‘I Found My Mouth Agape At The Sheer Audacity.’ Critics Have Seen The Housemaid, And They Have Strong Opinions About The Campy Thriller

by

Sydney Sweeney has been busy lately, from attending high-profile events like Jeff Bezos’ wedding to making appearances at photoshoots and even filming TV shows. She’s also starring in the new movie The Housemaid, based on the popular book, alongside Amanda Seyfried. Early reviews are in, and it seems like the film is a success – Sweeney doesn’t have much to worry about when it comes to critical reception. The movie comes out on December 19th.

As a big fan of thrillers, I recently checked out The Housemaid, which is based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel. It’s about Millie, played by Sydney Sweeney, who takes a job as a live-in housekeeper for Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and her husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), and quickly realizes things aren’t what they seem. What’s really cool is the author herself actually preferred the movie adaptation to her own book! Meagan Navarro at Bloody Disgusting seems to agree, giving it a solid 4 out of 5 skulls and praising director Paul Feig for letting the actors really go wild with the dark humor and violence.

The film expertly builds suspense with a series of shocking secrets, and Seyfried delivers a captivating performance that will keep you gripped until the thrilling climax. It’s a wildly entertaining ride where over-the-top action, shocking twists, and a powerful message come together. The filmmakers amplify the novel’s most exciting elements, creating even bigger thrills and raising the stakes. It’s a truly spectacular and over-the-top experience that leaves you wanting more.

According to William Bibbiani of The Wrap, Amanda Seyfried particularly excels at balancing humor and heartbreak, and both lead actresses appear to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. He describes the movie as surprisingly quirky and amusing, stating:

As a movie lover, ‘The Housemaid’ feels like a total wish fulfillment – not just for the characters on screen, but for everyone involved in making it! The filmmakers just dove headfirst into deliciously over-the-top camp, and it’s a blast to watch. It’s a wild ride – funny, intense, and even a little bit scary – and you can tell everyone involved was having a fantastic time pushing boundaries. Honestly, it completely subverts what you expect, and leaves you with a huge grin on your face long after the credits roll. It’s just pure, joyful entertainment.

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman notes that The Housemaid stands out from typical thrillers like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. He describes it as deliberately excessive but smartly done, calling it a “boldly entertaining and surprisingly effective example of postfeminist genre fiction.” He then elaborates on his assessment.

The movie is fascinating because of its increasingly twisted plot. It’s also boosted by Elizabeth Perkins’ witty and cutting portrayal of a difficult mother-in-law. By closely following the popular novel, the film explores the dynamics between men and women in a way that feels both current and like a familiar story – a story Hollywood will likely continue to revisit in thrillers.

Pete Hammond from Deadline describes The Housemaid as “wildly entertaining,” comparing it to Another Simple Favor but with even more over-the-top thrills. He warns you might enjoy it even though it’s completely and unapologetically cheesy. Here’s more from his review:

I was constantly shocked by how bold and terrifying the story became. It consistently subverted expectations, pushing boundaries to the point of being unbelievable – and that’s exactly what it intended. Both the book and the movie thrive on constantly raising the stakes and shifting alliances, making it impossible to settle on a single character to support.

IndieWire’s Kate Erbland wasn’t very enthusiastic about Paul Feig’s latest thriller, though she praised Amanda Seyfried’s performance. According to Erbland, the film doesn’t fully embrace its campy potential, but it should still be a decent option for moviegoers during the holidays. She gave it a C+ rating.

While ‘The Housemaid’ aims to shock and surprise, it’s actually more enjoyable when it embraces how over-the-top it is. The movie truly shines whenever Amanda Seyfried is on screen, but feels less engaging when she’s not. It’s a shame the story wasn’t about a housewife instead.

People are describing this movie as delightfully over-the-top and silly, so expect a fun ride where things don’t necessarily make sense! The Housemaid comes out in theaters on Friday, December 19th.

Read More

2025-12-17 01:40