'The Housemaid' Movie Review: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar shine in a thriller that could have been great

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone

Director: Paul Feig

Language: English

Sydney Sweeney had been going viral on social media for her gratifying scenes for a while. She is genuinely one of the most stunning actresses in the current era of Hollywood. So when she decides to play a housemaid in a film called The Housemaid, the first question one ought to ask is- Why? And that’s precisely what the owner of the house does. She’s not only overqualified to be the eponymous character but also too breathtaking to do it. But if you have read the novel or seen the trailer, there’s a lot more than what meets our deceived eyes. And when you have a thriller that will unfold inside a house, that abode also needs to blend with the tense narrative and become an integral character. The windows, the walls, the emptiness- All need to play a pivotal role in raising the alarming intensity.

And the second most important element is the eponymous character we just spoke about. And Sweeney seems to be the perfect choice to play this deceptive role. An almost anti-hero that made Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan a star with Darr and Baazigar three decades ago; when he bordered on obsession and indefatigable thirst for revenge. But why does Sweeney do what she does? That’s what The Housemaid is for you. But the thriller is not only about her. A psychotic Amanda Seyfried does a chilling job too and her motivations feel questionable and eerie. She’s not as congenial as she appears and her mental breakdown right in the next scene takes you by surprise.

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What makes a psychological thriller great is how it should seduce you into believing what is supposed to deceive you. For a good 60 minutes, director Paul Feig narrates the story through the lenses of Sweeney’s eyes. He wants us to empathize with what she’s going through. And she forms an intimate relationship and rendezvous with the brooding Brandon Skelnar. But the film drags its feet and feels a little longer than it should have been. However, when the cards are unraveled one after another, the wicked whodunit becomes a juicy viewing.

What works in The Housemaid is how the director blurs the lines between good and evil. There comes a time when you can’t be held accountable for your actions, especially when you are overwhelmed by the sheer unpredictability of life. The film has shades of Sleeping With The Enemy and The Hidden Face. The torture and trauma the central characters are subjected to do make your heart skip a beat. It’s also a film that refuses to fetishize toxicity under the garb of heroism. It’s a film that refuses to reward a psychotic and problematic character for its unpardonable sins. It’s also a film that comes with its share of flaws, especially in the penultimate moments.

It has been an intriguing year for the West as far as thrillers are concerned. We saw the likes of Weapons, The Long Walk, Together, and now The Housemaid. What connects all these monikers together is the desperation for survival. If life serves you lemons, it’s up to you how to use them. Not everyone will make a glass of lemonade and enjoy the drink. At least not in Hollywood movies this year.

Rating: 2.5 (out of 5 stars)