20s Movie Review - The Housemaid

Director: Paul Feig
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Runtime: 131 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, Indiana Elle

Description: Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is a struggling young woman who is relieved by the chance for a fresh start, when she gets a job as a housemaid for a wealthy couple (Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar). Soon, she discovers that the family’s secrets are far more dangerous than her own.

Review: “The Housemaid” is based on the beloved book with the same title, by author Freida McFadden. One of today’s most popular thriller writers. The film is an over-the-top psychological thriller, with many plot twists and strong performances.

Millie has hit rock bottom. She is on parole, living in her car and has no job, money or prospects. She applies for the job as a housemaid for the rich Winchester family, but doesn’t expect much from it. But she gets the job. Finally, she feels like she will get her life back in order. Millie will be moving in with the Winchesters, wife Nina, husband Andrew and young daughter Cece. While Millie has some secrets from her past, the secrets in this family are far darker.

I read the book about two years ago. I really loved it, the plot twist half-way though took me by surprise. I have made several people in my family and friend circle read it, they were all just as surprised. I was curious to see how they would do it in the movie.

The book is no masterpiece, but it kept my attention at all times and was a great thriller. The same goes for the film. “The Housemaid” is entertaining and full of twists. It’s a wild ride, mindless entertainment and a very strong psychological thriller.

When it comes to the performances, Amanda Seyfried really stands out as Nina Winchester. She has the most difficult role to play and really does a fantastic job.

The film explores themes such as class differences and offers a feminist message. It also offers a mix of sexual and psychological manipulation.

But this film is far from perfect. Sometimes it’s a bit too over-the-top, on the edge of becoming silly. The dark humor does not always work. And even though Sydney Sweeney is solid in her performance as Millie, there are some moments where I feel she wasn’t the right choice. Finally, the role of Enzo feels a bit pointless. His role is much bigger in the book. If they had left him out of the movie, it wouldn’t have had any effect on the plot whatsoever.

Do I think it’s a successful adaptation of the book? Yes. Director Paul Feig managed to transform the original story into a compelling film. Not flawless, but an entertaining psychological thriller.

Rating: 3,5/ 5 

Book Review - The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden

Title: The Housemaid’s Secret (The Housemaid # 2)
Author: Freida McFadden
Genre: Thriller/ Mystery
Published: 2023
 
Description: It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want. It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs. Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day, I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything…
 
That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs. Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe. Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to play. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go…
 
Review: This is the sequel to “The Housemaid”. In “The Housemaid’s Secret” we follow Millie again. And again, she is looking for a job. It does not take place immediately after the first book. Millie eventually finds a job as cleaning the penthouse of the Garricks. A house that doesn’t really need any cleaning, because it looks spotless. But it’s paying well and it’s easy money. And Millie can combine it with her school. Douglas Garrick is her boss, she speaks to him and he gives out the orders. He seems like a nice guy. But she never saw Wendy Garrick yet, Douglas’ wife. He says she’s ill and needs to be left alone in the guest bedroom.
 
WARNING! THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
 
The set-up of the book is very similar to the first one. Millie getting a new job in housekeeping, at first everything is perfect, but then she suspects something is very wrong. Even the narration is very similar, as in the perspective switches at the half-way point. This came as a surprise in the first book, not so much here. I kind of expected it to happen. And the intentions of this second person were also very similar.
 
Freida McFadden’s writing is very accessible, especially if you’re new to thrillers and you have just started exploring the genre. The book has very short chapters, a simple writing style and it’s in general a quick, entertaining read. It’s hard to put it down.
 
I do think, if I hadn’t read the first book, this one would have surprised me more. Because so many elements were the same. “The Housemaid’s Secret” still did have some twists here and there that did surprise me, but overall it was a lot more predictable.
 
I did have a good time reading it, it was a real page-turner. Do I think this book deserved to win the GoodReads choice award for best mystery/ thriller? No. But if you have liked Freida McFadden books before, you will probably enjoy this one as well.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Book Review - The Housemaid

Title: The Housemaid
Series: The Housemaid # 1
Author: Freida McFadden
 
Description: “Welcome to the family”, Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…
 
Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tint room on the top floor.
 
I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.
 
But I assure myself the Winchesters don’t know who I really am. They don’t know what I’m capable of.
 
Review: When I read the synopsis, I wasn’t intrigued at all. I knew the book is super popular, but this story didn’t seem that special. Yet, I was curious if I would agree with all those people and I would understand the hype around “The Housemaid”. Trust me, I do now.
 
Are you looking for a book you can completely lose yourself in? Or one to get you out of a reading slump?  I think this is the one for you. From the first page, I was intrigued and could not put the book down. The ominous atmosphere increases with each chapter. All you think is, “get out of there Millie”. Halfway through the story, there is this insane and genius plot twist. I could have never predicted it and it left mee speechless. At that point, it was even harder to put it down.
 
This is my second Freida McFadden book and I can say that her writing style is very compelling. Each character has their own secrets. Step by step you get more and more answers, constantly adjusting your opinion of each character. So well-written, amazing plot twist and exciting to the end. I recommend every thriller fan to pick up this book.
 
Rating: 5/ 5