Millie (Sydney Sweeney) gets a job as a housemaid to rich Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and her family. It quickly becomes apparent Nina has a screw or two loose, but Millie sucks it up since she’s on parole and desperately needs a job. Predictably, Millie winds up having an affair with Nina’s husband Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), which really sends her off the rails.
Directed by Paul (Ghostbusters) Feig, The Housemaid is essentially a big budget Lifetime movie set in the Wrong “Insert Occupation Here” mode. Given the fact that Lifetime movies are a guilty pleasure of mine and that Seyfried and Sweeney are two of my favorite actresses working today means I was virtually predestined to check it out.
Seyfried gives a tour de force performance. Her extreme toxic positivity borders on unhinged and once she actually becomes unhinged, it’s truly a sight to see. She especially shines during the longish flashback sequence which shows how she met her husband. Sweeney downplays her sexpot rep and delivers a fine performance playing a demurer version of her typical persona. (Although she is given a big-time glow-up whenever the plot requires.) I also got a kick out of Elizabeth Perkins as Sklenar’s bitchy mom.
The movie is often smarter and even funnier than it really needed to be, which is appreciated. Seyfried gets a particularly hilarious line when she meets Sweeney for the first time and offers her some charcuterie: “Is it too early in the morning for meat and cheese?” I also dug the bit where Sweeney and the Skelnar bonded while watching Family Feud. Speaking of which, there is a lot of chemistry between Sweeney and Skelnar. While their obligatory sex scene is tastefully done, it still manages to titillate.
This is a first-rate popcorn thriller through and through. The twist that occurs about two-thirds into the flick is pretty good too. Heck, it even takes a turn into torture porn territory by the end, which helps to up the ante. When it comes to delivering thrills, The Housemaid cleans up.
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