The Stream: It’s only a couple of notches above a Lifetime movie.

The Big Screen: Exciting plot twists keep you engaged.

The Final Bill: A good suspense thriller that makes good use of its stars and plot twists.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Paul Feig
Writers: Rebecca Sonnenshine based on a novel by Freida McFadden
Stars: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Michele Morrone, Brandon Sklenar, Elizabeth Perkins
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Rating: R for strong/bloody violent content, sexual assault, sexual content, nudity and language.
Runtime: 2 hours 6 minutes
Production Companies: Lionsgate, Hidden Pictures, Pretty Dangerous Pictures, Media Capital Technologies
Platform: In theaters December 19, 2025
Notable Trailers: Send Help, Primate, You, Me and Tuscany, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Hey, Streamers! There are a lot of movies to see this holiday season, and the choices are diverse and varied. For those who have indulged in the glut of page-turning suspense thrillers, maybe you’ve read prolific novelist Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid which has been made into a tout and a bit campy thriller by the guy who brought you A Simple Favor and Bridesmaids. In The Housemaid, Sydney Sweeney plays Millie, a young woman down on her luck, who has applied for a position as a housemaid for a wealthy family, the Winchesters. When Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried), hires Millie for the position, cooking and cleaning turn out to be just the tip of the iceberg for Millie as things in the sprawling mansion aren’t what they seem. Catty suburban housewives and brooding landscaper hijinks ensue.

Paul Feig, who directed The Housemaid, has infused this otherwise by-the-numbers thriller with a wry sense of humor and some unexpected surprises, If you’ve read the novel, you’ll know where this movie is going, obviously; but, even for those who haven’t, if you’ve seen suspense thrillers of this ilk, you can probably guess the storyline. That doesn’t make this movie any less entertaining It seems like Paul Feig has taken the basics of the suspense thriller genre and given it a boost with some campy sensibilities. For instance, both Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney are playing the quirks of their characters to hilt. Seyfried, in particular, is feasting on the villainy of Nina. She’s really engaging and off-putting in a silly way. Sweeney plays that doe-eyed girl with a secret so well. Both Nina and Millie are interesting in a way that elevates this movie beyond the Lifetime-esque tropes of the story.

Ultimately, The Housemaid is a good suspense, thriller that rises above its source material. Both Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney are in their element, and they play well off of each other. This movie is not earthshattering or breaking any new ground, but for entertainment purposes, it hits the spot. Grab a bowl of popcorn for an entertaining matinee at the theater.