The Housemaid unravels dark secrets and intense drama, blending psychological tension with unexpected twists, delivering a gripping thriller best experienced with an engaged, lively audience in theaters.
From the outset of “The Housemaid,” Nina Winchester’s home, played by Amanda Seyfried, exudes an uneasy vibe. Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried star in a thrilling drama that is best enjoyed with Millie Calloway, played by Sydney Sweeney, who arrives there looking for a job. The house feels enormous, almost too empty, as if any happiness inside has already disappeared. The real mystery lies in how that emptiness shapes the unhappiness of the people living there.
At first, Millie focuses so much on her own problems that she misses the signs of Nina’s struggles. Nina, from the outside, appears to have it all. Her husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), is both caring and good-looking, and their life with their young daughter, Cece (Indiana Elle), appears perfect. But Millie has her own secret. She is running away from her past and living out of her car. The idea of working as a housekeeper and cook for the Winchesters, while also spending time with Cece, feels like a lucky break. They even offer her a small attic room to stay in, though it oddly locks from the outside.
If you’re urging Millie to run away, that’s what the story wants you to feel. Directed by Paul Feig, “The Housemaid” blends dark comedy with psychological erotic tension. It’s not as quirky as his 2018 film “A Simple Favor,” but you can tell it’s made in a similar style. Both stories focus on two captivating women locked in a game of cat-and-mouse over a charming man. Both feature gorgeous outfits designed by Renée Ehrlich Kalfus and make oversized martinis a central visual element.
You may also read: Timothée Chalamet: Secret Identity as UK Rapper EsDeeKid?
While “A Simple Favor” leans into its fun and over-the-top vibe, “The Housemaid,” which Rebecca Sonnenshine adapted from Freida McFadden’s 2022 bestseller, takes a more serious approach. The characters face harsh and explicit violence that’s shown on screen. The story dives into the hidden darkness behind perfect lives focusing on themes of weakness and manipulation. At the same time, it underscores strength and ultimate triumph. It uses well-known elements of erotic thrillers, like the classic unstable woman stereotype, but adds a modern spin with unexpected twists, wrapping up with an updated ending.
For a movie of this level to work, it needs a strong cast where everyone brings their A-game playing characters with layers of hidden secrets. Some actors nail it here. Seyfried and Sweeney though about ten years apart in age, look similar enough that it hints at twists in the story. That makes the plot surprises feel even more satisfying when they occur. What stands out more, though, is how both actresses, right from their first moments on screen, show a depth to their characters that makes you want to dig deeper. This keeps the suspense alive. On the flip side, Sklenar’s acting doesn’t quite hit the mark. While he’s traditionally good-looking and plays the patient, kind husband, his performance lacks memorable traits. As his character’s secrets come to light, his dull performance makes them hard to believe. Sorry, I need the input content you want me to paraphrase. Could you please provide the original text? “The Housemaid” does not aim to stick to realism. It reads more like a fantasy in which bad actions lead to deserved punishments. This style makes the movie enjoyable and engaging even though it deals with serious topics.
You may also read: Kevin Costner: Faith, First Acting Role, and the Nativity Story
This part shows what makes watching movies in a theater so special. Watching “The Housemaid” in a packed theater made it stand out for me. The crowd was into it. You could feel their reactions—laughing at the clever bits, clapping out of nowhere, and even shouting warnings at the screen. Near the end, someone made a joke during an intense scene, and the whole crowd burst out laughing together. It was this amazing shared experience. Afterward, the line for the bathroom was filled with people chatting about the movie. These kinds of group experiences often lead people to recommend a movie to others, which can help its box office numbers grow.
Some people might think audience participation in movies is distracting, but “The Housemaid” feels like it’s built for group watching. If you tried watching it by yourself at home, you might have a hard time figuring out how to react. Would you laugh at light-hearted moments? Would you let yourself get scared and yell out loud during the tense parts? Horror and comedy movies show how much we rely on being around others to feel okay expressing emotions. Laughing, screaming, or even chuckling together makes the experience more fun. That’s why sitcoms often use laugh tracks—they tap into that shared energy.
You may also read: George Clooney Reflects on His Career in New Film “Jay Kelly
Of course, you can watch “The Housemaid” alone and still enjoy it. It isn’t trying to be a moral lesson or a cinematic masterpiece. What it does well is deliver on its promise: a mix of twisty drama and intense passionate moments. But if there’s a takeaway, it might be this—it reminds us how much we rely on each other to get through tough times. Watching a film together can sometimes help with that.
Rated R due to unsettling content like graphic violence, domestic abuse, sexual assault, and mature themes. Includes a scene with partial nudity. Runs for 2 hours and 11 minutes. Playing in theaters now.
Source:
Alissa Wilkinson (Dec.18, 2025). ‘The Housemaid’ Review: Dusty Counters, Dirty Secrets”. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/movies/the-housemaid-review-sydney-sweeney-amanda-seyfried.html
Header photo: Sydney Sweeney, actor, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Photo credit: Jay Dixit, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
#The_Housemaid_movie_review_2025, #Sydney_Sweeney_and_Amanda_Seyfried_thriller, #Psychological_erotic_thriller_movies_2025, #Dark_secrets_movie_plot_twists, #Paul_Feig_directed_movies, #Best_movies_to_watch_in_theaters_2025, #Movies_about_domestic_abuse_and_manipulation, #Modern_erotic_thriller_films_with_twists, #Movies_like_A_Simple_Favor, #Films_with_strong_female_leads_and_secrets, #Psychological_thrillers_with_intense_drama, #Movies_featuring_housekeeper_and_family_secrets, #Movies_with_graphic_violence_and_mature_themes
