This Patreon clip from the Horror Queers podcast features hosts Joe and Trace discussing the film "The Housemaid," an adaptation of a novel by Freda McFadden. The conversation centers on the movie's genre, its place in modern cinema, and its potential reception. They note that McFadden, a respected thriller author, has several adaptations in development.
The hosts confirm they have not read the second or third books in "The Housemaid" literary franchise. They mention director Paul Feig's expressed interest in making a sequel to his film "Spy" and contrast that with the perceived muted reception to his prior film, "A Simple Favor." Trace expresses a wish that the movie sequel would team the Millie character with Amanda Seyfried's Nina from the first film. Joe ultimately rates the film a three and a half out of five, describing it as a solid, pulpy thriller.
Joe argues the performances elevate the material, which he defines as typical of the "lady thriller" subgenre. Trace compares the film to a big-budget Lifetime movie with elements of early '90s domestic thrillers like "Sleeping with the Enemy." They agree that such mid-tier, genre-focused films are rarely made for theatrical release anymore. The film carries a production budget of $35 million, which they find notable for a contemporary studio film.
They express hope that the film's success could lead to a resurgence of similar "women's films" or domestic thrillers. The hosts are pleasantly surprised the studio released the film with an R rating, especially on Christmas Day. They note the film is currently scoring an 80% with critics and a 3.2 out of 5 on Letterboxd. The tone is conversational, analytical, and infused with personal opinion and industry insight. Listeners who enjoy discussions about film genre trends, adaptation, and box office dynamics would appreciate this clip. Those seeking a pure plot summary or horror-focused analysis might find it less engaging.
