Paul Feig has built a career out of making us laugh, but lately he’s enjoyed something of a renaissance through female-led psychological thrillers…that are also pretty funny. Films such as A Simple Favor and its sequel, Another Simple Favor, have shown that Feig is adept at various genres. Now, with The Housemaid, he blends dark comedy with suspense for a twisted, soapy adaptation of Freida McFadden’s roller coaster novel.
Starring Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar, The Housemaid follows ex-con Millie, who lies her way into the perfect job as a live-in housemaid to the wealthy Winchester family. What looks too good to be true often is, and Millie soon discovers that she’s in danger from a matriarch who has seemingly come unhinged.
I had the opportunity to speak with Paul Feig about The Housemaid, and the challenge of adapting McFadden’s page-turner novel that is beloved by millions. We also talked about the balance of dark comedy and thrills, and what made the casting of Seyfried, Sweeney, and Sklenar so perfect.
Check out my interview with Feig below, and my review of The Housemaid here!
