Saagar Kote
Directed by Paul Feig, ‘The Housemaid’ is an erotic psychological thriller film based on Freida McFadden’s novel of the same title. Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney), a woman hoping to leave her troubled past behind, accepts a live-in housekeeping job with the wealthy Winchester family. Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar) welcome her into their luxurious home, offering her a private room in the attic and an opportunity to rebuild her life. However, the seemingly comfortable arrangement soon becomes unsettling as Millie struggles with Nina’s seemingly strange behavior and the household’s tension.
Although Andrew tries to maintain peace, Millie begins to suspect that the family is hiding something disturbing. Despite the Winchesters’ wealth and apparent hospitality, the housemaid finds herself caught in a situation that becomes increasingly difficult to understand or escape. She is drawn deeper into the couple’s private affairs and questions whether she can trust the motives of those who hired her. If the story appealed to you, these movies, similar to ‘The Housemaid,’ will keep you entertained with secrets, twists, claustrophobic tension, and unpredictable characters.
8. The Gift (2015)
A seemingly ordinary reunion takes a disturbing turn in ‘The Gift,’ director Joel Edgerton’s psychological thriller film. Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) are building a comfortable life together when they encounter Gordo (Joel Edgerton), a former high school acquaintance of Simon’s. What begins with unexpected gifts and visits gradually becomes unsettling as Gordo inserts himself into the couple’s lives.
His behavior raises questions that Simon seems reluctant to address, eventually bringing to light a secret from more than two decades earlier. After learning what happened between the two men, Robyn’s trust in her husband begins to weaken. She must confront the possibility that Simon’s past may reveal a side of him she has never truly known. ‘The Gift’ forces Robyn to reconsider how well she knows her husband, while ‘The Housemaid’ leaves Millie uncertain whether she can trust the wealthy couple who offer her a fresh start.
7. The Girl on the Train (2016)
Helmed by Tate Taylor, ‘The Girl on the Train’ is a psychological thriller adapted from Paula Hawkins’ eponymous novel. Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt), a divorced woman, becomes fixated on the lives of Megan Hipwell (Haley Bennett) and Scott Hipwell (Luke Evans), a couple she regularly observes during her train journeys. Her curiosity turns into chaos when she believes she saw Megan being attacked. After Megan goes missing, Rachel takes an interest in the case, convinced that she may hold an important clue. However, her unreliable memory makes it difficult to separate what she actually witnessed from what she thinks happened.
As she tries to piece together the events surrounding Megan’s disappearance, Rachel uncovers troubling details that challenge her assumptions and leave her increasingly uncertain about the truth. ‘The Girl on the Train’ and ‘The Housemaid’ build suspense around disturbing secrets hidden beneath ordinary domestic life. Rachel’s unreliable memories cast doubt on her account of what she witnessed, while Millie’s growing unease makes her question whether she can trust the people who employ her.
6. Deep Water (2022)
In ‘Deep Water,’ Vic Van Allen (Ben Affleck) and Melinda Van Allen (Ana de Armas) remain in a shaky marriage under a strange mutual pact that allows the latter to have affairs with others. However, Vic’s growing obsession with his wife’s relationships begins to strain their already fragile bond, especially when one of her former lovers is found murdered. When suspicion surrounds the unexplained death, jealousy and resentment further poison the couple’s relationship. Their increasingly destructive behavior threatens to spill beyond their marriage, drawing others into a situation where personal rivalries and the desire for control can have dangerous consequences.
Adrian Lyne steers this erotic psychological thriller film, based on Patricia Highsmith’s eponymous novel. Melinda Van Allen in ‘Deep Water’ and Millie Calloway in ‘The Housemaid’ both find themselves in tense domestic situations where trust becomes increasingly difficult. Melinda’s unconventional marriage with Vic is strained by jealousy and suspicion, while Millie grows wary of Nina and the secrets surrounding the Winchester household.
5. Gone Girl (2014)
Director David Fincher’s ‘Gone Girl’ is a psychological thriller adapted from Gillian Flynn’s 2012 novel of the same name. On the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary, Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) vanishes, placing her husband, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), at the center of a highly publicized investigation. While the media scrutinizes his private life, Detective Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) begins examining Nick’s account of the events. His inconsistent statements and secretive behavior soon cast doubt on his innocence, while public suspicion continues to mount.
The investigation gradually exposes troubling aspects of the couple’s marriage, revealing a tangled history of deception and hidden motives. With Amy missing and the possibility of murder looming, investigators and the public struggle to determine whether Nick is guilty. Akin to ‘The Housemaid,’ the movie examines how appearances can mislead people and complicate their search for the truth. The two movies feature characters whose relationships with others become sources of suspicion and unease.
4. Saltburn (2023)
‘Saltburn’ is a British dark comedy thriller that examines the darker side of wealth and privilege. Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), an Oxford student from a modest background, develops a close friendship with the wealthy Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), whose privileged world is far removed from his own. When Felix invites Oliver to spend the summer at his family’s lavish estate, Saltburn, Oliver becomes increasingly captivated by their extravagant lifestyle. His stay also brings him closer to the Catton family, whose mysterious lives deepen his fascination with their shadowy world.
Beneath his seemingly ordinary friendship with Felix, Oliver harbors dark secrets that threaten to change the lives of everyone around him. The Emerald Fennell directorial captures the essence of ‘The Housemaid’ by examining the unsettling dynamics that can exist beneath the guise of a happy family. Oliver forms an obsessive bond with Felix and his relatives, while Millie becomes deeply entangled in Nina and Andrew’s troubled domestic life.
3. A Simple Favor (2018)
In ‘A Simple Favor,’ Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is a single mother who befriends Emily (Blake Lively), a sophisticated mother whose personality differs greatly from her own. However, their connection takes a troubling turn when Emily suddenly vanishes without leaving any clear explanation. Hoping to uncover the truth, Stephanie begins investigating the disappearance and eventually works alongside Emily’s husband, Sean Townsend (Henry Golding). As they dig into Emily’s background, they discover secrets that make the case increasingly complicated.
What initially appears to be a straightforward search for a missing person gradually develops into a mystery shaped by hidden truths and unanswered questions, forcing Stephanie to reconsider how much she really knows about the woman she calls her friend. Crafted under Paul Feig’s direction, the comedy-mystery film is based on the eponymous novel by Darcey Bell. ‘A Simple Favor’ follows a missing-person investigation that exposes secrets in Emily’s life, while ‘The Housemaid’ uses Millie’s position inside an affluent family’s home to explore suspicion, secrecy, and trust.
2. The Handmaiden (2016)
Set in 1930s Korea during Japanese occupation, director Park Chan-wook’s ‘The Handmaiden’ or ‘Ah-ga-ssi’ is a South Korean erotic historical psychological thriller loosely based on Sarah Waters’ novel ‘Fingersmith.’ Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri), a young Korean pickpocket, takes a position as the handmaiden of Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee), a wealthy Japanese heiress living under the control of her domineering uncle, Kouzuki (Cho Jin-woong). However, Sook-hee’s employment is part of a scheme devised with Count Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo), a con man who intends to marry Hideko and claim her inheritance. While the plan unfolds, Sook-hee grows increasingly fond of the woman she is supposed to deceive.
Unexpected feelings begin to complicate their arrangement, threatening to derail the carefully constructed deception. With secrets and conflicting intentions surrounding the heiress, the boundaries between manipulation and genuine affection become increasingly uncertain. Sook-hee’s growing affection for Hideko threatens the plan she is meant to carry out, while Millie, in ‘The Housemaid,’ similarly struggles to understand Nina’s behavior as tensions emerge within the Winchester household.
1. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (2025)
‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ tells the story of Polly Murphy (Maika Monroe), who appears to be the ideal caretaker when she joins the Morales household to care for Caitlin (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Miguel’s (Raul Castillo) two daughters, Emma and baby Josie. Initially, Polly’s natural ability to connect with children makes her seem like a welcome addition to the family. However, Caitlin soon notices behavior that casts doubt on Polly’s identity and intentions.
Her concerns grow as Polly’s actions become increasingly suspicious, but Miguel refuses to believe her. Left to investigate the situation herself, Caitlin must determine who Polly really is before it is too late. Helmed by Michelle Garza Cervera, the thriller is a loose remake of the 1992 film of the same name. ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ follows a family whose decision to hire a caretaker leads to growing unease, while ‘The Housemaid’ similarly places Millie as an employee in a wealthy household where her new job becomes increasingly disturbing.
Read More: Where Was The Housemaid Filmed?
