The Screen Scribe

There was something quietly refreshing about sitting down to watch The Housemaid. Not because it promised prestige, awards chatter, or cinematic reinvention, but because it didn’t. In an era dominated by bloated franchises and endless cinematic universes, this was a smaller, meaner, more intimate experience. A limited cast. A handful of locations. A story allowed to breathe. That alone made it feel like a minor act of rebellion. And once it gets going, The Housemaid proves that sometimes all you really want is a well-executed genre piece that knows exactly what kind of fun it is meant to deliver.

The film centres on Millie, a troubled young woman who takes a live-in housemaid job with a wealthy couple whose pristine home masks something deeply rotten beneath the surface. At first, the setup feels familiar. Too familiar, perhaps. The erotic thriller framework is well worn territory, and the early beats play out exactly as expected. But if you are paying attention, you begin to notice the cracks. Little inconsistencies. Odd reactions. Tells that something is very wrong. By the hour mark, you can see where the story is headed, but crucially, that predictability does not undermine the experience. If anything, it enhances it.

This is not a film that thrives on shocking you with last minute twists. It thrives on escalation. On leaning into its own madness. Once the demented fun fully reveals itself, The Housemaid stops pretending to be subtle and embraces its pulpy instincts. It becomes deliciously theatrical, knowingly excessive, and unapologetically dramatic. This is a throwback in the truest sense. A clear descendant of Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Wild Things, and Cruel Intentions. A genre Hollywood has largely abandoned, resurrected here with glee.

The performances are key to making it work, and the cast clearly understands the assignment. Sydney Sweeney fully commits, delivering a performance that balances vulnerability with something far more dangerous lurking underneath. This film cements her star power in no uncertain terms. Pulling in over $300 million worldwide on a modest $35 million budget, The Housemaid is proof that Sweeney can carry a film on her shoulders, not just as a presence, but as a performer willing to get messy.

Amanda Seyfried is equally impressive. She reminds audiences why she has long been one of the more interesting actors of her generation, leaning into the heightened nature of the material without ever losing control of it. There is a playful menace to her performance, and she appears to be having an absolute ball. Brandon Sklenar also benefits from the film’s success, offering a higher exposure role that reinforces his credibility following his work in 1923. He is reliably excellent, grounding the chaos around him just enough to keep the film from tipping into parody.

That is not to say the film is flawless. There are moments of overacting, where the dial is pushed just a little too far. A tighter runtime would have served the story well, as some sequences linger longer than necessary. The foreshadowing is occasionally heavy handed, practically winking at the audience. Subtlety is not always this film’s strongest suit. But these are minor blemishes on what is otherwise a confident piece of genre filmmaking.

What truly elevates The Housemaid is its intimacy. The limited sets and small cast create a claustrophobic atmosphere that suits the story perfectly. There is nowhere to escape. No spectacle to hide behind. The tension is built through proximity, performance, and mounting unease rather than bombast. It feels immediate. Personal. Uncomfortable in the best possible way.

Perhaps most importantly, the film knows exactly what it is. It does not apologise for its excesses or pretend to be something loftier than an erotic thriller. It embraces the genre wholeheartedly, delivering a long absent Hollywood staple with conviction and flair. If you go into The Housemaid expecting restraint or realism, you are in the wrong place. But if you go in ready to enjoy it for what it is, you will have a wickedly good time. A deliciously unhinged throwback thriller. Stylish, indulgent, and powered by committed performances, The Housemaid proves that smaller, smarter genre films still have teeth.

3.5 / 5 ✨ from the Screen Scribe.

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