Poster: Lionsgate
The holiday season is usually a time of romantic comedies, bittersweet flocks, adventure sprouts or family staples; however, Santa left something much more cynical under the tree this year. The Housemaid is Paul Feig’s delicious, satirical look at the secret depravity of the ultra-rich, but it’s so well constructed that it’s never clear who’s naughty or nice. It is a twisty, psychological horror-thriller all wrapped up in an important empowerment message.
Not what you might expect
Director Paul Feig is mostly known for his comedies, from easy-to-watch rom-coms to legendary shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation. Therefore, seeing him pick up an adapted screenplay (penned by Rebecca Sonnenshine) of Freida McFadden’s 2022 bestselling thriller seemed like a stretch – at least at first glance.
The setting is a bizarrely opulent mansion somewhere in Upstate New York that looks suspiciously like Gru’s house from Despicable Me – a monolith in the middle of a bland, homogenous sea of suburban America. There, we meet Millie, played by Sydney Sweeney, in a scene bordering on a cliché: the protagonist driving up the driveway of a posh house in a beaten-up car, embarking on a classic hero’s journey.
The opening minutes play along with this trope convincingly. The Housemaid fools the audience by pretending to fit snugly into the “interloper-from-hell” genre until the ruse suddenly breaks. While standard thrillers take their time building tension, this film comes swinging fast and with a punch. This momentum is fueled by the fantastic acting of Amanda Seyfried, who plays the antagonist, Nina. We quickly learn that Nina suffers from several mental disorders, intensifying the stakes and trapping Millie in a desperate position. Then there is Nina’s husband, the charismatic Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), who appears to be the soul of virtue with a winning smile for everyone.
He and Millie start off friendly, then more, and we see why — both are good-looking and they’re coincidentally the only two sane adults in the household. Naturally, the “perfect” household starts to crack and the relationship between Millie, Nina and Andrew quickly spirals into a messy, high-stakes conflict. The surprise is that the twisty, and twisted, thriller gamesmanship is only just getting started.
Captivating performances
This film wouldn’t be able to sell the “classic” thriller experience while delivering something surprising and twisted without a solid cast. On this front, The Housemaid hits a home run, with the main trio of Seyfried, Sweeney, and Sklenar pairing surprisingly well together. Amanda Seyfried is the undisputed standout, delivering a performance that is as devastating as it is hauntingly convincing. Brandon Sklenar also feels like he was born for his role, providing the perfect mix of a flirty, sexy, and sly husband. Quite expectedly, Sydney Sweeney finds herself outshined by her costars’ more explosive energy, making her the weakest of the three leads, however she still grounds the film’s chaotic moments with one of her stronger performances to date.
Complementing the leads is a host of well-written side characters, from Nina’s reserved daughter and a controlling mother-in-law to the creepy gardener and the annoyingly accurate “rich housewives” of the ballet class. Their appearances are well-timed and never distract from the main storyline, rounding out a truly solid ensemble..
The Itch of Discomfort
If there is one thing that this film really succeeds in making the viewers feel uncomfortable. In fact, this film excels at weaponizing discomfort. From the very first altercation, the creators ensure there is a persistent, intentional “itch” that keeps the audience on edge until the final frame.
Feig and his team also have fun with several horror conventions: a silent, foreboding groundskeeper, a creepy dollhouse, and the classic “lightning and thunder” during pivotal scenes. They surround the mansion with fussy, aristocratic PTA moms who have tea parties and say things like, “You know what yoga means to me”. Through this, the movie rides waves of manipulation, turning the tables on our expectations while examining power structures and how privilege can trap those without it
Conclusion
Ultimately, The Housemaid delivers a classic psychological thriller hidden inside a deceptively innocent package. In the thick of awards season, as the media continues talking about award-hungry prestige films, this pulp gem manages to steal the spotlight with its stylish trickery. It might not be as “delicious” as it could have been, but if you need an escape from the family festivities with a shot of salacious nastiness and blood-stained perversion, look no further.
