The Housemaid Ending Explained: What Nina Really Wants From Millie (And How It Sets Up A Sequel)

by

Be warned: this description contains spoilers for the movie The Housemaid. The film is packed with unexpected twists, especially when the true reason Nina hired Millie is uncovered. Based on Freida McFadden’s novel, The Housemaid centers on Millie, played by Sydney Sweeney, a young woman in need of a job who takes a position as a housekeeper for Nina and Andrew.

At first, Nina seems like the villain, and Millie starts to develop feelings for Andrew. However, the reality is much more complex and disturbing, which creates several surprising plot twists in The Housemaid, including one that highlights the film’s central message.

Nina Isn’t The Villain Of The Housemaid, Andrew Is

At first, the movie makes Nina seem like a bad person, but it’s later revealed she isn’t the villain. While she’s often unkind to Millie and appears emotionally troubled, these behaviors are actually a deliberate performance designed to deceive Andrew and everyone else.

Andrew is manipulative and controlling, consistently setting unrealistic expectations for his partners and then punishing them when they fall short. Nina was under his control for years, and it was secretly Andrew who arranged for her to be committed to a mental hospital after she seemingly tried to harm their daughter.

Throughout The Housemaid, Nina is driven by a single goal: to get away from Andrew with her daughter, Cece. She believes if she can find someone to attract Andrew’s attention, he’ll fall in love and finally leave her and Cece alone. This explains why Nina is so cruel to Millie – she’s deliberately trying to create a situation where Andrew will feel the need to “rescue” her.

While Nina’s reasons are heartbreaking, they don’t excuse her actions. She knowingly involved Millie in a dangerous situation, betting that Millie’s history would make her capable of stopping Andrew when he became dangerous. This gives Nina a more understandable, but still calculating, side, which ultimately makes the ending more impactful.

Why Is Andrew So Evil In The Housemaid

The reasons behind Andrew’s cruel behavior are never completely clear, though the story offers hints. Within the story’s world, it seems his difficult personality comes from his mother, who often makes critical remarks emphasizing her own high standards.

The film hints that Andrew’s mother may have used harsh discipline on him as a child. This could explain why he later demanded perfection from his partners and treated them abusively. While it’s a troubling thought, it fits with what we know about his upbringing.

Andrew’s troubling traits also connect to the film’s central idea about abusive relationships. He presents himself as perfect to the world, but secretly has a cruel side he tries to conceal. The film suggests this pattern of behavior isn’t unique to him, and he’s hurt others in the past.

The novel The Housemaid explores how people with power—using things like attractiveness and money—control others. This power can be terrifying when someone abusive wields it. The story suggests that some people are fundamentally flawed, and this darkness lies deep within them.

Why Nina Wanted To Recruit Millie

Nina hired Millie as a housemaid because of Millie’s difficult past. Millie was a bright young woman whose life changed forever when she witnessed a sexual assault at school. She bravely intervened, confronting the attacker, but tragically ended up causing his death.

It really struck me how differently everyone treated this boy compared to Andrew. Millie pointed out that because he came from money, was good-looking, and had the right family, the school just didn’t believe her when she tried to explain what he was like. It was heartbreaking – even the girl he hurt didn’t back Millie up. The whole thing led to Millie spending almost ten years in prison for murder and being completely cut off from her family. It’s a truly devastating situation.

Millie is perfect for Nina’s scheme for two key reasons. First, Nina thinks Millie is so determined to avoid returning to prison that she’ll accept any job, even one from Nina. Second, Nina believes Millie is naturally aggressive and capable of defending herself – a belief that’s ultimately confirmed during the story’s final confrontation.

How The Housemaid Sets Up A Sequel

The novel The Housemaid concludes with Andrew’s death, caused by Millie and Nina – Millie ultimately pushes him over a staircase. Afterward, Nina legally gains possession of all his assets and moves to California with Cece, but first, she generously rewards Millie for her involvement.

After the previous events, Millie is shown interviewing for a new housekeeping position. The woman interviewing her mentions Nina recommended Millie and hints that she herself is also in an abusive relationship. This scene foreshadows the film’s ending, suggesting Millie is now ready to confront and potentially stop her own abuser.

This creates opportunities for many more stories, all focusing on Millie and her surprising new role: secretly helping wives escape abusive husbands. It’s an exciting idea that could lead to a series of suspenseful plots, with Millie at the heart of them all.

This film could be similar to Paul Feig’s take on a mystery like Knives Out, sharing the same lively feel as his other 2023 movie, Another Simple Favor. The story is based on a popular book, The Housemaid, which has already spawned two follow-up novels since its release in 2022, suggesting a built-in audience and potential for further installments.

The True Meaning Of The Housemaid

The movie The Housemaid is a suspenseful thriller with a darkly comedic tone, typical of the genre. However, it’s particularly effective when portraying the difficulties women experience in abusive relationships. A key element of the story is how everyone perceives the abuser, Andrew, as a perfect person.

Andrew is a well-connected and popular figure in town – everyone from the PTA to the police seem to know him. However, beneath that friendly exterior lies a deeply manipulative and ruthless person. He’s accustomed to getting his way and is skilled at twisting events to benefit himself, always ensuring he comes out on top.

Andrew embodies the traits of every charming but ultimately harmful partner – the kind people easily fall for, leaving women like Nina and Millie to suffer the consequences of his cruelty. The film shows this isn’t a new pattern; he’s hurt people in relationships before, and continues to do so.

Ultimately, the movie shows that women can overcome adversity by supporting each other. Nina and Millie successfully defeat Andrew when they team up, and a female officer—motivated by her knowledge of Andrew’s true character—helps them avoid consequences for their actions.

Even the film’s ending, where Millie appears ready to confront another abusive husband, suggests that she and Nina understand action needs to be taken. Ultimately, The Housemaid is a story about women overcoming a system of male dominance and the power of their collaboration to do so.

Read More

2025-12-19 01:01