Amanda Seyfried is the ultimate nightmare boss in the intense psychological thriller ‘The Housemaid'.
Directed by Paul Feig and based on the best-selling novel by Freida McFadden, ‘The Housemaid’ plunges audiences into a menacing, at times uncomfortable world full of twists and turns, where nothing is as it seems and sinister secrets lay buried under a façade of wealth and perfection.
The film follows Millie, a struggling young woman who takes a job as a live-in housemaid for the affluent Nina and Andrew Winchester. But Millie’s dreams of a fresh start soon devolve into a nightmare when she finds herself locked in a dangerous game where secrets have the power to destroy lives and every move could lead to her downfall.
Sydney Sweeney delivers a terse, often impassive performance as Millie, painting a picture of a cold and distant young woman who is always on guard. While initially hard to connect with, Millie’s hidden strength and courage become admirable qualities as the story unfolds and Sweeney’s emotionally charged performance will (at times) have viewers on the edge of their seats.
With more mood swings than outfit changes, highly-strung Nina is a far cry from the cheerful characters Amanda Seyfried (‘Mamma Mia,’ ‘Mean Girls’) is known for and the actress is clearly relishing the opportunity to embrace a darker role. Her disturbingly unhinged performance perfectly captures the emotional complexity of the character and her ability to go from calm to hysterical in the blink of an eye is unnerving. Nina is a hard character to tolerate and Seyfried’s stone-faced expressions and unsettling smile do little to improve her character's menacing vibe; yet there is a hidden vulnerability to Nina and the fleeting moments when that shines through are heartbreaking to watch.
The chemistry between Sweeney and Seyfried is electric and their ability to react to each other’s emotional state adds a real sense of authenticity to the friction between their characters. Brandon Sklenar is equally impressive as Nina’s enigmatic husband Andrew and audiences are in for a treat every time these three share the screen. Elizabeth Perkins stars as Andrew’s frosty mother Mrs Winchester, while Michele Morrone is at times downright creepy as the Winchester’s sullen groundskeeper Enzo.
An expertly crafted script weaves together themes of love, seduction, sacrifice and manipulation into a twisted tale where each new clue takes you further from the truth, and it is almost impossible to describe this film without giving something away.
Filled with charismatic characters, ‘The Housemaid’ has an undercurrent of unease which settles over the audience, creating a palpable sense of tension that carries through until the film’s final shocking moments, and as someone who has not read the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
