Thrillers rank high on my watch list, second only to horror. Through casual browsing and keeping an ear to the ground, I came across a 2025 thriller titled “The Housemaid”—a film with an unassuming name that delivers a surprisingly forceful punch when it comes to entertainment.
A Girl and A Goal
“The Housemaid” follows a young woman desperate for redemption, searching for a chance to move forward and distance herself from a deeply troubled past. That opportunity arrives in the form of a job listing for a live-in housemaid. What initially appears to be a straightforward second chance quickly unravels into something far more twisted, culminating in a redemptive arc few viewers will anticipate. That narrative turn is precisely what makes the film such a well-constructed thriller.
Portrait of a Thriller
As No Film School defines it, a thriller is characterized by the emotions it evokes—suspense, unease, and mounting anxiety. Often, the protagonist becomes increasingly isolated from those they once trusted, forced into a new worldview shaped by betrayal and survival. “The Housemaid” adheres to this framework almost point for point.
The Framework
The setup is efficient and purposeful. We are introduced to the protagonist and quickly grasp her immediate objective, along with how she intends to achieve it. Within minutes, the stakes are made clear—she needs this opportunity desperately. While only part of her larger story is revealed at first, her circumstances alone give those stakes significant weight.
Not long after, the opposition comes into focus, sharpening the viewer’s desire to see the protagonist succeed. Where the film truly excels, however, is in its use of twists. At a certain point, the protagonist’s own actions complicate our emotional investment, pulling it back just enough to force reconsideration. This shift does not erase the audience’s disdain for the original antagonist; instead, it reframes the moral landscape. The midpoint and climax escalate the tension further, pushing the story into genuinely shocking territory. By the end, emotional allegiances have shifted, and the payoff is substantial. The conclusion is both satisfying and resonant, with character growth that lingers and a “new normal” that feels earned.
Decadent and Dark
“The Housemaid” is a dramatic thriller with a runtime of 131 minutes, directed by Paul Feig. The cast is equally compelling, with Sydney Sweeney starring as Millie Calloway and Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester. The film unfolds like a perfectly layered cake—each slice richer and more decadent than the last. If there is an apt comparison, it is “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle”—turned up several notches.
Uncut Diamonds 