It’s hard to imagine a more sensitive topic than the Holocaust. It represents humanity at its very worst. Written by Alyssa Hill and directed by Ben Shirinian, The Housewife is a disturbing, twisty tale of terror and revenge. The psychological thriller is based on a true story.
The film doesn’t always work, and at times it feels a little lost. But the powerful story and Naomi Watts’ even more powerful performance are a haunting reminder of a horrific time in human history.
The Housewife Stars Naomi Watts in a Powerful Performance
Naomi Watts plays Hermine Ryan, a typical Queens housewife in 1964, married to construction worker Russell Ryan (Luke Evans). One fateful day, Hermine crosses paths with New York Times reporter Joseph Lelyveld (Tye Sheridan), who is following a tip from famed Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal about a Nazi hiding in the Queens suburbs.
As Lelyveld investigates further, the shocking truth reveals itself. Everything becomes an emotional, complicated mess that needs sorting out. The story is not easy to watch, and as the movie unfolds, the details become even more disturbing.
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A stellar cast helps move things along, including Michael Imperioli as immigration officer Anthony DeVito and Lena Olin as Rachel Berger, a survivor of the atrocities who reluctantly becomes a key part of the investigation. It is a solid cast with a lot of great dialogue to chew on, which is a bonus, as there are few weak links among the actors telling this story.
Naomi Watts is spellbinding as Hermine. She transitions from an ordinary housewife to something entirely different. Her mask begins to slip, revealing what she is hiding underneath. It is wildly effective and powerful. This could not have been an easy character to play, but Watts is more than up to the task and carries the movie through some of the parts that really need her.
The Housewife Stumbles at Times
Unfortunately, some parts lose focus. There are times where it seems like a mashup of a theatrical film, a documentary, and a TV movie of the week. The film’s identity, much like the lead character, changes at times, and as a result it loses momentum in some key moments. Thankfully, the actors are more than up to the challenge and manage to push through these moments, though not before a sense of lost opportunity or an unfortunate change of pace.
While The Housewife struggles at times, the last act is very well done, bringing the whole story together in heartbreaking, brutally honest moments laid bare for the audience to behold. All the key characters in the film are forced to face truths that will stay with them forever, even though almost none of them are personally involved in the crimes of humanity described here. Seeing how it affected them personally, right down to the core of their souls, gave the story more weight.
While The Housewife gets in its own way at times, it all comes together in the end. Led by Watts and a very competent supporting cast, the film is definitely one that will stick with you long after you leave the theater.
The Housewife had its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. It is seeking U.S. distribution.
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