Plot twisting cleverly constructed thriller
The Housemaid is the film adaptation of Freida McFadden’s best-selling 2022 novel plot twisting its way through a hugely compelling sexual maze ultimately winding to the conclusion worthy of the best traditional thrillers.
Out on parole after ten years in prison and living in her car, Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) attempts to move on with her life by applying for and obtaining a live-in housemaid position for an affluent couple, Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar), in their Long Island mansion even though her resume is fake. The Winchesters have a daughter Cecelia (Indiana Elle) who doesn’t seem to like Millie.
Millie moves into the room in the attic with a door that gets stuck and with a window that doesn’t open. Millie begins work for the Windchesters but all is not as idyllic as she hoped for as she becomes targeted in deranged episodes instigated by Nina with her hunky husband Andrew coming to Millie’s rescue. However, Millie needs the job to maintain her parole conditions so puts up with the incidents. As the story unfolds, the many twists in the plot begin leading to the action packed gripping finale.
Director Paul Fieg (best known for Bridesmaids and the remake of Ghostbusters), and screenwriter Rebecca Soonenshire had rich original material with McFadden’s novel to work with, although there are variations to the novel which reportedly McFadden was in agreement with, recognising the need for the film to have greater visual action. The plot, especially later in the film, provides for the many interesting changes of direction without becoming too over the top. Fieg manages to keep the plot movements coherent and maintains the flow of the film.
The film revolves around the roles of Millie and Nina and both Sweeney and Seyfried are engaging in their parts. Sweeney, Seyfried, McFadden and Fieg with others are also executive producers of the film. Sklenar as the dreamy husband Andrew provides the necessary hunkiness for the role. Elizabeth Perkins, in addition, provides a superb amount of menace as the mother-in-law from hell.
Given the subject matter this may not be a film for everyone, The Housemaid is however an interestingly clever throwback to earlier thrillers with absorbing curveballs to engage the audience.
The Housemaid opens on Boxing Day.
Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
