The Housemaid, directed by Paul Feig, is a film that has garnered significant attention for its intriguing plot and unexpected twists. Based on Freida McFadden's best-selling 2022 novel of the same name, the movie follows the story of Nina Winchester, played by Amanda Seyfried, and her husband Andrew, played by Brandon Sklenar, who reside in a sprawling upstate New York mansion with their young daughter Cecilia. The film's narrative takes a dramatic turn when Nina hires a new housemaid, Millie Calloway, played by Sydney Sweeney.
The Housemaid's ending is a topic of much discussion, with key takeaways including Andrew Winchester's death at the climax of the film, Nina's deliberate hiring of Millie as part of an escape plan from her abusive husband, and Millie's violent past that makes her uniquely capable of fighting back. The film's success can be attributed to its clever misdirection, with the first hour carefully constructed to make the audience root for the wrong characters. Director Paul Feig designed the film's narrative to keep viewers engaged and invested in the story.
One of the most significant twists in the film is the revelation of Andrew's true nature as an abusive monster. Through Nina's story, it is revealed that Andrew frequently locked her in the attic room, Millie's bedroom, for hours as punishment for minor infractions. He also forces her to pull out 100 perfectly intact hairs and place them in an envelope, showcasing his controlling behavior. This sets the stage for Nina's motivation to escape Andrew's grasp with their daughter Cece.
Nina's treatment of Millie is a crucial aspect of the film's narrative, with Nina deliberately being cruel to Millie to set up Andrew to decide to "save" their new employee. Nina hires Millie specifically because of her past, where Millie went to prison after killing a boy while trying to stop an assault. Nina believes this experience made Millie strong and willing to fight back, making her the perfect candidate to help her escape Andrew's abuse.
The film's climax shows Nina and Millie working together to stop Andrew, with Millie delivering the killing blow by pushing him over the side of a tall stairwell to his death. The lead-up to this moment is crucial, with Nina confronting Millie and Andrew about their affair, leading to a fight that ends with Andrew kicking Nina out of the house and asking Millie to move downstairs to be with him. Once Nina is gone, Andrew's true nature surfaces immediately, and he starts abusing Millie.
The film's ending differs from the source novel, with the film replacing the book's ending with a more dramatic stairwell confrontation. According to Paul Feig, the film's director, the decision to add a new ending was made to give audiences "more" than the book. The film ends with Millie taking a new housemaid job, referred by Nina, at a home where another abused woman needs help.
The Housemaid has been a commercial success, with the film grossing nearly $400 million at the box office. A sequel, titled The Housemaid's Secret, is set to be released on December 17, 2027. The film's success can be attributed to its clever plot twists and strong performances from its cast, including Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney, and Brandon Sklenar.
Key points
- - The Housemaid's ending reveals Andrew Winchester's dark secret and his eventual demise at the hands of Millie and Nina. - Nina deliberately hired Millie as part of an escape plan from her abusive husband. - The film's success can be attributed to its clever misdirection and strong performances from its cast.
