The Housemaid
The Housemaid

Movie spotlight

The Housemaid

2016
Movie
105 min
Vietnamese

When an orphaned Vietnamese girl is hired to be a housemaid at a haunted rubber plantation in 1953 French Indochina, she unexpectedly falls in love with the French landowner and awakens the vengeful ghost of his dead wife... who is out for blood.

Insights

IMDb6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes60%
Metacritic55/100
Google Users75%
Director: Lee T. LeeGenres: Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

A young woman takes a job as a maid in a wealthy family's mansion, seeking to escape her past. As she becomes entangled in the family's complex dynamics, she uncovers dark secrets and finds herself in a dangerous game of manipulation and betrayal. The line between victim and perpetrator blurs as she navigates the opulent yet treacherous world of her employers, where survival depends on her wits and her ability to exploit the hidden desires of those around her.

Critical Reception

The Housemaid (2016) received mixed to positive reviews. Critics often praised its tense atmosphere, strong performances, and exploration of class dynamics and psychological manipulation. However, some found the plot to be convoluted or derivative of other thrillers, and the film's darker themes were polarizing for some audiences.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its suspenseful build-up and unsettling atmosphere.

  • Noted for strong performances, particularly from the lead actress.

  • Some critics found the narrative predictable or overly reliant on genre tropes.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated 'The Housemaid' for its suspenseful plot and engaging performances, finding it to be a thrilling and well-crafted drama. However, a segment of viewers felt the story became too predictable in its latter half and that the film borrowed too heavily from established psychological thriller conventions.

Awards & Accolades

While not a major award winner, the film garnered nominations at various film festivals, particularly for its lead actress and its suspenseful direction.

Fun Fact

The film is a remake of a 2010 South Korean film of the same name, which was directed by Im Sang-soo and also explored similar themes of class, desire, and betrayal within a wealthy household.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review