Naomi Watts stars in ‘The Housewife’ thriller at TIFF 2026

The psychological thriller ‘The Housewife’, directed by Ben Shirinian, has debuted at TIFF 2026. Based on a true story, the film follows Hermine Ryan, an immigrant housewife living in Queens in 1964, who becomes the subject of an investigation regarding her past ties to Nazism.

Naomi Watts stars as Hermine, receiving critical praise for her performance as a woman maintaining a facade of domestic perfection while hiding a dark secret. The plot involves a New York Times reporter, played by Tye Sheridan, and an immigration officer, played by Michael Imperioli, as they investigate tips related to Nazi-hunting efforts.

While critics noted the film’s powerful character study and strong cast—including Luke Evans and Lena Olin—some reviews suggested the procedural elements and direction felt occasionally underpowered or heavy-handed.