Two promotional posters for “The Housemaid” stand side-by-side. The Housemaid follows the story of Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney), who takes a position as a live-in maid to the seemly perfect wealthy Winchester family. (Promotional image from Lionsgate).

Editor’s note: “The Housemaid” is an R-rated movie that may be inappropriate for younger audiences. The movie features explicit language, violence, gore, nudity and the use of substances. The Oracle does not recommend this movie for our younger readers, and Common Sense Media estimates it is appropriate for ages 17+. 

“If I ever leave this house, it will be in handcuffs,” an unnamed narrator said.

When I first heard that one of my favorite books was being turned into a movie, I was over-the-moon ecstatic. As an avid fan of Frieda McFadden’s books, I was worried that the film wouldn’t live up to its literary counterpart. Nevertheless, I was excited to finally see the story I’d only been able to visualize come to life.

“The Housemaid,” based on the 2022 best-selling novel by McFadden, hit theaters Dec. 19, 2025. The movie follows Millie Calloway, played by Sydney Sweeney, a young woman with a criminal background. Millie takes a job as a live-in housemaid to the seemingly perfect, wealthy Winchester family. The family is comprised of the father Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), Nina (Amanda Seyfried) Winchester and their daughter, Cecelia Winchester (Indiana Elle). 

This film takes the viewer through a swirl of dystopian utopia and masked perfection where nothing is as it seems. With a carefully crafted household, “The Housemaid” leaves the viewer paranoid and unsettled.

The story initially frames Nina Winchester as an unstable, villainous character, who seems poised from afar. But, as the plot unfolds, it appears the household is more complex and dark than anyone could have imagined. The mask of perfection extends beyond Nina and soon, everything about the characters seems off. This left Millie and the audience wondering who Andrew and Nina Winchester really are. 

The use of specific symbols, such as the youngest daughter’s dollhouse, drew my attention; everything was interconnected. The house itself also felt like a character. Millie’s enclosed and empty room, high up in the attic, leaves the viewer feeling claustrophobic and uncomfortable, while the rest of the large house is adorned, revealing a power imbalance. This dynamic is supported by the snake wallpaper decorating Nina’s bathroom and the eerie chandelier. Everything shown was for a reason, and that’s a quality that more films should strive for.

With a few changes to the story, the movie is a faithful adaptation of the book; what it lacks is the unsettling and psychological dread the book holds. The limited screentime of the gardener’s role, Enzo, is quite disappointing, as he played a bigger role in the book, notably in Millie’s love life. This makes me wonder how this will play out in the next movie, “The Housemaid’s Secret,” which starts production in 2026. Director Paul Feig altered some of the characters’ roles and behavior. For example, Andrew’s backstory is glossed over, making it challenging for the viewers who haven’t read the book to understand some of the scenes. 

Instead of the book’s twisted, slow-burn storyline, the movie opted for a cathartic, rushed ending. This left me disappointed because the storytelling lacked that edge-of-my-seat quality that made me want to never put down the book. However, Director Paul Feig’s ability to bring this book to life was perfect, despite some of the key features missing and the pace difference. 

This movie shifted from moral unease to digestible content, and while that was disappointing at times, I also understood the sacrifices made for the quality and likability of the movie. “The Housemaid” has underlying thematic messages about the danger of obsession, the necessity of trust and the risks of hiding the truth. This movie is a reflection on how looks can be deceiving and how quickly power dynamics can shift.