Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: 3/17/2026
Rating: R
Film Grade: C+
The Story: Nina is a busy stay at home mom but needs some help around the expansive house she shares with husband Andrew and daughter Cece. Enter Millie, a young woman who could really use a break. Even with a resume packed with sparkling references and experience, it’s still a longshot. But fate smiles upon her and she gets the call she’s been waiting for. Even as she starts her dream job, there are indications that it may not be as idyllic as presented.
My Take: The movie is based on the popular book by author Freida McFadden, which I have not read. The extras delve into the differences, which include an altered ending and other less impactful changes.
The film is akin to an old gothic thriller, updated for a modern age. I’m going to step around some of the plot here to avoid any spoilers, since much of the fun revolves around the various twists and turns, of which there are many. Yes, you’ll be able to guess some of them just based on the setup, but it’s unlikely you’ll pick up on all of them.
The first two acts of the movie do an excellent job of creating suspense and mystery as Millie notices various oddities right after taking the job, tipping her and the audience that something’s not quite right. Along the way, there’s an exploration of how the rich and poor interact, along with a particularly fun scene between some catty housewives filled with delightfully snarky dialog. The story builds steadily during this time, keeping the viewer actively engaged while trying to unravel the mystery that lies within.
Then the third act hits. And, like so many examples of the genre, it tries to outdo itself, while also going on for a bit too long. Some of this works well, as there are unexpected twists that add drama and tension. The biggest issue is that the reveal doesn’t follow from what we see in previous events, causing the critical viewer to question prior actions. It’s a situation where things happen to advance the plot and themes rather than coming out of a character’s natural motivations. The secondary effect is that it unwittingly counters some of the movie’s primary themes. That’s unfortunate, because the setup is well above average for the genre.
Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Heat, Ghostbusters) directs the film with a good flair for holding the audience’s attention. Given his background, you might think that it might stray into comedy, but he has the cast playing thing straight. There are some humorous lines, but they serve the plot rather than distract from it. Amanda Seyfried gives the best performance from the main cast, giving nuance to the seemingly high-strung role of Nina that slowly reveals some unexpected depth. Sydney Sweeney plays Millie, and while some may look at her casting with a cynical eye, there’s a legitimate reason for her being the perfect choice. The role of Andrew goes to Brandon Sklenar, and he’s fine in the movie, but the part itself could have used additional development.
Visuals: Cinematography was handled by John Schwartzman (Jurassic World, Seabiscuit, Pearl Harbor, Benny & Joon) using a full-frame 8K camera that was later cropped to 2.39:1. Much of the movie was shot inside an actual home, with some rooms being recreated in the studio. It brings the house’s carefully appointed interiors to life, with rich, vibrant colors and balanced lighting. Contrast and black levels are well rendered, and skin tones look natural. While normies may be impressed by the AV tech and setting of the red velvet encased man cave, members here will be disappointed considering the value of the house itself. All in all, this is a great looking movie.
Audio: As usual, Lionsgate includes the Atmos soundtrack on the Blu-ray as well as the 4K disc, a practice I’d like to see all of the studios follow. While the film does pass the bird test (extensively in one of the final scenes), the overall sound is front heavy, with some supplemental work being done by the sides and rears, and even less by the wides and tops. The overhead speakers are mostly used for the score, with the wides hardly being used at all. This isn’t a heavy action movie, so there isn’t much call for heavy directional cues, but it could have benefitted with more ambiance for things like wind noise, upper floor footsteps, and environmental sounds. Dialog is clear, other than some of Sweeny’s lines, but that’s due to her occasional lack of enunciation rather than any technical shortcoming.
The film opens vibrantly with the pop song “take me as i am”, featuring some good, tight bass. As Millie starts her new job, the score by frequent Feig collaborator, Theodore Shapiro, begins with joyful, plucky strings creating a warm and carefree feeling. As the movie gets deeper into the story, the score adds mysterious elements, eventually transitioning to more ominous undertones. One distinctive feature is adding a female soloist’s vocalizations, punctuating the emotional undercurrent of specific scenes. Her voice often resonates through all the speakers, opening up the soundstage.
Special Features: There are two different commentary tracks, the second of which may feature the largest assembly I’ve ever listened to. There’s a total of 11(!) participants. The Paul Feig track is a bit egocentric, while the latter offers more perspectives on the film, including a minor correction to one of Feig’s anecdotes. It also delves into some of the more important differences between the novel and the movie. One change was done purely to adapt the story to a visual medium but feels out of place with a character’s personality. Another was how the actual script was altered to take advantage of one of the house’s architectural features. While some of the extras feel more like promo materials, they’re well-balanced with insight into the making of the movie. The deleted scenes were better left on the cutting room floor.
- Audio Commentary with Director Paul Feig
- Audio Commentary with Director Paul Feig and Creative Team
- From Page to Panic: Making the Housemaid: Follow the filmmakers behind this new and exciting thriller as they explain the creative process from the book to the big screen.
- Secrets of the Winchester House: A Housemaid Tour: Take a tour around the iconic house of the film and discover all the intricate details that played an important part in turning this house into another character.
- “A Peek Inside” Featurette: Enjoy this small glimpse of what makes this film an unforgettable experience for the filmmakers and audiences worldwide.
- Deleted Scenes
Final Verdict: The Housemaid is a slightly above average thriller that did remarkably well at the box office. And it showed enough potential to warrant the announced sequel, which I’ll be interested in checking out. While most modern movies of this type emphasize excessive violence over mind games, this bucks that trend. Since the ending doesn’t exactly play fair with the earlier events and motivations, it’s best enjoyed by letting the story simply unfold rather than trying to guess where it’s going.
It’s an easy recommendation for those looking for a movie with solid performances and some surprising twists. Fans of either Seyfried or Sweeney will find even more to appreciate from it.
The Housemaid arrives on 4K UHD, Blu-ray™, and DVD beginning March 17, 2026.
Fun Dialog: "Juice is a privilege. Not something you drink out of a dirty glass."
The preview shows a lot, but is relatively light on spoilers, so I’d consider it a good guide as to whether or not you’d like the movie.
This review was written by a human without the use of AI.My Review System:JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup
0 Replies
450 Views