8 Biggest Differences Between The Housemaid And The Book That Inspired It

The following contains spoilers for The HousemaidThe Housemaid is a fairly faithful adaptation of Freida McFadden’s book of the same name, but with some specific tweaks made to accommodate the shift to the big screen. Directed by Paul Feig, The Housemaid is the latest twisty film from the director of A Simple Favor filmmaker.

Both versions focus on Millie, a housemaid for the Winchester family, her affair with the husband, and the web of dangerous schemes that they set off. The Housemaid‘s ending is very consistent with the book, with a very similar final beat. However, there are some distinct differences that highlight how Feig made the story more visceral and cinematic.

Enzo Actually Teams Up With Millie In The Book

Enzo plays a similar but more important role in the book that The Housemaid is based on, which speaks to the film’s largely faithful adaptation that slims down elements for a tighter story. In both versions of The Housemaid, Enzo is the gardener for the Winchester family. Aware of Andrew’s dark side, he tries to warn Millie about the family.

In the book, his intentions are much clearer from the start. Although both men admit to having lost a sister to “men like Andrew,” Enzo is merely an observer in the film for Millie. The Enzo of the book more actively tries to help Millie, and eventually sets up her later interview for a new housemaid position with another family.

Nina And Enzo Are In A Relationship In The Book

Amanda Seyfried screams in her car in The Housemaid

Enzo’s dynamic with Nina is implied to be romantic in the film, and is more overt in the book. Their relationship is a larger focus of the story, and eventually becomes sexual. It’s even Enzo who convinces Nina to go back for Millie instead of Cecilia. However, he can’t go with Nina to California and remains on the East Coast.

This speaks to Enzo’s relative lack of a role in the film compared to the book. He’s a much more active figure in the book, becoming Millie’s friend and even brushing aside some flirtations from the young woman. It keeps the attention on Millie and Nina, and removes the potential complication of his romance with Nina.

Nina Accuses Millie Of Shoplifting Instead Of Grand Theft Auto

A good example of how The Housemaid takes plot beats from the book and makes them more cinematic is the scene where Millie is falsely accused of stealing. In the book, Millie is followed around a grocery store because Nina called in an anonymous call about the young woman being a shoplifter.

It’s a more dramatic moment in the film, however. After requesting Millie take her car to go shopping, Nina calls it in as stolen and gets Millie arrested. It’s a much more intense scene that further isolates Millie — all while giving Andrew a natural space to “save” her and lure her further into his web.

Evelyn Is More Present In The Film Than The Book

Brandon Sklenar as Andrew in The Housemaid

A dark undercurrent of the film stems from Evelyn, Andrew’s mother. Elizabeth Perkins brings an icy cold perfectionism to the role, which has been slightly expanded from the book. In the original story, Evelyn is more of an ever-present presence that hangs over Andrew and his actions. She only appears in flashbacks and at Andrew’s funeral.

The movie brings her into the present-day, giving her time to verbally belittle Nina and dote on her son. Perkins gives Evelyn a darker edge, with the final scene implying she’s suspicious of Nina and Millie. The book has her reveal that Andrew used to pull out his teeth, leading to her teaching that smiles are a privilege.

Why Nina Is Punished Is Changed From The Book

In both versions of the story, Millie and Andrew quickly end up in a relationship together, playing into Nina’s plans. It doesn’t take long for Millie to do something to anger Andrew, however, leading to her being locked in the attic. In the book, it’s reading books that he didn’t want her to go near.

In the film, it’s because Millie was surprised by Enzo and dropped some of the Winchester family china. Furious that Millie didn’t clean the shards, the cinematic version of Andrew forces her to cut herself repeatedly with the shards. It’s a far more gruesome sequence, and one that makes the family china more important to the film.

Millie And Andrew’s Punishments Are Different

While Millie and Andrew are both tortured by the other at the same point in the plot, the actual tortures are very different between the book and the film. In the book, Millie is forced to balance a heavy book on her stomach. It’s cruel, but not nearly as visually vicious as the sight of Millie cutting up her abdomen.

Andrew is tortured brutally in both versions, with the man forced to rip out a tooth with his pliers. However, the movie version of the character is tormented by his family’s china being shattered and threatened with being burned alive. Instead, the book version is forced to perform his own degrading torture with the book.

Andrew Dies Differently Between Film And Book

The book version of Andrew never escapes his torture, as Millie ends up leaving him to die of dehydration in the attic. By the time Nina arrives to help Millie, Andrew is already dead. This is a stark contrast to the film, where Nina’s arrival leads to Andrew escaping the attic and attacking both women.

The more violent and intense finale to the film ends with Nina luring Andrew near a banister and then Millie pushing him over the side, sending him falling to his death. It makes the death much more of an act of self-defense that the women can share in, compared to Millie’s more premeditated murder of the villain.

Kathleen’s Father In The Book Is Her Sister In The Movie

In both versions of The Housemaid, a police officer is shown to be suspicious of the circumstances surrounding Andrew’s death. However, they are revealed to be related to Andrew’s ex-fiancée Kathleen, suggesting they’re aware of Andrew’s true personality and actions. The book and film change that relation, however.

In the book, it’s Kathleen’s father, a detective who’s been eager to find a way to bring Andrew down. In the film, it’s her sister who acknowledges the connection before brushing aside the investigation. The change highlights the themes of solidarity in The Housemaid, which plays into the ending of the film.