When Millie (Sydney Sweeney) finds a job as a housemaid for an affluent couple she thinks all of her problems are solved. But her boss Nina (Amanda Seyfried) very quickly starts to behave erratically whilst her husband Andrew (Brandon Sklenar) may be getting just a little too friendly with her. 

The Housemaid is based on a 2022 novel by Freida McFadden and is a largely faithful adaptation. The film is directed by Paul Feig whose feature films are led by strong female characters with the biggest touchstone for what you can expect here being A Simple Favour and its sequel Another Simple Favour. Because this is again set in the world of an affluent couple whose secrets provide a rather trashy but fun thriller. 

In fact The Housemaid feels very much a 1990s’ thriller. It bristles with sexual tension, is unafraid to highlight its stars’ physical attributes and turns into a rather frantic and bloody race for survival at its end. 

As far as performances go it is Amanda Seyfried who seems to have got the memo on what is required the most. Her dramatic outbursts and breakdowns create the most fun as the story unfolds. Brandon Sklenar and Sydney Sweeney both ensure their physiques are used to the utmost whilst looking wistfully at each other around Seyfried’s chaos. 

The result is a good, but not great thriller. You will certainly be ahead of the characters in understanding what is happening here and may feel that the 131 minute runtime is a little excessive. But whilst it may take a little too long to get there the finale is definitely worth it.