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Sydney SweeneyAmanda Seyfried Thriller The Housemaid Debuts to Lukewarm Reviews

Reviewers cite a faithful lift from the viral novel that favors melodrama over sharper storytelling.

Overview

  • The 2025 U.S. adaptation, directed by Paul Feig from Rebecca Sonnenshine’s script, opened in cinemas on January 1 with distribution by BF París.
  • Based on Freida McFadden’s bestseller, the film follows Millie, a young woman with a troubled past who takes a live-in job with the wealthy Winchester family.
  • Critics describe the movie as predictable and overlong at 131 minutes, leaning on erotic-thriller tropes and gendered violence without deeper commentary.
  • Reviews note selective changes from the book—shifting character emphasis and opting for a more explicit finale—while largely preserving the novel’s structure.
  • The release carries a 16-plus rating and features a soundtrack cue noted as a Taylor Swift song, and coverage flags potential sequel prospects given additional books in the series.