Review of The Housemaid: The Film That Subverts the Female Rivalry Cliché

The Housemaid is an American psychological thriller with its official worldwide release scheduled for January 1, 2026. Advance ticket sales began on December 19, 2025, and the film is distributed by Lionsgate.

The film is based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, which became a global literary phenomenon. It is directed by Paul Feig, best known for Bridesmaids, with a screenplay by Rebecca Sonnenshine.

The feature film is executive produced by its leading actresses, Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. One of the major highlights of the marketing campaign was the use of the song Please, Please, Please by Sabrina Carpenter in the official trailer, which significantly boosted engagement on social media.

Director Paul Feig confirmed that the film features an original ending that differs from the book, a change fully approved by the author.

The cast includes Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, and Elizabeth Perkins.

Synopsis

Millie is a young woman who, while trying to rebuild her life after being released from prison, accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Winchester family.

She soon realizes that the household dynamic is deeply unsettling. Nina seems determined to make her life miserable, while Andrew appears to be the only kind person in the house. As Millie grows closer to Andrew, she discovers that the secrets hidden within the mansion are far more dangerous than her own.

Official Trailer

The bestseller written by American author Freida McFadden was originally released in April 2022 and quickly became one of the biggest commercial and critical successes in contemporary psychological thriller fiction.

The story follows Millie, a woman with a dark past who, after struggling to find work, accepts a job as a housemaid for the wealthy Winchester family. What initially seems like a chance for a fresh start soon turns into a dangerous psychological game, filled with twists that challenge who the real victim inside that house truly is.

The book’s success was overwhelming. It remained on The New York Times and Amazon bestseller lists for months, largely driven by TikTok, where it accumulated millions of mentions.

Praised for its fast pace and gripping cliffhangers that keep readers hooked until the final page, the novel cemented McFadden as a master of modern suspense. The author later released sequels to the original book: The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching.

The film adaptation of The Housemaid preserves the tense atmosphere that defines the bestseller. However, it introduces strategic script changes to heighten its cinematic impact.

The Climax

The film replaces Andrew’s dark and psychological fate in the book, a slow death in the attic, with a much faster-paced climax that culminates in a direct physical confrontation with the protagonists.

Enzo’s Role

The gardener’s importance is reduced on screen. In the book, he plays a key role in Nina’s escape plan, while in the film his participation is simplified.

Character Expansion

While the book keeps Andrew’s mother mostly in the background, the film brings her to the forefront. Her physical presence in the story is strategic, serving as the key to explaining the traumas and past experiences that shaped the villain.

Style of Abuse

The film replaces the book’s prolonged psychological torture with more graphic and immediate scenes of violence, aiming to establish Andrew as a clearly dangerous antagonist.

Narrative Pacing

Nina’s manipulative actions are condensed in the film version, accelerating the transition between plot twists compared to the book’s slower development.

The film The Housemaid goes beyond a simple domestic thriller. It dives into the “house secret,” revealing how isolation and the invisibility of the private sphere fuel a cycle of physical and psychological abuse. The story accurately illustrates the Cycle of Violence, in which tension and explosive episodes are followed by so-called honeymoon phases, used by the abuser to maintain absolute control. Unfortunately, this fiction mirrors a brutal reality that affects millions of households beyond the screen.

The Scenario in Numbers: the World

Domestic violence is a global humanitarian crisis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about one in three women worldwide, roughly 30 percent, have experienced physical or sexual violence. This represents nearly 736 million women. In the context of femicide, the situation is devastating. Globally, more than five women or girls are killed every hour by members of their own family.

Where to Seek Help

Breaking the silence is often the hardest and most dangerous step. If you or someone you know is living in an abusive situation, there are established support networks available.

USA: National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.

Portugal: Domestic Violence Victim Information Service. Call 800 202 148 or send an SMS to 3060.

European Union: The number 112 works for emergencies in any EU member country.

The adaptation of The Housemaid surprised me with how effectively it translated the psychological magnetism that kept me hooked while reading Freida McFadden’s book. What stood out most was how the film uses the domestic setting, that immaculate house that looks like a luxury catalog, to build a true arena of survival. It feels claustrophobic and fascinating at the same time.

The heart of the film lies in its cast, with Sydney Sweeney delivering a spot-on portrayal of Millie. You can feel her vulnerability, yet there is something in her gaze that hints at a restrained strength ready to erupt.

Amanda Seyfried is outstanding as Nina Winchester. She moves effortlessly between sophistication and instability, keeping me constantly trying to decipher who she really is. The chemistry between the two is what drives the drama, creating an uneasy feeling of not knowing whether to feel fear or curiosity.

The film made me reflect on sisterhood and how far it can go. You expect the familiar cliché of female rivalry, the employer versus the maid, and a possible clash between them. Instead, the story unfolds in a far more intelligent way, showing how abuse and isolation can create unexpected bonds.

When Andrew enters the scene, flaunting the superficial charm that attracts so many women, he becomes the catalyst that pushes them away from judgment and closer to empathy.

Andrew manipulates not only the women in the story but also the audience, using the mask of a charismatic and seemingly perfect man to hide his deeply rooted misogyny, treating everyone as disposable. This made me think deeply about human limits and how far we are capable of going to escape suffering that feels endless.

The major turning point comes with the realization that when the system fails and there is no one left to turn to, the alliance between Millie and Nina becomes a matter of life or death. It is no longer about being kind, but about pure and brutal survival.

In a world that constantly tries to silence women, true freedom is born from this desperate alliance. It is a breathless thriller that left me reflecting on the real weight of one woman protecting another.

The reception of The Housemaid has been mostly positive, especially as an entertaining thriller, although it has divided opinion among the most devoted readers of the original book.

Rotten Tomatoes: 75 percent approval based on 116 critic reviews and 92 percent approval from more than 500 audience ratings.

IMDb: 6.8 out of 10 from 1.5 thousand ratings.

Letterboxd: 3.2 out of 5 stars from 20 thousand ratings.

CinemaScore: B rating from audiences at the end of screenings.

If you are looking for a fast-paced and visceral thriller, The Housemaid is a must-watch. The film shines through the impeccable duel between Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, turning a luxurious domestic setting into a claustrophobic arena of survival.

The film’s greatest strength lies in subverting female rivalry in favor of a necessary sisterhood against male manipulation. Whether through the impact of its graphic scenes or its original ending that expands Freida McFadden’s universe, the movie delivers.

It offers high-tension entertainment that feels complete and impactful, making it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a thriller that balances social reflection with the pure pleasure of suspense.

See you next time!