The Housemaid Parent Guide

Allow me to settle something right off the bat: no child should ever see The Housemaid. It is a very frightening, violent, adult-themed film.

That said, it’s also a wickedly fun thrill-a-minute movie for which it might be worth hiring a sitter (if the negative content doesn’t turn you off).

Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is hired as a housemaid for a wealthy, picture-perfect family but it doesn’t take long before Millie realizes that Nina (Amanda Seyfried), the mother of the family, is quite unhinged. Brandon Sklenar plays Andrew, Nina’s long-suffering husband, adored by all the women of the neighbourhood. Seriously in need of steady employment, Millie endures the frantic, manic energy that Nina can dish out. (I assume it was very cathartic for Ms. Seyfried to throw and smash and scream as much as she did while acting the part of Nina.)

Nina tries desperately to create an image of perfection but constantly falls short and sinks into self-loathing. She uses deception and manipulation to blame her failings on Millie, but can’t fool her husband. He’s the one whose approval she most craves, but he knows how fragile she really is. It soon becomes clear that everyone in the house has dark secrets to hide. In fact, the house itself holds secrets and is more a character than a setting for The Housekeeper.

The film has many gasp-worthy twists and turns, keeping viewers guessing right to the bitter end. What isn’t a surprise, given the ratings and genre, is the level of negative content in the film. The Housemaid is rightly rated Restricted, due to extensive profanity (with widespread use of sexual expletives), prescription drug misuse, graphic sexual content (including explicit nudity and attempted rape), and pervasive, bloody violence. This is not a film for the squeamish or faint of heart, although it will appeal to adrenaline junkies who want a movie with a twist.

Rebecca Sonnenshine’s screenplay is based on a book of the same name by Freida McFadden. The Housekeeper is the first in a very popular series of three books, so stay tuned to see whether or not there are two movies to follow, as well.