You might just be reading a review of one of the best movies Sydney Sweeney has starred in for a long time. The Housemaid, released theatrically by Lionsgate on December 19, 2025, proves to be much more than your typical thriller. Directed by Paul Feig and based on the bestselling book The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, this film holds deep psychological twists and a darkness that reminds us that perfection is rarely what it seems.
The Housemaid boasts a euphoric screenplay written by Rebecca Sonnenshine. Furthermore, it features an array of talented cast members like Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, and Sydney Sweeney. They all play indispensable roles in bringing this gripping story to life.
This movie holds a touch of everything: necessary romance, inevitable betrayal, and a narrative spiraling into the deepest, darkest psychological twist I never saw coming. This review contains no spoilers. Instead, it will hold your hand to ensure you make the right choice when picking a movie to see this weekend.
Premise
The story kicks off with a cozy interview involving Millie Calloway. Nina Winchester interviews her, expressing an urgent need for a live-in maid. However, the house looks so flawlessly clean that Millie wonders why Nina needs help at all. You will find out in due time. After the interview at the Winchester mansion in Great Neck, Long Island, Millie feels certain the job is too good to be true. Considering her prison record, she fears Nina will look her up and refuse to hire an ex-con.
Millie desperately needs this job. It is the only thing stopping her parole officer from putting her on the next bus straight back to prison. Fortunately, she gets the position. Nina calls a couple of days later, asking her to start immediately. When Millie arrives, Nina gives a quick house tour. Despite all the classy rooms available, Nina assigns Millie the attic room. Millie doesn’t take it to heart; after all, she saves a fortune on rent.
Soon after, Millie realizes Nina is not totally sane. She forgets things easily and loses her mind when her memory fails her. This development startles Millie, but not enough to scare her off just yet.
In the Winchester family, the only person who seems to fully accept Millie is Nina’s husband, Andrew. His presence makes Millie feel safe, and Nina feels understood, making him the peacemaker everyone needs. Everything seems fine until Millie’s fear begins to grow. Nina asks her to pick up their daughter, Cece, from ballet class. However, when Millie arrives, Cece is already leaving for a sleepover. When Millie calls to confirm, Nina frantically denies ever giving such an instruction. Crazy, right?
It doesn’t end there. Millie discovers from another maid at Cece’s school that Nina has been in and out of a psych ward for trying to drown Cece when she was little. She also learns that Nina’s friends never really liked her. Instead, they all adore Andrew for his tenacity in putting up with her, especially since she cannot give him biological children.
As Millie begins to unravel mentally, Cece catches her frantically begging for another job over the phone. Words must have reached the host because Nina apologizes for the trouble. She encourages Millie to take the weekend off but asks for one favor: to make a reservation for her and Andrew to see his favorite Broadway musical, The Showdown. Millie complies. Yet, just as she prepares to leave for the weekend, Nina goes bonkers. She scolds Millie for booking such an expensive, non-refundable concert and threatens to make Millie pay for the losses.
Millie begs, knowing it would cost a fortune she doesn’t have. Just then, Andrew arrives like a knight in shining armor to save Millie from the debt. He urges her to take the tickets and enjoy the experience with her significant other. When Millie admits she has no one to go with, an intrigued Andrew decides to accompany her. That is where everything goes dark and crazy. Speaking further would violate my no-spoiler promise, so you must see for yourself how one job can alter a life completely.
Cast and Performances
Sydney Sweeney as Millie Calloway
Since The Housemaid features a small cast, it gave me ample time to study the characters. Sydney plays Millie, an ex-con charged with murder but convicted of manslaughter. After spending 10 years in prison, she faces something far worse than a cell. Sweeney plays Millie well. She delivers the same captivating performance where she lets her eyes do the acting. The storyline fits those big, expressive eyes perfectly.
Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester
Amanda is divine in this movie. She plays a woman battling fears and hidden traumas that make her spiral into something awful. The stress in her eyes and the bruises look too flawless to ignore. Despite all that, she remains a sweet, loving mother to Cece. Everything she does, she does to give her child a better future, even if it costs her everything. Nina is one character who will make you yell “GENIUS!” as the plot unfolds.
Brandon Sklenar as Andrew Winchester
Remember sweet Henry Campbell from Drop? The guy we were all drooling over? He plays Andrew Winchester, and I was excited to see his character reveal. Brandon plays the sweet, loving husband every woman knows and loves, except the one he married. He possesses a Hollywood charm that makes you swear he can do no wrong. He embodies a god complex; the urge to save someone never really lets him think, even if it means taking unorthodox measures. Andrew is the character who will leave your jaw on the floor.
Michele Morrone as Enzo Accardi
Michele plays Enzo, the handyman who truly comes in handy. Initially, I didn’t understand the need for his character. But when I noticed the soul-snatching glare Nina gave him when he tried to talk to Millie, I knew Enzo handled more than just gardens. You will understand his importance as The Housemaid unfolds.
What I Liked
The Housemaid thriller entertained me wildly. Despite the two-hour runtime, the movie makes sense every step of the way. The director uses the first hour to set the pace, while the second hour executes the plot, showing us how girls get the job done. While I don’t support the specific actions taken, I certainly admire the spirit behind them.
This movie holds thoughtful lessons. One that literally stamped itself in my head is that the true villain is often the one who tells the story. They paint others black while you view them as the victim, wondering why they remain so strong. Everyone talks about plot twists, but The Housemaid delivers one of the best I have seen in a while. I honestly wish I had reviewed this sooner; it would have made the top ten in my Best Hollywood Movies of 2025 list.
I am not usually a big fan of intimate scenes in movies, but here, it felt necessary. It acted as a tool used perfectly. After that scene, the characters share their best moments, and the movie comes together in the best way possible.
What I Didn’t Like
The Housemaid left me with almost nothing to hate. I maintain my cliché excuse whenever I see a movie I love: I only wish it got the hype it deserves. My social media feeds should be swarming with edits and reviews, but I see nothing. Perhaps the recognition it deserves will find it later.
Verdict
For all it is worth, The Housemaid stands as good as it gets, and the low recognition is undeserved. This movie embodies elements of American Psycho because you will certainly find psychos here.
Due to its strong themes and graphic scenes, I highly advise against seeing it with kids. This movie is best enjoyed in the company of a lover or friends who enjoy gore and hot billionaire romance.
My Rating
The Housemaid earns an encapsulating 4 out of 5 stars
Have you seen The Housemaid, and what was your reaction to that plot twist?
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