Eun-yi (Jeon Do-youn) is hired as a nanny in an opulent mansion owned by the wealthy and handsome businessman Hoon Goh (Lee Jung-jae). He wastes no time in seducing his alluring young employee who seemingly has little choice but to comply with his sexual advances. Soon the vengeful women of the family, including a villainous matriarch and a heavily pregnant wife, plot against Eun-yi who must fight an equally devious battle to protect herself.
Suffused with a highly charged eroticism amidst a series of steamy sex scenes, THE HOUSEMAID is a supremely entertaining and compellingly constructed movie that is one of the most expensive ever made in South Korea. The outlandish, shocking denouement brings to a close an unforgettably enjoyable ride.
Starring: Jeon Do Yeon, Lee Jung Jae, Seo Woo, Yoon Yeo Jeong
Directed by: Sang-soo Im
Runtime: 106 minutes
Studio: Axiom Films
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The gulf in class is the order of the day in Sang-soo Im’s thriller as Eun-yi (Jeon Do-yeon) becomes the new maid and au pair for an upper class family and remains under the supervision of Miss Cho (Yoon Yeo-jeong) who is hardened by years of servitude to the family. While Hoon (Lee Jung-jae) spends most of his day at work, his heavily pregnant wife, Hae-ra (Seo Woo) is waited on hand and foot. Eun-yi assists in the daily chores and also cares for Hoon and Hae-ra’s daughter, Nami (Ahn Seo-hyeon), who she becomes fond of. Positions within the hierarchy are initially respected but Hoon soon pursues an affair with Eun-yi and she is more than happy to acquiesce.
Miss Cho is the veteran of servitude, remaining loyal but secretly harbouring her discontent for the privileged family she has worked for. Although firm with Eun-yi, Miss Cho takes the girl under her wing and advises her how best to survive. When she learns of Eun-yi’s affair with Hoon, Miss Cho chooses to keep silent but she realises before anyone else does that Eun-yi is pregnant. Rather than discuss this issue with Eun-yi, Miss Cho reports to Hae-ra’s mother, Mi-hee (Park Ji-young) and reveals her concerns. While the family have appeared superior up to now, they have also been mostly harmless but Mi-hee changes all of that. Protective of her daughter, she doesn’t want any illegitimate children rivaling her grandchildren for Hoon’s affections. Something has to give and the end results are destined not to be pretty.
The Housemaid is a very dark thriller which works well until the ending. I had no issues with the cast or the story line but the denouement was a bit disappointing. Many audiences may disagree but I would have settled for less realism with the conclusion here. Reality is harsh and the struggles between the classes is not an easy one to break. The Housemaid is a good testament to that.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
About the Author:
I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.
David M. Brown – who has written 788 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.