amanda Seyfried (Nina Winchester); Brandon Sklenar (Andrew Winchester); Michele Morrone (Enzo); Elizabeth Perkins (Evelyn Winchester); Indiana Elle (Cecelia Winchester); Mark Grossman (Scott Crawford); Hannah Cruz (Lexi).

Writer/director: Rebecca Sonnenshine (writer) (various episodes of “The Boys” and “Vampire Diaries”; “The Haunting of Molly Harley”); Paul Feig (director) (“Another Simple Favor”; “Last Christmas”; “A Simple Favor”).

MPA: Rated R for strong/bloody violent content, sexual assault, sexual content, nudity and language   (runtime 131 minutes)

Make sure to check my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook for some fun trivia bits about this film! Also don’t miss my best and worst picks of 2025 in the first edition of the New Year!!

• The film is based on Freida McFadden's 2022 psychological thriller novel The Housemaid.

• In October 2024, Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried joined the project as lead actresses and executive producers. Brandon Sklenar was cast that same month, followed by Michele Morrone in December 2024.

• Principal photography began on January 3, 2025, in New Jersey and wrapped in March 2025.