A seemingly perfect offer arrives for Millie Calloway: a live-in nanny position with the wealthy Winchester family. Desperate and living out of her car, she accepts, despite a shadowed past that raises immediate questions. The interview itself is unsettling – Nina Winchester, the expectant mother, quickly shares a secret she then demands Millie keep hidden from her husband.
The Winchester estate feels less like a haven and more like a gilded cage. Millie is shown to a remote attic bedroom, a space offered with unsettling enthusiasm – complete with a locked door and a sealed window. Nina’s generosity feels…off. A parade of red flags begins to wave, each more alarming than the last, hinting at a darkness beneath the polished surface of this seemingly idyllic family.
Amanda Seyfried delivers a truly captivating performance as Nina Winchester, a woman expertly masking a volatile interior. She portrays a brittle, paranoid housewife with a chillingly sweet smile, a performance that elevates the entire film. This role marks a striking departure from her earlier work, solidifying her as a force to be reckoned with.
Sydney Sweeney embodies Millie, a character shrouded in mystery. While her performance is solid, the role initially limits her range, presenting Millie as an enigma with carefully guarded secrets. The narrative relies on her as an unreliable narrator, leaving Sweeney to navigate a character defined by what she *doesn’t* reveal.
The film doesn’t shy away from its pulpy roots, leaning into a heightened sense of drama. It playfully acknowledges its own tropes, even pausing to allow the audience a knowing glance when a particularly obvious foreshadowing appears. This self-awareness adds a layer of dark humor to the unfolding events.
As the story progresses, the film’s focus on appearance becomes increasingly pronounced. Millie’s looks are repeatedly commented upon, and her clothing choices are scrutinized, bordering on the absurd. This emphasis feels deliberate, a knowing wink at the cliché of the alluring nanny and a commentary on societal expectations.
The tension steadily builds, culminating in a surprisingly violent and shocking climax. The film doesn’t flinch from graphic scenes, forcing a confrontation with the unsettling realities hidden within the Winchester’s privileged world. Prepare to be disturbed – and to question the true meaning of privilege.
While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of classic 90s thrillers, *The Housemaid* delivers a compelling and entertaining experience. It’s a stylish, darkly humorous ride, anchored by Seyfried’s mesmerizing performance and a willingness to embrace its own inherent campiness. It’s a film that knows exactly what it is, and delivers on that promise.
