Film Review

‘The Housemaid’: Middling Domestic Abuse Soap Opera

“The Housemaid,” needed to either belly-flop into outright camp or go dark and psychotic like “Gone Girl.” As is, it’s a decent but highly predictable thriller.
‘The Housemaid’: Middling Domestic Abuse Soap Opera
Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar) and his wife Nina (Amanda Seyfried), in "The Housemaid." Lionsgate
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
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R | 2h 11m | Thriller, Suspense | 2025

“The Housemaid,” Freida McFadden’s summer beach page-turner, has elements of a romance novel but is primarily a psychological thriller and domestic suspense novel. Known mostly for middling comedies (the exceptions being “Bridesmaids” and “The Heat,” which were very funny), director Paul Feig fails to find the tone.
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
Mark Jackson is the senior film critic for The Epoch Times and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. Mark earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by classical theater conservatory training, and has 20 years' experience as a New York professional actor. He narrated The Epoch Times audiobook "How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World," available on iTunes, Audible, and YouTube. Mark is featured in the book "How to Be a Film Critic in Five Easy Lessons" by Christopher K. Brooks. In addition to films, he enjoys Harley-Davidsons, rock-climbing, qigong, martial arts, and human rights activism.
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