‘Linda’ Review: An Enigmatic Woman Beguiles a Whole Family in This Sexy Thriller

First time feature filmmaker Mariana Wainstein and actor Eugenia “China” Suárez superbly reveal the pathos behind an enigmatic and tantalizing lead character

Following Nicole Kidman’s “Babygirl,” another psychologically complex erotic thriller arrives at one of the fall festivals. Unspooling in the Discovery Section at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Argentine thriller “Linda” puts a sexy and mysterious maid inside a household where she wrecks emotional havoc with the family she’s serving. Immediately the tables are turned and her mystique attracts everyone and gives the upper hand. At the center of filmmaker’s Mariana Wainstein, is an alluring yet reserved performance from Eugenia “China” Suárez as the eponymous enigmatic beguiler.  

Linda enters the story as a temporary replacement for an injured maid, who’s her cousin. This is a Buenos Aires family of four, equally divided by gender as mother, father, daughter and son. The minute each of them lays eyes on Linda, their whole body language shifts and it becomes crystal clear that they are transfixed. Sure she’s a gorgeous and beautiful woman – too beautiful to be a maid she’s told by more than one member of the family – but it’s the way she offhandedly cajoles them that makes her irresistible. 

The father Camilo (Rafael Spregelburd ) tries to impress her with his belongings; expensive wine and vintage furniture. She refuses most of his gifts and what she takes she does without acknowledgment or appreciation. She looks at him impassively showing no emotion despite knowing that he’s infatuated with her. With the teenage son, Ceferino (Felipe Otaño) she’s even more dismissive. She treats his clumsy attempts at seduction with utter contempt.