Director Paul Feig, best known for broad comedies, makes a sharp turn into suspense with The Housemaid, an outrageously enjoyable psycho-thriller dripping with 90s erotic noir style. The film, an adaptation of Freida McFadden's 2022 bestseller by screenwriter Rebecca Sonnenshine, delivers a sleazy, glossy throwback to the era of Basic Instinct and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, all served with a knowing wink.
A Job Offer Too Good To Be True
The story follows Millie Calloway, played by Sydney Sweeney, who arrives at a bizarrely opulent mansion in upstate New York. Isolated among a sea of bland suburbia, the house is accessed via a long drive behind electronic gates. Millie, wearing fake glasses to appear more mature, is desperately hoping her new employers won't scrutinise the worrying gaps in her CV.
She is met by the impeccably blonde and seemingly sweet Nina Winchester, portrayed by Amanda Seyfried. Nina explains the live-in role involves cooking, cleaning, and caring for her young daughter, Cece (Indiana Elle). The house is a pristine Martha Stewart show home, and the job seems perfect. However, the facade crumbles almost immediately.
Secrets, Lies, and Unbearable Tension
On her very first day, Millie discovers the pristine mansion has descended into squalid chaos. Nina, having apparently missed her medication, flies into a spiteful rage, blaming Millie for everything. Enter Nina's husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), whose handsome, Alec Baldwin-esque charm provides a stark contrast. He reassures Millie and intervenes to stop her from being fired from a job she badly needs.
This sets the stage for unbearable sexual tension and a creeping sense of dread. Millie finds herself fatally attracted to Andrew, but nothing in the Winchester household is as it seems. Is Millie being manipulated or groomed for something sinister? The film expertly deploys the heady whiff of gaslighting, leaving Millie—and the audience—unsure of what is real.
A Stylish, Guilty Pleasure
Feig ramps up the schlock-serious dial with evident gusto, guiding his cast through some tastily over-the-top performances. The narrative employs huge rewind perspective shifts to explain the twisting plot, ensuring the pace never slackens. While the premise may be delightfully silly, the commitment from the cast and director makes it a compelling, innocent holiday treat for fans of the genre.
The Housemaid is scheduled for release on 19 December in the US, 25 December in Australia, and 26 December in the UK. It marks a successful foray into suspense for Feig, proving his skill extends beyond comedy into crafting a thriller that is both homage and highly entertaining spectacle.
