As Taylor Swift’s “I Did Something Bad” blasted over the end credits, I was left in shock. I wasn’t just shocked by how gruesome the movie was, but also by how different “The Housemaid” had been from what I expected. In addition to delivering on being a provocative thriller, it focused much more about the intricacies of domestic violence than I had expected.
“The Housemaid” is based off of the best-selling psychological thriller, written by Freida McFadden. The movie received criticism for missing scenes from the original book, and for containing a lack of character development, but has been applauded for its thrills, performances and plot twists (which was one of the highlights of the original novel). The film follows Millie (Sydney Sweeney) as she works as a live-in maid for the wealthy Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew (Brandon Sklendel) Winchester, unknowingly walking into a web of dark secrets.
Amanda Seyfried delivered a stand-out performance. As soon as I saw her on the screen, I picked up on how her unsettling eyes revealed that Nina was hiding something. Yet, as her past and true intentions were revealed, her portrayal shifted to charming and gentle. Looking back at Seyfried’s past roles such as “Mamma Mia!” and “Mean Girls,” she has not had much experience playing someone ‘insane.’ Despite this, she truly convinced the audience, along with Andrew and Millie, of her instability in the first half of the movie.
The film itself was slow to start, with Sweeney performing a frankly tired role. Her monotone voice and lack of expression made it difficult to remain present with her character. However, she got to shine in the second half of the movie. Sweeney became well-known playing Cassie on “Euphoria,” an emotional, and borderline psychotic character, similar to her role as Millie. Her experience playing these types of characters, while they may be repetitive, has given her the experience needed to present a startling and realistic performance.
Other than eerie tunes meant to keep me on the edge of my seat, the soundtrack consisted mostly of women’s pop songs. Listening to Renee Rapp, Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Kelly Clarkson’s hits, I felt a sense of satisfaction. No, these songs didn’t really fit in with the scene. But yes, I do want to see two powerful women punching their abuser’s throat to a powerful feminist anthem like “Since U Been Gone.”
The glossy production of pop music distracted the audience from the dark themes of the movie. It makes everything seem polished and commercial, similar to the director’s use of color. The Winchester’s house was almost entirely painted white, as was Nina’s wardrobe. It symbolized how perfection is an illusion, and one’s initial views of something may not be correct.
Director Paul Feig is known for his comedies such as “Bridesmaids” and “A Simple Favor,” leading me into the theater expecting something light. And I was only partially correct. While much of the film followed the regular “popcorn thriller” outline, it also successfully covered much heavier topics.
Sweeney is an actress who is often sexualized, whether it is her intention or not. The director’s choice to include a prolonged nude scene between Millie and Andrew sparked conversations debating whether it was a cash-grab, or if it genuinely contributed to the plot. I believe the scene was long and unnecessary, however, it was intentional and added perspective to the film. The theater was supposed to feel the same exhilaration and bliss as Millie did in that moment, so we could feel the same betrayal later on.
The messages incorporated throughout “The Housemaid” were much more compelling than the movie itself. You never know what happens behind closed doors, just as Millie had no idea about Nina’s past with Andrew. Each character’s early misconceptions about Nina furthered the movie’s commentary on how society tends to quickly police women’s behavior before learning the full context.
“The Housemaid” is a movie about domestic violence and manipulation. While the unexpected plot twists, thrill, and flipping of the script brought entertainment to the film, it also concealed a lot of the important messages implemented throughout. In the theater, I gained awareness of the many complexities of abuse, but it was difficult to focus on those ideas due to the craziness within the storyline. “The Housemaid” was a great watch, but left me wanting just a little bit more.
