In The Housemaid, a newly released thriller, Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) seems perfect from the outside perspective. She has a Pinterest-perfect home, a young daughter, and, most central to the plot, a doting, supportive husband, named Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar). When Nina is on the hunt for a housemaid, she finds Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney), whose facade of a young, smart girl is actually a lie. On her resume, Millie says she is an accomplished college graduate, but she’s actually living out of her car and on parole for a crime unknown to the viewer that has kept her in jail for ten years. When Millie finds out that she has been given the position, it’s almost too perfect. Her desperation leads her to dismiss her room in the attic that locks only from the outside. If you’re slightly unsettled with that fact, me, too, people! The longer Millie stays in the Winchester’s home, witnessing Nina’s bizarre behaviour, she can’t help but wonder what is actually going on.
The acting performance given by Amanda Seyfried in this movie was sensational! Seyfried embodied the unsettling personality of Nina, who always has this crack in her perfect exterior, masking what seems to be a maniacal side. She really did take the script and make it come alive! Seyfried was definitely the star in the movie, outshining both of her co-actors. Sydney Sweeney’s acting wasn’t terrible. As the movie went on I definitely felt more connected to Millie, reacting to scenes thinking, what is going to happen to this poor girl? It felt like the whole movie, she had the same expression on her face even when she would overhear screaming matches between Nina and Andrew. If I were her, I would’ve dashed out of there! Brandon Sklenar was satisfactory as the ideal husband to Nina. His looks carried most of his character in the beginning, but as the movie progressed, he showcased his abilities to play a two-sided character. Michele Morrone appeared as Enzo, the Winchester’s groundsman. For most of the movie he came across as a filler character, constantly staring at Millie or Nina intensely, always seeming worried.
The movie was fast-paced, building suspense and excitement to keep the audience invested in the characters, especially Millie. In some of the scenes, you can already tell what’s coming, and all you can do is sit there and pray you’re wrong. This technique heightened the experience, forcing the viewers to encounter danger with the main cast. I watched the movie with my mom, cousin, and uncle, and during unnerving scenes, we all looked at each other with dread on our faces. The film was able to effectively create shared anxiety.
In addition to the movie’s pacing, the soundtrack stood out, featuring hits like, “I Did Something Bad” by Taylor Swift, “Cinnamon Girl” by Lana Del Ray, and “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. These songs amplified the emotional rollercoaster that Millie and the audience was on.
In the end, The House Maid isn’t meant to completely alter your worldview, but to make your heart pound. It feels like a vacation novel brought to life: easy to get swept up in and perfect for viewers looking for a gripping escape!