The Housemaid – Movie Review (3/5)

THE HOUSEMAID is a new psychological thriller based on the bestselling novel by Freida McFadden. Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney star in the two all-important female lead roles. Fans of the book should be pleased. Read our full The Housemaid movie review here!

THE HOUSEMAID is a psychological thriller from the A Simple Favor director. As a fan of the book series it’s based on, I wasn’t sure if I’d be pleased with this adaptation. Now, having watched it, I think most fans of the book will be happy with the movie.

However, obviously, quite a few things from the book have been changed. Not too much, though. And yet, knowing those key plot twists does take something away from the movie, so maybe anyone who has yet to read the book will actually enjoy the movie more. I guess time will show.

Continue reading our The Housemaid movie review below. Find it in US theaters from December 19, 2025.

The delicious twists and turns

The Housemaid movie follows the book fairly closely, so we begin with Millie (Sydney Sweeney) going to a job interview. After a very positive experience, she still thinks she blew it and expects not to get the job. However, not too soon after, she’s offered the job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy couple.

The couple consists of Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar), who have a young daughter, Cecilia – or simply Cece (Indiana Elle). It all seems to be a dream situation, but as soon as Millie arrives back at the house, everything is different.

During the job interview, the house was spotless, and Nina was the perfect hostess. Now, the house is a complete mess, and soon, Nina appears as the boss from hell. From this point on, the dream job unravels into a nightmare. And due to Millie’s past, she cannot lose this job.

Before long, it becomes obvious that something is completely off with Nina while Andrew appears to be the perfect gentleman. A seductive game of secrets, a year-old scandal, and the need for power is at the heart of everything. Nothing is as it seems behind closed doors in the Winchester house.

Anyone who has read the book will know what’s truly going on, while anyone who hasn’t will have a real treat in store.

How does The Housemaid movie compare to the book?

If there’s one thing Freida McFadden stories are famous (even infamous) for, it’s having at least one wild twist. Sometimes more than one, or a twist that keeps twisting before all is said and done. I love reading her books, even if some are stronger than others.

This first book in The Housemaid series is a very strong psychological thriller.

Of course, the question quickly turns into one about anticipation: Is the movie adaptation as strong as the book?

Well, no, I don’t think it is. In fact, I now believe it should have been made as a limited series to encompass all those delicious twists and turns of the novel. However, having said that, I still also find this thriller to be extremely entertaining and efficient.

Especially thanks to Amanda Seyfried as Nina!

To me, Millie was a much more interesting character in the book, but Sydney Sweeney delivers exactly what’s expected of her. I just feel Amanda Seyfried comes much closer to the Nina of the novel. Then again, Millie is the title character and, as such, needs to be lined up for subsequent movies.

Watch The Housemaid movie in theaters

As already mentioned several times, The Housemaid movie is based on the book by Freida McFadden. The adapted screenplay comes from Rebecca Sonnenshine, who previously wrote the horror movie The Keeping Hours (2017), several episodes of The Boys, and created the Netflix series Archive 81 (2022).

The director is Paul Feig, who has proved many times over that he knows how to keep amazing female characters at the center. From Ghostbusters (2016) to A Simple Favor (2018) and a brilliant action-comedy like Spy (2015). In The Housemaid movie, Brandon Sklenar is eye candy at least as much as Sydney Sweeney.

And Amanda Seyfried is simply amazing – as is Sydney Sweeney, though in a very different way. Also brilliant in this movie is Brandon Sklenar, who is much more than just eye candy. Also, Elizabeth Perkins is perfect as his mother, Evelyn.

Finally, the character of Enzo is portrayed by Michele Morrone, who looks very much like described in the novel. However, he doesn’t get much screentime in this movie.

Overall, I recommend that any fan of the book watch this movie. Also, anyone who enjoys a solid psychological thriller. If you haven’t read the book yet, then watch this movie first and enjoy a more fleshed-out version of the story in the novel afterward.

THE HOUSEMAID WILL BE OUT IN THEATERS ON DECEMBER 19, 2025.

Details

Directed by: Paul Feig
Screenplay by: Rebecca Sonnenshine
Based on the Book by: Freida McFadden
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins