Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone
Rating: R | Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery |Run Time: 2h 13min
Millie (Sydney Sweeney) a young woman with a troubled past is grateful for a fresh start, working as a live-in housemaid for the Winchesters – a seemingly perfect wealthy couple until the façade crumbles.
Leading lady, Sydney Sweeney delivers a decent performance, although her acting in the beginning felt flat, emotionless and greatly overshadowed by experienced Amanda Seyfried. Towards the end, Sweeney’s acting picks up as the film nears its climax. Sweeney has potential to grow as an actress if given the chance to step out of stereotypical bombshell roles.
Brandon Sklenar, the main antagonist, plays a textbook psychopath almost to perfection – starting off as charming and admired by polite society only to shed his perfect image once his victims get comfortable. Characteristics of gaslighting, manipulation and neglect are amazingly executed. Sklenar has the ability to make audiences love and hate him simultaneously.
The film has a subtle depiction of how family upbringing can influence the outcome of a person’s life. In this case, Brandon Sklenar’s Andrew Winchester comes from a wealthy family where everything good is seen as a privilege and not assuming responsibility even if it’s unintentional is seen as a disgrace to their social class.
Additionally, the lack of empathy shown by his apathetic mother contributes to his desire for approval, which leads him to develop psychotic tendencies and act out towards people he is closest to whenever they don’t meet the standards set by his mother. Phrases such as ‘(insert item or behavior) is a privilege’ is echoed throughout the film highlighting upper-class attitude towards the rest of society.
The film also explores the subtle yet impactful theme of female aggression and bullying, which plays a significant role in the emotional turmoil faced by Nina Winchester. As the wife of a prominent figure, Nina is exposed to the hypocritical behavior of those within her social circle—people who gossip about her behind her back while maintaining a facade of politeness in her presence. This constant duality, fueled by her marriage into high society, adds another layer of isolation and distress to Nina’s already risky situation.
Final Thoughts:
The Housemaid is a mediocre film only pushed to good quality because of the writing and also the acting of Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar.
Rating: 3/5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Best enjoyed with low expectations and buttered popcorn.
