The Housemaid Review: A twisty, tense, terrific thrill-ride

I was thankfully able to catch The Housemaid just before it left my local theater. It was a film I was excited for because of the glowing reviews from some of my favorite film critics, particularly Sean Chandler and Cody Leach. Yet, I simply couldn't find a good time to check it out in December or January. And, when I finally did, it completely blew me away; that's what I'll be discussing in today's Reel Ranker review.

I usually start with the negatives in my reviews, but I've got no notes. This film had no problems for me. While some do criticize some of the performances in this film, I believe that just because Amanda Seyfried delivered a phenomenal, Oscar-worthy performance doesn't mean her co-stars can't act well. I thought Sydney Sweeney and Brandon Skelnar both did a great job; it's just that their characters were more grounded. And, no, I don't say that because they're attractive, because the only person I find sexy is my girl, and none other. It's ridiculous that we're in a world of "since X was great, Y sucked." I thought Sweeney did a solid enough job that I'm quite excited to see her back for the sequel, because she's a hardcore girl-boss and I love it.

Anyway, Amanda Seyfried was an incredible choice for the character of Nina, and in a movie full of amazing elements, she was the VIP. She was unbelievably good at portraying her character as somebody nuanced, both parts truly scary in the first half and relatably broken in the second. The shift of character dynamics and the audience's ever-changing understanding of the film's events is probably my favorite part of the film, as it kept me guessing what was going on. While I eventually cracked the code before the reveal, it was still an incredibly satisfying reveal that understood the weight of its significance, not rushing through it or stretching it too thin.

While The Housemaid relies on character moments and suspense over plot elements for the first 60% or so of the film, it's made stronger through that choice of direction. In a sense, it's a slow-burn story, but it certainly doesn't feel like a slow-burn on a scene-to-scene basis. Finding out more about the characters and the diabolically dark twists that those character reveals lead to makes the film so much stronger. If the characters weren't deeply interesting, this film would've crumbled, but thankfully, that's not the case.

Another thing I truly appreciated about The Housemaid is that it is a girl-power film done right; it doesn't preach to the audience in an attempt to bring all men down, as many influencers and media on the Internet do these days. Instead, it only brings down the man who deserves it. I'm sick of the whole misandrist men-hating movement in the world, where everybody says "all men are horrible rapists" or "men can't take care of children," and the hundreds of other endless derogatory, overtly generalized statements that plague the Internet. I hate bad men as much as everyone else does, but I also love a good film that conveys girl power in a way that still lifts up good men like Enzo. While Enzo's character didn't have a major role, he got some great moments to shine. The film also doesn't portray women as perfect in a super cringy way like a lot of girl-power (or macho-men) films do, but instead, makes the characters feel strong in a natural way that makes them very easy to root for. The film's realistic, well-handled portrayal of all parties involved in a positive light is one of its best aspects.

The Reel Ranker Verdict

Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 95%
Letter Score: S+
Star Ranking: 5 out of 5

The Housemaid is a poignant, must-watch thriller that delves deeply into the psyches of every character involved. Every second of the film, my eyes were intensely glued to the screen, anticipating what would happen next—a telltale sign of an incredible film that is one of 2025's best. I can't even think of a single negative in regard to the film: trust me, that's saying something.

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