Released in 2024, Babygirl emerges as a provocative addition to the erotic thriller genre, directed, co-written, and produced by Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn. Distributed by A24, the film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it garnered significant attention, and later enjoyed a successful theatrical release on December 25, 2024. Starring Nicole Kidman as Romy Mathis, a high-powered CEO, and Harris Dickinson as Samuel, her much younger intern, Babygirl delves into the complexities of power, desire, and vulnerability. With a stellar supporting cast including Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde, and Esther McGregor, the film blends steamy romance with psychological tension, culminating in unexpected plot twists that redefine its narrative. This article explores the cast, content, and pivotal plot twists that make Babygirl a standout cinematic experience.
The Cast: A Stellar Ensemble
Nicole Kidman leads the film as Romy Mathis, delivering a performance that has been widely praised for its emotional depth and physical commitment. Known for her versatility in films like Moulin Rouge! and The Hours, Kidman portrays a successful robotics company CEO whose polished exterior hides a restless inner life. Her chemistry with Harris Dickinson, who plays Samuel, is central to the film’s allure. Dickinson, recognized for roles in Triangle of Sadness and The Iron Claw, brings a magnetic yet unsettling confidence to the intern, balancing charm with a manipulative edge. The age and power gap between the two characters adds a layer of tension that drives the story forward.
Antonio Banderas rounds out the main trio as Jacob Mathis, Romy’s husband and a theater director. Banderas, with his storied career in films like Desperado and Pain and Glory, infuses Jacob with warmth and complexity, offering a contrasting perspective to the affair’s unfolding drama. Sophie Wilde, known for Talk to Me, plays Esme, Romy’s assistant, whose own relationship with Samuel introduces additional intrigue. Esther McGregor, daughter of Ewan McGregor, portrays Isabel, Romy’s eldest daughter, adding a familial dimension to the narrative. Supporting actors like Vaughan Reilly (as Nora, the younger daughter), Victor Slezak, Leslie Silva, and Dolly Wells as a therapist further enrich the ensemble, each contributing to the film’s exploration of power dynamics and personal boundaries.
The casting process was notably collaborative, with Reijn forgoing traditional chemistry reads due to the A-list status of her leads. Kidman and Reijn developed a deep trust during preparation, revising scenes and sharing personal stories to create a safe, intimate set environment. Dickinson’s selection was based on his prior work, particularly his ability to embody a nuanced object of desire. The use of an intimacy coordinator, likened by Reijn to a stunt coordinator, ensured that the film’s explicit scenes were choreographed with care, enhancing the actors’ performances while maintaining professionalism.
Content: A Blend of Eroticism and Psychological Depth
Set against the backdrop of a modern New York City Christmas season—a pivot from Reijn’s original summer script—Babygirl follows Romy Mathis, a CEO of a robotics firm specializing in warehouse automation. The film opens with a striking scene: Romy, post-coital with Jacob, sneaks away to masturbate to online pornography, revealing her sexual dissatisfaction despite her seemingly perfect life. This vulnerability sets the stage for her encounter with Samuel, a new intern whose assertive demeanor captivates her during a chance meeting on a city sidewalk.
The affair begins with subtle flirtation, escalating into a dominant-submissive dynamic that reverses their workplace hierarchy. Samuel’s control over Romy is both physical and psychological, with scenes in dingy hotel rooms contrasting her luxurious life. The film explores themes of power, gender roles, and the orgasm gap, drawing from Reijn’s research into corporate gender norms post-#MeToo. Romy’s journey is not just about lust but about confronting repressed desires, challenging the notion that control must be rigid.
The supporting characters amplify the narrative’s complexity. Jacob’s obliviousness to Romy’s needs, Esme’s rivalry with Romy for Samuel’s affection, and Isabel’s subplot hinting at familial tension weave a web of emotional stakes. The film’s R rating reflects its strong sexual content, nudity, and mature themes, though the sex scenes are more evocative than graphic, relying on choreography and lighting to convey intimacy. Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s symphonic score heightens the tension, while the Christmas setting adds an ironic layer to the dark proceedings.
Critics have noted Babygirl’s departure from traditional erotic thrillers like Fatal Attraction, aligning it more with 9½ Weeks or Secretary due to its focus on self-acceptance over punishment. With a 76% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 79/100 Metacritic rating, the film has been lauded for its provocative take on female desire, though some find its ending superficial. Audiences have given it a mixed “B–” CinemaScore, reflecting its polarizing nature.
Plot Twists: Redefining the Narrative
Babygirl’s strength lies in its unexpected plot twists, which subvert genre conventions and deepen its psychological resonance. The first major twist occurs when Esme reveals she is also involved with Samuel, shattering Romy’s illusion of exclusivity. This revelation, hinted at through subtle interactions, forces Romy to confront the power imbalance not just with Samuel but within her own circle, adding a layer of betrayal that complicates her emotional landscape.
The climactic twist comes in the final act, where Samuel’s dominance is revealed as a calculated performance. During a confrontation, he admits to orchestrating the affair to blackmail Romy, leveraging compromising photos to secure a promotion. This moment shifts the narrative from a tale of mutual desire to one of manipulation, challenging the audience’s perception of Samuel’s charisma. However, the ultimate twist follows: Romy, aware of the blackmail, turns the tables by exposing Samuel’s scheme to the company board, using her position to protect herself while framing him as the aggressor. This reversal restores her control, subverting the submissive role she had embraced.
The film’s denouement offers a final twist with a return to her marriage. After the affair’s fallout, Romy confesses her desires to Jacob, who responds by embracing them, leading to a renewed sexual connection. This resolution, framed by a Christmas reconciliation, suggests that the affair was a catalyst for self-discovery rather than destruction, a departure from the punitive endings typical of the genre. Some critics have called this ending unrealistic, given the lack of professional consequences, but it aligns with Reijn’s intent to explore liberation over judgment.
Reception and Legacy
Babygirl premiered to acclaim at Venice, where Kidman won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, and its $64.6 million box office haul on a $20 million budget underscores its commercial success. Reviews praise Kidman’s fearless performance and Reijn’s clinical yet empathetic direction, though opinions vary on the script’s depth. The film’s exploration of gender dynamics and its holiday release have sparked debates, with some seeing it as a bold feminist statement and others as a shallow provocation.
The legacy of Babygirl may lie in its revival of the erotic thriller, a genre dormant since the 1990s. Its nuanced portrayal of power and its refusal to moralize position it as a modern classic, influencing future works to blend sensuality with psychological insight. As Reijn herself noted, the film’s primary achievement is its heat, a testament to its ability to captivate and challenge audiences alike.
Conclusion
Babygirl is a compelling fusion of stellar performances, intricate content, and surprising plot twists that redefine the erotic thriller. Nicole Kidman’s Romy, supported by a talented cast, navigates a journey of desire and power, while Halina Reijn’s direction crafts a narrative that is both seductive and thought-provoking. The film’s twists—from Esme’s involvement to Romy’s strategic redemption—keep viewers engaged, culminating in a resolution that prioritizes self-acceptance. Whether celebrated or critiqued, Babygirl stands as a bold exploration of human complexity, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary cinema.
