Warning! Partial spoilers for The Housemaid forwardThe Housemaid is a intelligent little movie. It’s, on the face of it, a psychological thriller, dropping a younger lady right into a state of affairs she will be able to inform is tousled however struggles to establish precisely how. However director Paul Feig, well-known for his comedies, tells the story with a winking tone, producing quantity of laughter all through. It makes the customarily over-the-top theatrics enjoyable, nevertheless it additionally serves an essential function.
From the start, the film feels prefer it’s winding as much as some sort of twist, and the tone doubles the suspense. The query shouldn’t be solely what the reveal might be, however whether or not we’re in for one thing really darkish or playfully absurd; we’re saved guessing what sort of film The Housemaid will in the end transform. Particular person strains can play as tossed-off jokes contributing to the general really feel or as essential clues to the central thriller, and it may be arduous to know which is which prematurely.
That is how I in the end ended up obsessive about one joke specifically: Andrew’s love for Barry Lyndon. It struck me as such an absurdly humorous selection on the time (I used to be one in every of two individuals at my screening to burst out laughing), and when it got here again within the ultimate act, I used to be equally delighted. However since seeing the movie, I have not stopped dwelling on using this particular movie to make this joke. The extra I’ve considered it, the extra I believe it is a tiny stroke of genius.
With One Joke, The Housemaid Tells You Who Andrew Actually Is
At its core, this can be a variation on a centerpiece bit from Barbie, by which all of the Kens monologue at their Barbies about their varied pursuits. As cinema’s consultant of this particularly male habits, Greta Gerwig selected The Godfather, which makes good sense. Its widespread acclaim makes it each a primary movie bro opinion and a joke that common audiences will get – most individuals will know The Godfather‘s status, whether or not they’ve truly seen it or not.
Barry Lyndon is totally different. Like The Godfather, it is deeply admired by movie buffs and thought of one of many best motion pictures ever made. However by way of common reputation, it isn’t one in every of Stanley Kubrick’s best-known tasks. Not like 2001: A Area Odyssey or The Shining, which anybody can expertise by cultural osmosis, it normally takes stepping into cinema as an artwork kind to hunt out Barry Lyndon.
However whereas it is probably not as broadly seen, it is actually not an underappreciated masterpiece, as Nina claims Andrew typically characterizes it. It may need been as soon as upon a time – like loads of Kubrick’s work, it had a combined reception upon launch and took some time to be absolutely reappraised. But it surely sits in undisputed masterpiece territory now, and has for just a few years.
So, what does this inform us about Andrew? In selecting a gradual, stately, extremely manicured interval drama to be his complete persona, he could also be making an attempt to channel his English roots. Maybe he is interested in the not-a-hair-out-of-place fantastic thing about Kubrick’s framing. However most of all, he craves the look of style. Just like the Kens, he desires his perspective on the world to be particular and price being uncritically obtained, however he additionally desires it to be much less apparent than loving The Godfather. And although the movie is certainly a terrific one, value waxing poetic over, his “take” proves he isn’t truly as authentic or substantive as he desires to be.
For my part, the Barry Lyndon joke is The Housemaid‘s clearest indication that Andrew shouldn’t be as harmless as he appears, for these keen to not simply chortle and let it go. But it surely finally ends up serving one other function. Within the ultimate act, when a responsible Nina returns to avoid wasting Millie from the hell she’s left her in, she hears Barry Lyndon taking part in within the man cave and naturally assumes it is her husband. As a substitute, Millie’s watching it, in all probability to determine what all this masterpiece speak was about. From her face, it is arduous to inform whether or not she’s all that impressed.
- Launch Date
-
December 19, 2025
- Runtime
-
131 Minutes
- Director
-
Paul Feig
- Writers
-
Rebecca Sonnenshine, Freida McFadden
- Producers
-
Todd Lieberman