This Vietnamese film, known as The Housemaid in English, is not to be confused with the Korean films of the same name. The plot''s catalyst of a beautiful woman who goes to work as a housemaid at a wealthy estate and winds up falling into an affair with the master of that estate is similar, but that is pretty much where the similarities end. The Housemaid is set at a French plantation in Vietnam in the 1950s, and this movie is straight up Gothic horror. The supernatural element is introduced very early and utilized with all of the whispering, mirror glimpsing, spooky forest, water where it shouldn't be, creepy laughter, slamming doors, flying furniture, babies crying when there ain't no babies tropes that one would expect from Gothic horror. All is not as it appears to be with this either, except... some of it still is. The script withholds information until the end in order to keep a major plot element a secret, but I think most viewers will begin to suspect, because some of the ghost's actions don't make sense for the actual ghost to have done... and some of them do, even when you find out that there was another element that was supposed to have been at play. There is a deep well of sadness at the heart of this film's plot, as this fits into the very broad category of a tragedy plot. Order is restored in a way that brings catharsis, which is what a tragedy plot is supposed to do. This is definitely worth a watch if you don't mind frequent subtitles.

This moves at an extremely slow pace. Other than that, there isn't a lot to say. It's a ghost story but it isn't scary. The acting was ok There were a few plot holes that are a bit irritating simply because I prefer loose end to be tied up. I love good ghost stories and there's not many out there so anytime I can find one that has a decent rating I have to check it out. If you enjoy ghost movies you might find this entertaining.

A Vietnamese romance horror; A story of an orphaned country girl who works as a housekeeper on a haunted former rubber plantation estate in 1953 Vietnam. This gothic tale attempts too much in its telling - ghost story, zombie horror, erotic thriller, slave trade tale, period drama with burgeoning romance. With so many secrets spilling out in the finale of this supernatural horror there is a feeling that the viewer has been tricked rather then coaxed with subtle explanation.