Plot: What’s it about?
I’d not heard or read Freida McFadden’s best-selling novel of the same name, so when The Housemaid was being filmed it was certainly news to me. Doing a bit of research, there were some headlines with Sydney Sweeney’s topless photo (you’re welcome) and it goes without saying that Sweeney’s ample bosom has a supporting role in this film. I’m fine with that. But moving on from Sweeney’s anatomy (hey, they sell tickets) I will say that this is the kind of film we were used to seeing in 80’s and 90’s. Films like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Wild Things and Fatal Attraction. If you’re into those sorts of films then, odds are, this one is for you. Let’s not forget the director – Paul Feig. Mr. Feig has given us gems like Bridesmaids, The Heat and A Simple Favor. So if the genre isn’t for you, perhaps the director is?
Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is a recent parolee and in need of both a job and a place to live. Conveniently, she finds both after a altered resume gets her hired by Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried). Nina lives in the kind of place you only see in movies and has a handsome husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar) and a daughter, Cece (Indiana Elle). Things start out fine, though Millie is relegated to the home’s attic. But when Nina starts to act erratically towards Millie, it throws things into a tizzy. It goes (or should, at least) without saying that there’s an obvious attraction between Andrew and Millie. In essence, that’s the premise. And it’s the first half of the film and to tell any more would be to ruin the viewing experience. Be surprised, you’ll be rewarded.
There’s a definite “trashy/thriller” vibe going on here, but the film seems to embrace it rather than discard it. And that’s fine. An attractive married couple and a bombshell housemaid – what could go wrong? There are some obvious elements to the movie that we can see coming a mile away, but as I alluded to above – there are also some things that took me by surprise. But with Feig’s direction (he’s had experience with this sort of thing before) and the well-rounded cast, it makes for a fun watch. I do feel the film was about 20 minutes too long, but that’s just nitpicking on my part. If you’re a fan of the genre, the stars, read the book or just want to kill two hours looking at beautiful people – this one’s for you.
Video: How’s it look?
I was reminded of some Hallmark movies in the sense that we see these homes with nothing out of place, everything is spotless and so forth. That said, it’s part of the theme of the film and the 2.39:1 AVC HD encode conveys this “picture perfect” lifestyle to our screens with the utmost clarity. Oh, yeah, there are also the three stars that aren’t exactly hard on the eyes. But let’s not forget the lovely Amanda Seyfried. At any rate, you see where I’m going – it’s a new-to-the-format movie on Blu-ray and we know it’ll look great. And it does.
Audio: How’s it sound?
I think we’re getting to the point when a “standard” Blu-ray release will feature a Dolby Atmos track. At least that’s what I hope as I invested a lot in this Atmos setup that’s in my living room! Granted, when we think Dolby Atmos it might make one have visions of things blowing up and worrying about waking the neighbors. That’s not the case here, but the mix does pack a few punches – some that I wasn’t expecting. As we might expect, the vocals are crisp and sharp with surrounds offering just the right amount of ambiance to keep things moving. It’s a great-sounding track that added to the film.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Audio Commentary – Director Paul Feig goes solo on the first track. If you want to hear him along with the creative team, there’s a track for that. Feig comments on the obvious storyline, casting and general theme of the film. As we’ve seen in his body of work, he can do comedy and drama (this being the latter) but fans will certainly want to give this one a listen.
- Audio Commentary – Director Paul Feig and Creative Team offer a bit more (and a different take) insight on some of the more aesthetic choices in the film, some of the moods and tones. It’s a different vibe from the solo track by Feig, to be sure – but nonetheless entertaining.
- From Page to Panic: Making The Housemaid – Follow the filmmakers behind this new and exciting thriller as they explain the creative process from the book to the big screen.
- Secrets of the Winchester House: A Housemaid Tour – Take a tour around the iconic house of the film and discover all the intricate details that played an important part in turning this house into another character.
- A Peek Inside – Enjoy this small glimpse of what makes this film an unforgettableexperience for the filmmakers and audiences worldwide.
- Deleted Scenes – Nothing mind-blowing here. These run nearly 10 minutes, but given the film’s 131 minute running time I’d say these were wisely cut.
The Bottom Line
There’s an undeniable quality to this film where it’s like reading a trashy novel…you just can’t look away/put it down. And there are some gruesome things that happen here. We’re talking Saw-level things. Don’t judge a book by its cover, rather sit back and enjoy the ride. Lionsgate’s disc looks fantastic, sounds nearly as good and contains enough supplemental material to warrant a purchase.
