David’s Download: 5 Domestic Thrillers to Watch Before The Housemaid

This Christmas, along with the usual family fare and Oscar bait, audiences have the chance to experience one of my favorite sub-genres - the domestic thriller - on the silver screen thanks to The Housemaid, starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney.

Domestic thrillers typically follow a couple, a family, or close friends dealing with lies, betrayal, or obsession that threaten their idyllic lives. What makes these movies so unnerving is their grounding in reality - no supernatural occurrences, aliens, etc.

This type of film used to dominate multiplexes in the 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s, from Fatal Attraction to Unlawful Entry to Obsessed. In the last couple decades, these stories have mostly been relegated to Netflix or the Lifetime channel, depriving moviegoers of an exhilarating communal experience filled with twists and turns.

To celebrate the release of The Housemaid and its sub-genre’s return to cinemas, I’m sharing five of my favorite domestic thrillers that will remind you to lock your doors at night.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

This might be the pinnacle of the domestic thriller sub-genre for me. The events in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle begin when an obstetrician kills himself after being accused of assaulting his patient. The doctor’s wife, Peyton, unfortunately suffers a miscarriage due to the shock and stress of the suicide. Filled with rage, Peyton seeks revenge on the patient who reported her husband - Claire Bartel - by posing as a nanny.

With two small children in peril, Cradle will have you on the edge of your seat, and there are some fun set pieces with the greenhouse and creaky attic, where the final showdown between nanny and family takes place.

Rebecca De Mornay is the embodiment of evil as Peyton, shooting daggers with her eyes and delivering goosebumps scene after scene. She should have received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress!

Single White Female (1992)

Single White Female taps into a worry many young people have - living with a psychotic roommate. As someone who moved to a big city 10 years ago and had to live with a random roommate (who turned out to be awful), I think this thriller does an excellent job of capturing that anxiety.

Bridget Fonda plays Allison, a young fashion designer in NYC, who needs to find a roommate after breaking up with her boyfriend. She thinks she has hit the jackpot when she meets Hedra, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, but this new tenant is not as innocent as she seems.

Allison and Hedra’s progression from new roommates to friends to adversaries is well-paced and feels realistic. It’s easy to forgive Allison for missing the red flags in her scheming tenant.

I also have to recognize the movie for its undeniable impact on culture. You’ve probably heard the expression “single white female” when someone is talking about an off-putting friend or acquaintance with copycat tendencies. Cue Tamra Judge and Jenn Pedranti on Real Housewives of Orange County!

Panic Room (2002)

In my opinion, Jodie Foster is the queen of the thriller, with credits like Silence of the Lambs, Flightplan, and The Brave One. Panic Room is further affirmation of that title, with Foster delivering a commanding performance as Meg, a divorced mom trying to protect her daughter, played by a pre-Twilight Kristen Stewart, during a home invasion.

Director David Fincher keeps the tension high, even with Foster and Stewart trapped in the titular panic room, while the criminals, led by Forest Whitaker, ravage their home for a missing fortune.

Enough (2002)

During the height of J.Lo’s romcom hot streak in the early 2000’s, she made this absolute knockout of a domestic thriller.

Enough is about a woman named Slim, who is trying to escape an abusive marriage. She and her daughter go on the run, shacking up with old friends and acquaintances along the way and never knowing when her toxic husband might reappear.

The movie goes full-throttle from the moment Slim first tries to escape her domestic nightmare, packed with breakneck action and a few well-placed jump scares. Everything culminates in a climax that is one of the most thrilling showdowns ever put to film, as Slim finally decides to take control of the situation. You’ll be gasping, screaming, and cheering until the end credits roll.

Gone Girl (2014)

David Fincher scores another recommendation on this list with Gone Girl, quite possibly one of the best book adaptations of the century and a great domestic thriller to boot.

Ben Affleck plays Eric, a man accused of murdering his wife, “Amazing Amy,” but insists on his innocence when authorities begin their investigation.

Rosamund Pike gives a career best performance as Amy, rightfully earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

I don't want to give away much more than that because Gone Girl has a jaw-dropping second act twist. You may never look at your spouse the same way after this one!

Other Domestic Thrillers Worth a Watch

Fatal Attraction

Basic Instinct

Sleeping with the Enemy

Cape Fear

Prisoners

A Simple Favor

Parasite