The Housemaid movie review by Movie Review Mom

MOVIE TITLE:  The Housemaid

This dramatic thriller was released in theaters on December 19, 2026

RATING: R (thematic content, violence, language, sexual situations)

LENGTH: 2 hours 11 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B

SPONSOR of Today’s Movie Review:
My book club is reading this book this month, so I was excited to see the movie! I’ve heard it’s pretty true to the 2022 psychological thriller by Freida McFadden. Have you read it? If so, what do YOU think?

You can snag a copy of the book on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4jEdcYL 

IN A NUTSHELL:

The Housemaid is a tense psychological thriller about a young woman who takes a job working for a wealthy family, only to discover that nothing in the house is as perfect as it appears. What begins as a seemingly simple employment opportunity quickly spirals into manipulation, secrets, and dangerous power dynamics that keep viewers guessing until the end. The film was directed by Paul Feig. Writing credits go to Rebecca Sonnenshine and Freida McFadden.

Already, the film has been nominated for 6 awards. Box numbers were so positive that a sequel has already been greenlit called “The Housemaid Secrets.”

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

This movie is not family-friendly. Parents should be aware of intense psychological themes, disturbing behavior,  emotional manipulation, and unhealthy relationships, which may be upsetting for sensitive viewers.

• Profanity, crude language, and multiple F-bombs (in English and Italian)
• Nudity and sex scenes
• Violence
• Blood and gore

THEMES:

• Deception and hidden identities

• Power imbalance and control

• Trust and betrayal

• The danger of appearances

• Moral boundaries and desperation

• Gaslighting
• Mental health
• Secrets
• Infidelity
• Actions have consequences

THINGS I LIKED:

• Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried are both mesmerizing and give very strong performances. Well done.

• The rest of the cast also includes Brandon Sklenar and Michele Morrone. It was great seeing Elizabeth Perkins in something again. I hadn’t seen her in quite a while.

• The suspenseful atmosphere keeps you engaged, wondering what’s going to happen next. You know a twist is coming, so your mind conjures up possibilities the entire time.

• The story explores how vulnerable people can be exploited
• I love twists.
• The last conversation in the movie took it to another level. I’ve heard it’s different from the book, but I haven’t read the book yet…
• Most of the scenes were filmed in New Jersey.
• Act 1 moves fairly slowly but then gets more interesting after the twist.
• Eye candy for everyone.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• Several cliched plot points from other psychological thrillers.

• Some plot elements strain believability.

• The pacing is slow and then suddenly fast.

• Several scenes feel intentionally shocking rather than necessary.

• Limited character development for supporting roles.

• What kind of stupid wife hires a gorgeous, young woman to live in their home?
• There are so many scenes where Sydney Sweeney’s cleavage is falling all over the place, which becomes unnecessarily distracting.
• In one of the bathrooms, there is wallpaper with a bunch of snakes. While it’s a foreshadowing element, who would actually want that in their home?
• How long would you have stuck around after the first day when the wife had a crazy episode?
• What was up with Amanda Seyfried’s lips?
• There are some inconsistencies, such as when someone has a missing tooth in one scene, and the tooth reappears in another scene.

FUNNY LINES:

This is not a humor-driven film, and any light moments are brief and uncomfortable rather than funny.

INTERESTING LINES:

• “Juice is a privilege, not something you drink out of a dirty glass.” – CeCe Winchester  (Indiana Elle)
• “The past is in the past.” –  Andrew Winchester  (Brandon Sklenar)
• “Beauty is power. A smile is its sword.” –  Andrew Winchester  (Brandon Sklenar)
• “There’s consequences to your actions.” – Andrew Winchester  (Brandon Sklenar)
• “Everything you have is a lie.” – Nina Winchester  (Amanda Seyfried)

MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

• The Hand That Rocks the Cradle: https://amzn.to/49Dw8Cv

• Gone Girl: https://amzn.to/4bpQAsY

• The Talented Mr. Ripley: https://amzn.to/456zbSa

• The Girl on the Train: https://amzn.to/49wUAVT

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@MovieReviewMom  @TrinaBoice

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