“The Housemaid” follows a woman who becomes a live-in maid for a wealthy couple that harbors sinister secrets. It is an adaptation of Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel of the same name.
If you’re looking for twists and turns, then “The Housemaid” is for you. If you’re seeking something meaningful, you might want to look away. Because this isn’t that… at all.
Too Many Tones, Not Enough Control
Dialogue is not a strong suit for “The Housemaid.” This is in part due to the script, but also the performances – or maybe just a specific one.
Sydney Sweeney has been good in other roles like “Immaculate” and “Anyone But You.” Here, not so much. From start to finish, Sweeney’s delivery feels flat.
The film puts an abundance of pressure on Sweeney, who stars in and narrates large sections of the movie. While she succeeds in moments, “The Housemaid” ultimately asks too much of her.
The constant tonal changes are somewhat to blame. With shocking twists also comes a never-ending array of moods. One second, “The Housemaid” is a drama. The next, it’s a romance. Suddenly it becomes a thriller. Only to mix comedy into some of its most intense moments.
Because of this, the film struggles with its identity. Each minute, it seems like “The Housemaid” is attempting to be something different. It’s bold in this way. It also doesn’t necessarily work.
This also causes pacing issues, especially with the 131-minute runtime.
Despite Sweeney’s limitations, the other performers add life to “The Housemaid.”
Amanda Seyfried (Nina Winchester) goes all out, bringing every emotion to the screen. One second she has a friendly face before diving into full insanity the next. She does all of this while making the reactions feel real.
Brandon Sklenar (Andrew Winchester) delivers another charming – or maybe not so charming – performance. Coming off of “Drop,” this is another fun role for Sklenar. He provides a charismatic presence but is also able to turn things up a notch when required.
Trashy Fun First, Meaning Second
“The Housemaid” tackles themes of abuse, manipulation and female empowerment. Despite mostly ringing hollow, there are enough moments of impact to give the film some weight.
Ultimately, however, “The Housemaid” is more focused on being trashy fun.
Director Paul Feig injects enough style to keep it from being overly dull. Though, the editing sometimes feels more like a Hallmark movie than a high-budget thriller.
“The Housemaid” is an unfocused film disguised in twists and turns. Plagued by inconsistent performances, pacing issues and constant tonal changes, it’s not able to translate its words to the screen.
Rating: 2 out of 5
