The Housemaid Early Buzz: Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried Unleash a Wild, Twisted Thriller

Paul Feig doing a 'sexy psychological thriller' with Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried? That alone is enough to raise an eyebrow. Now the first reactions are out, and apparently The Housemaid is a stylish, camp-forward fever dream that takes a hard left into something darker and nastier. I am listening.

What this actually is

Based on Freida McFadden's hit novel, The Housemaid centers on Millie, played by Sydney Sweeney ('Anyone But You', 'Madame Web'), who takes a live-in housemaid job with a very polished, very wealthy couple: Nina (Amanda Seyfried, 'Mean Girls', 'Jennifer's Body') and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar, 'It Ends With Us', '1923'). On the surface, it's a reset for Millie. Under the surface, it's a whole other animal: secrets, power plays, seduction, and the kind of perfect facade that always means something ugly is hiding underneath.

'The Housemaid is WILD.'

That vibe checks with the early chatter: playful and stylish up front, then a sharp, gripping turn where the gloves come off. Think high-gloss mind games, a few big 'did they just do that?' swings, and yes, an emphasis on 'sexy' to sell the danger.

• Release: Lionsgate drops it in theaters December 19.
• Cast: Sydney Sweeney (Millie), Amanda Seyfried (Nina), Brandon Sklenar (Andrew Winchester), and Michele Morrone ('365 Days', 'Subservience').
• Director: Paul Feig, switching gears from 'Bridesmaids' and 'Ghostbusters' to a thriller lane closer to 'A Simple Favor.'
• Writer: Rebecca Sonnenshine adapted McFadden's novel for the screen.
• Producers: Paul Feig, Todd Lieberman, Carly Kleinbart Elter, and Laura Fischer.
• Executive producers: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Freida McFadden, and Alex Young.
• Companies: Lionsgate with Media Capital Technologies, Hidden Pictures, and Pretty Dangerous Pictures.

The buzz so far

First reactions hit on November 26, 2025, and the consensus is basically: buckle up. Sweeney and Seyfried are getting raves as a razor-edged duo, with Brandon Sklenar earning shoutouts right alongside them. Multiple reactions call the first half deliberately campy in a fun, stylish way before it dives into a darker, tenser second act. Words thrown around: 'twisted,' 'unhinged' (meant as praise), 'edge-of-your-seat,' 'jaw-dropping.'

There are a couple tidbits for readers who know the book: people who have read it say the movie sticks very close to the source while sprinkling in new bits for added shock value. One reaction even singled out the soundtrack for fueling the suspense and the final reveals.

So, is this a one-off?

If audiences show up in December, there is room to keep going. McFadden has already followed the novel with 'The Housemaid's Secret,' 'The Housemaid's Wedding,' and 'The Housemaid Is Watching.' Translation: Lionsgate has a ready-made roadmap if this thing pops.

Bottom line: Feig aiming glossy and wicked, Sweeney and Seyfried trading power moves, and early viewers promising big swings and bigger twists. If you want pulpy, high-gloss chaos to close out the year, December 19 is circled on the calendar.