The Housemaid (English) Review {2.5/5} & Review Rating
Star Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar
Director: Paul Feig
The Housemaid Movie Review Synopsis:
THE HOUSEMAID is the story of a young man and a mysterious couple. Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is released from prison for murder. She doesn't have a dwelling and sleeps in her car, while desperately looking for a job. As luck would have it, she bags a job as a housemaid at the home of the wealthy Winchester family in Great Neck, Long Island. The family consists of Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried), her husband Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar) and their 7-year-old daughter Cecelia (Indiana Elle). Nina welcomes Millie very warmly and the latter feels fortunate that she finally has a roof above her head, that too in such a palatial mansion, as well as a job. But in no time, things take a turn for the worse. Nina appears to be mentally disturbed. Millie learns about her past and that scares her even more, as she fears for her life. Meanwhile, Andrew is distraught taking care of Nina and he finds himself getting attracted to Millie. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
The Housemaid Movie Story Review:
THE HOUSEMAID is adapted from Freida McFadden's novel of the same name. The story is quite intriguing. Rebecca Sonnenshine's screenplay engages the viewers but loses steam in the climax. The dialogues are fine. As it happens with most films released by PVR Inox Pictures, there are no subtitles and hence, some dialogues might not be easy to comprehend.
Paul Feig's direction does justice to the script. He sets the right mood. The characters are fascinated by the mansion depicted, but also get an eerie feeling about the place and the family. At the same time, it evokes nostalgia. It's in the zone of Emraan Hashmi films of the 2000s like ZEHER [2005], AKSAR [2006], THE TRAIN [2007], etc. The character of Nina is terrifying and adds to the madness very well. The suspense is a bit predictable and yet, makes an impact to an extent.
On the flipside, there are too many unconvincing moments, be it in the flashback scenes of Nina and Andrew and also in the finale. The scene of the lady cop in the end, for instance, is also very convenient. The character of Evelyn (Elizabeth Perkins) lets things slide, which feels out of sync with the persona the film establishes for her.
The Housemaid Movie Review Performances:
Both Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried deliver exceptional performances. Sydney is tailor-made for this role – she brings the required charisma, oomph factor, and also complements it with a fine performance. Amanda Seyfried gets into the skin of the character and manages to send a chill down the spine multiple times. Brandon Sklenar is aptly cast and essays a complex character with panache. Indiana Elle also gets her act right. Elizabeth Perkins is decent, but is let down by the writing. Michele Morrone (Enzo; groundskeeper) is fair. However, his character should have been fleshed out in a better way.
The Housemaid movie music and other technical aspects:
Theodore Shapiro's music is appropriate for the film's mood. John Schwartzman's cinematography is conventional. The interiors of the house are very well captured. Elizabeth J Jones' production design is rich. Renee Ehrlich Kalfus's costumes are stylish. Brent White's editing is breezy.
The Housemaid Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, THE HOUSEMAID is a slick, watchable thriller with Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried as its biggest winning points. However, the final act leaves a lot to be desired. At the box office, it releases with limited awareness and might find an audience due to its erotic nature and Sydney’s casting.
