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The Housemaid

Play trailer Poster for The Housemaid Released Jan 21, 2011 1h 46m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
69% Tomatometer 72 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Eun-yi (Jeon Do-yeon), a poor Korean woman, takes a job as a domestic servant in the lavish home of Hoon Goh (Lee Jung-jae), a handsome businessman whose wife Hae-ra (Seo Woo) is pregnant. Under the tutelage of her new boss, longtime employee and familial confidant Byung-sik (Youn Yuh-jung), Eun-yi quickly learns the ways of the house -- and that Hoon's word is law. But when Eun-yi allows Hoon to seduce her, the benefits of her new position become dwarfed by the consequences of her actions.

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The Housemaid

The Housemaid

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Critics Consensus

Im Sang-soo's remake of The Housemaid struggles to escape the shadow of the original, but offers its own unique -- and decidedly sensual -- pleasures.

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Critics Reviews

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Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News Im Sang-soo can't improve on Kim Ki-young's 1960 original, a jaIm Sang-soo can't improve on Kim Ki-young's 1960 original, a jarring and operatic cult favorite. Still, he does tweak the themes in intriguing fashion. Rated: 3/4 Apr 12, 2016 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader The situation continues to fester, the balance of power shifts back and forth among some wonderfully defined characters. Dec 13, 2011 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Exudes a surreal sense of deranged domestic privilege. Rated: B Apr 17, 2011 Full Review Dustin Chang Floating World Im saves the grotesquery of the wealthy to the last minute. But the build up (to the not so subtle climax and ending that can be read as slapdash) is so engaging and understated that it only amplifies the brilliance of Im's precision filmmaking. Mar 21, 2021 Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site A scathing picture-with overtones of R.W. Fassbinder and Claude Chabrol-of the selfish, cruel South Korean elite.... Feb 14, 2021 Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter Housemaid puts your faith in the New Korean Cinema to the ultimate test. Jun 8, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Drina W This was so good. Great writing, acting, directing. A pretty accurate play on the awkwardness of being the help in a rich family and the power and class dynamics. It was a mix of a real-world thriller and elements of fiction/fantasty. Would recommend and watch again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/23/25 Full Review Aaron C Not the best film I have seen, wasn't shocking or uncomfortable to watch, just a OK film to watch I haven't seen the original Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/17/24 Full Review Liem D Which director can accept the script and make this movie?? A boring movie and the worst ending in cinema! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review Dani G I liked the fact that they twisted the story a little bit, not doing a copy of the original 1960 film Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Brilliant photography. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member The best Korean movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Housemaid

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Cast & Crew

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Im Sang-soo

Director

Jeon Do-yeon

Eun-yi

Lee Jung-jae

Hoon

Youn Yuh-jung

Byeong-sik

Seo Woo

Hae-ra

Park Ji-young

Hae-ra's mother

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The Housemaid

Jeon Do-Youn as Eun-Yi in "The Housemaid." (L-R) Mi-Hee and Seo Woo as Hae-Ra in "The Housemaid." (L-R) Jeon Do-Youn as Eun-Yi and Ahn Seo-hyeon as Nami in "The Housemaid." Seo Woo as Hae-Ra in "The Housemaid." (L-R) Seo Woo as Hae-Ra and Jeon Do-Youn as Eun-Yi in "The Housemaid." Youn Yuh-Jung as Byung-Sik in "The Housemaid." Lee Jung-Jae as Hoon in "The Housemaid." (L-R) Ahn Seo-hyeon as Nami Jeon Do-Youn as Eun-Yi, Lee Jung-Jae as Hoon and Seo Woo as Hae-Ra in "The Housemaid." (L-R) Jeon Do-Youn as Eun-Yi and Seo Woo as Hae-Ra in "The Housemaid." Youn Yuh-Jung as Byung-Sik in "The Housemaid." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Eun-yi (Jeon Do-yeon), a poor Korean woman, takes a job as a domestic servant in the lavish home of Hoon Goh (Lee Jung-jae), a handsome businessman whose wife Hae-ra (Seo Woo) is pregnant. Under the tutelage of her new boss, longtime employee and familial confidant Byung-sik (Youn Yuh-jung), Eun-yi quickly learns the ways of the house -- and that Hoon's word is law. But when Eun-yi allows Hoon to seduce her, the benefits of her new position become dwarfed by the consequences of her actions.
Director
Im Sang-soo
Producer
Lee Gwang-u
Screenwriter
Im Sang-soo
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Mirovision, Sidus FNH Corporation
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 21, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 4, 2017
Runtime
1h 46m
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