If the festive season has left you craving something with a sharper edge than heartwarming schmaltz, a new cinematic offering has arrived just in time. The Housemaid, directed by Paul Feig, lands in UK cinemas from Friday, December 26, 2025, positioning itself as the perfect pulpy counter-programme to Christmas excess.
A Breezy Thriller Adapted for the Big Screen
Based on the best-selling novel by Freida McFadden, the film is a tongue-in-cheek adaptation of a story many readers devoured in a single day. The transition to cinema, however, places the narrative's more fanciful elements and plot holes under a brighter spotlight. While it may not deliver a consistently edge-of-your-seat experience, the movie is clearly having fun with its own premise, often winking at the audience with obvious foreshadowing.
The plot centres on Millie Calloway, played by Sydney Sweeney, a troubled young woman living out of her car. Despite a mysterious criminal record, she secures a live-in nanny position with the wealthy Winchester couple. Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar portray Nina and Andrew Winchester, whose glamorous life is quickly revealed to be riddled with secrets.
Standout Performances and Campy Tension
The interview process alone raises immediate red flags, with Nina revealing a pregnancy to virtual stranger Millie and swearing her to secrecy. This is merely the first in a veritable parade of suspicious occurrences, from a locked attic bedroom to overly generous gifts. The film expertly builds a sense of unease, leaning into high-camp drama.
Amanda Seyfried emerges as the film's absolute standout, delivering a mesmerising performance as the brittle, paranoid, and cruel Nina. She masterfully balances a glossy surface with unhinged unpredictability, a performance that solidifies 2025 as her year of dramatic reinvention. Sydney Sweeney is effective as the enigmatic Millie, though the character remains something of a cypher until the story's violent later turns.
Style, Soundtrack, and a Bloody Finale
The film makes no secret of its target audience, employing a peppy, female-led pop rock soundtrack featuring tracks from Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift. It leans heavily into certain tropes, notably the 'tempting nanny' cliché, with Sweeney's appearance becoming a recurring narrative focus. The tension culminates in a surprisingly bloody and violent denouement, designed to satisfy fans of twisted, true crime-adjacent stories.
While The Housemaid doesn't reach the iconic, titillating heights of 90s thrillers like Fatal Attraction, it succeeds as a lightweight, self-aware diversion. It knows exactly what it is: an absorbing piece of serviceable, entertaining pulp. For those seeking a break from Christmas cheer, this trashy treat is now showing in cinemas across the United Kingdom.
