Nine key differences between The Housemaid film and book that some viewers might not know about
When you really love a book, it's exciting to find out that you'll be getting a film version of it and hope that it does it justice.
There have been many book adaptations over the years, from the likes of It Ends With Us, Gone Girl, and Little Women, and fans of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden were thrilled to find their favourite novel was going to be on the big screen.
The psychological thriller movie, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, follows housemaid Millie (Sweeney), who is hired by Nina (Seyfried); however, there's more to Nina and her husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), than meets the eye.
The film has gone down well, earning a 75 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, but while it is largely faithful to the book's plot, there have been a few changes made for the big screen, as put together by Cineworld.
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Of course, major spoilers ahead if you've not seen or read The Housemaid.
Nina Winchester doesn’t gain weight
In the book version of The Housemaid, Nina is described as having gained weight to a UK size 18 and as no longer dyeing her hair in an attempt to put her husband, Andrew, off.
There are said to be multiple photos of Nina around the house in different sizes as her weight gain progressed.
During the movie, Nina is still seen as being petite, with no mention of any weight gain, although she has grown out brown roots.
Nina confides in Enzo about Andrew
In the book, poor Nina tells a friend what has been going on with her husband. Unfortunately, the friend in question doesn't believe her and called Andrew to tell him what she said, and he soon sent Nina back to a psych clinic, claiming she is unwell.
In the film, Nina tells Enzo what is going on, and he believes her immediately and is a huge support to her and hatches a plan for her to escape.
It fails, however, which prompts Nina to hire Millie to get rid of Andrew once and for all.
Enzo barely features in the movie
Enzo (played by 365 Days' Michele Morrone) is a major character in the book, but he appears only briefly in the movie.
His support for Nina soon turns into romantic feelings, leading him to reject Millie because of it. In the book, he reveals his own sister was murdered by her husband, and he has never forgiven himself for not being able to save her, hence his support for Nina to try to protect her from Andrew.
Nina escapes and ends up at Enzo's home, where Enzo tells her to return home to check on Millie, leading to the climax of the plot; in the film, it is her daughter, Cecilia, who tells her to check.
Cecelia is less bothered about her dad's approval
In the book, Cecelia, Nina and Andrew's daughter, is very needy around her father and desperate for his approval. However, she is often away and is at camp when the relationship between Andrew and Millie begins.
Film Cecelia is much sassier and nowhere near as interested in him or what he thinks of her.
Why Andrew locks Millie in the attic
In the book, Andrew loses the plot and locks Millie in the attic for leaving some books on the table. But in the film, she accidentally smashes a plate of great sentimental value for him, causing him to rage and lock her away.
In the book, she is forced to balance heavy books on her bruised stomach, while in the film, she is made to cut her stomach 21 times with shards of the broken plate, which was accidentally broken into 21 pieces.
The book has more DIY dentistry in
The roles soon reverse, with Millie forcing Andrew to remove several of his own teeth in the book after she locks him in the attic.
In the film, she only makes him take out one tooth, which is still pretty grim.
Andrew's death is much more OTT on-screen
In the book version, Andrew withers away, locked in the attic without food or water, with police concluding that he died of dehydration.
In the film, when Nina returns home to check on Millie, she hears a noise in the attic and thinks it's her.
Before Millie can warn her, Andrew escapes from the attic and begs Nina on the landing for another chance, before attacking her when she refuses.
Millie reappears and throws Andrew down the stairs, killing him, which looks much more like an accident than his book death.
The detective's identity
After explaining Andrew's death as a result of falling when changing a lightbulb, policewoman Jessica Connors (Alexandra Seal) is suspicious of Nina's claims; however, she chooses not to investigate the issue further as it is revealed that Andrew was once engaged to her sister.
Meanwhile, in the book, the police detective is Andrew's former fiancée's father, who went missing.
Nina's chat with Andrew’s mother at the funeral
In both the book and the film, it is alluded to that Andrew had also been cruel to his mother, or that she knew what he was truly like.
After his death in the book, Andrew's parents give their condolences to Nina, and when her husband leaves the room, Andrew's mother comments about his missing teeth, which panics Nina.
However, she follows up by saying that teeth are a privilege and that he should have looked after them better.
Meanwhile, in the film, the teeth statement remains; however, she says it to the funeral procession. When she and her husband speak to Nina, they only say their goodbyes before leaving.
The changes were met with a mixed response from viewers, as one person said: "Okaaaay the housemaid was actually good…. But the book was better (had to say it!) still a good movie though."
A second commented: "For the most part, it was a brilliant adaptation. Changes made for the film even elevated the story in places."
Topics: TV And Film, Sydney Sweeney, Entertainment, Books
Jen Thomas