It’s an incredibly good time to be a bookworm and cinephile. We’re living in a book-adaptation renaissance, and the media-obsessed girlies are being fed. Emily Henry’s first movie adaptation is less than a month away, The Love Hypothesis film is on the horizon, and we’re counting down the days until Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation hits theaters. But just in time for holiday viewing, perhaps one of the most anticipated book-to-movie adaptations has finally been released—The Housemaid.
The Freida McFadden thriller captured the attention of the internet in 2022 and has honestly lived rent-free in our minds ever since. But with a book so twisted, shocking, and beloved, I have to admit that while I couldn’t wait to finally sit in those theater recliners with a bucket of popcorn in hand to see the film, I was also slightly skeptical it would compare to the book. And after racing to the movie theater on opening night, I’m finally ready to answer the question: Does The Housemaid movie live up to the book? My full review below.
What is The Housemaid about?
The Housemaid follows Millie, a young woman recently released from prison who’s trying to find a job and a fresh start. When she interviews for a live-in housemaid position with the Winchester family, it seems like her ticket to a new life. But once she accepts the job, Nina Winchester begins to reveal that she isn’t the picture-perfect housewife she initially appeared to be.
Between Nina’s erratic mood swings, family secrets, and the creepy attic bedroom that locks from the outside, Millie quickly realizes she needs to get out of the house before things turn dangerous. But with no other job opportunities—and the threat of being sent back to prison if she can’t keep a job—she has no choice but to stay.
My review of The Housemaid
Part of the reason for the internet’s collective obsession with The Housemaid novel is its ability to slowly lay the groundwork for its dark twists, making even the most everyday interactions feel eerie. I worried that without the time to gradually build that haunting atmosphere, the film wouldn’t be truly thrilling—but I was definitely wrong. The movie leans into everything that makes the book scary and, if anything, dials it up. There are a few scenes so gory that the film teeters into horror territory at times. Personally, I had to hide behind my hands in some moments, but the film made me feel just as immersed in the story as I did while reading the novel.
Between those truly terrifying moments, there’s also a quieter—but equally unsettling—energy throughout the film, largely thanks to Amanda Seyfried’s stellar performance. She’s the true star of this movie, and the way she portrays Nina as creepy and unhinged in the first half had me on the edge of my seat, even though I went in fully aware of the plot twist. Who knew a fabulous blowout could be so creepy? I’ll never look at one the same way again.
Beyond delivering the “thrill” in this thriller, Seyfried also brings surprising depth to her character. Even when you don’t fully understand Nina’s motivations, you still feel a strange sense of sympathy for her, despite her absolutely diabolical actions. Her larger-than-life performance, full of grief, heartbreak, joy, and revenge, is complemented beautifully by Sydney Sweeney’s more restrained portrayal of Millie, who’s just trying to keep her head down and rebuild her life (at least for the first half of the film).
That said, around the halfway mark, I did feel the pacing slow slightly. My mind began to wander, and I found myself wondering how much time was left. But just as the movie starts to feel a bit too long, the plot twist hits and completely reinvigorates the story. I was instantly pulled back in, eyes glued to the screen as the chaos unfolded. The second half of the movie is a wild ride you won’t be able to look away from—nor will you want to. If you binge-read The Housemaid in one sitting, the movie captures that same addictive energy.
So, does The Housemaid movie live up to the book?
If you’re wary of seeing one of your favorite books adapted, rest assured: the film absolutely lives up to the novel. Of course, I’m inclined to say the book is always better, but this is one of those stories that feels tailor-made for the big screen. I’m not saying it’s replacing Gone Girl as my favorite thriller or that it’s destined for awards-season buzz, but the film knows exactly what it is—a blockbuster audiences won’t be able to look away from. It leans into that, and it’s better for it. If you’re craving pure entertainment over your holiday break, The Housemaid is the perfect movie to see in theaters.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.
