In 1999, Nicole Kidman starred alongside Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut, Stanley Kubrick’s haunting final masterpiece—a Christmas(ish?) tale exploring the intersections of ego, power, and sex. Kidman’s portrayal of Alice Harford, whose confessions of desire set her husband Bill (Cruise) on a nightmarish holiday-season odyssey, remains one of her most striking performances. Now, 25 years later, Kidman revisits similar thematic territory in Halina Reijn’s Babygirl, another holiday-set exploration of lust, power, and dissatisfaction. In Babygirl, she plays Romy, a high-powered tech CEO whose meticulously crafted life seems perfect on the surface. With a doting husband, Jacob (Antonio Banderas), two well-adjusted children, and a dreamlike home, Romy appears to have it all. Yet, beneath this pristine façade, she is deeply unfulfilled, yearning for something—or someone—to awaken her buried fantasies.
For Romy, the holiday season ushers in a fresh cohort of interns, each eager to make an impression. Most tread carefully around the commanding CEO, hesitant to speak out of turn. But Samuel (Harris Dickinson) is different. Confident without crossing into arrogance, he asserts himself in their first interaction as though he sees himself not as an employee but as an equal. His self-assurance piques Romy’s interest, sparking a subtle yet deliberate fascination. Slowly, she becomes intent on unraveling the layers of this enigmatic young man.
What begins as curiosity quickly develops into a heated affair that satisfies the unspoken desires of both parties. Professionally, Romy thrives in an environment where she holds all the control. Privately, however, she craves the inverse—a dynamic where she can surrender that authority. Jacob, her devoted husband, doesn’t seem willing or able to assume such a role. Samuel, on the other hand, identifies this vulnerability in Romy almost immediately and exploits it with precision. Their relationship becomes an outlet for Romy’s long-suppressed fantasies, while Samuel relishes the power imbalance he’s quietly turned on its head.
The chemistry between Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson is the heart of Babygirl, sustaining its energy and tension throughout. Dickinson’s screen presence is magnetic, mirroring the way Romy instinctively singles Samuel out from the sea of interns. There’s an inherent mystique to Dickinson—his restrained expressions belie an undeniable gravity that draws attention from both the characters on screen and the audience watching.
This enigmatic quality is established early, in a scene where Samuel wrangles a loose dog on the busy streets of New York. The moment is subtle but striking, showcasing his quiet confidence and capability. It’s here, outside their office building, that Romy first spots him, and it’s easy to see why she takes notice. Dickinson commands attention without effort, his understated demeanor perfectly complementing the intense, simmering dynamic he shares with Kidman’s Romy.
Director Halina Reijn crafts a compelling follow-up to Bodies Bodies Bodies with Babygirl, maintaining her knack for capturing the zeitgeist while delving deeper into raw human desires and the uncomfortable truths they expose. The film thrives on its tension, creating moments that are so awkward and emotionally fraught that they almost compel you to avert your eyes. The fallout from Romy and Samuel’s affair, as it inevitably leaks, forces Romy to confront the wreckage she’s caused—not just to her own life but to those who care for her most.
Antonio Banderas’ Jacob, intentionally portrayed as unassuming and conventional, is a poignant foil to Romy’s chaos. His unconditional love and willingness to endure for her starkly contrast her relentless pursuit of fulfillment at any cost, creating an emotional core that elevates the story beyond its provocative surface.
Beyond its examination of power and unchecked desire, Babygirl is a gripping and stylish piece of cinema. The performances are magnetic, the pacing assured, and the set design meticulously alluring. Much like Eyes Wide Shut, Reijn’s film draws you in with its hypnotic visual style and refuses to let go, transforming a slow-motion disaster into an experience you simply can’t turn away from. Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson’s mesmerizing dynamic seals the deal, making Babygirl as compelling as it is uncomfortable.
Harris Dickinson has consistently demonstrated his ability to elevate the material he’s given, but Babygirl finally feels like a project worthy of his immense talent. While Dickinson’s performances in films like Triangle of Sadness and Beach Rats were standout elements, they often outshone scripts that didn’t fully capitalize on their potential.
Here, Dickinson starts with a restrained, softer performance reminiscent of his work in last year’s Scrapper. But as Babygirl progresses, he gradually peels back layers of his character, revealing a magnetic presence that blends subtlety with raw intensity. The result is a portrayal that feels textured and complete, cementing his ability to dominate the screen while also adding depth to his character’s enigmatic charm. It’s a career-highlight performance in a film that truly meets him on his level.
Babygirl is undeniably one of my favorite films of 2024. It’s provocative and salacious in ways that are deliberate, using its charged energy to mirror the allure and discomfort of its themes. Much like Eyes Wide Shut decades ago, it thrives on the juxtaposition of its sophisticated set design and holiday setting with the raw, uninhibited desires of its characters.
More than just a revival of the erotic thriller subgenre, Babygirl redefines what’s possible for star-driven arthouse films in today’s studio landscape. It’s a bold statement piece that bridges boundary-pushing storytelling with mainstream accessibility, setting a new standard for this type of cinema.
Score: 8/10
- Cast: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde, Esther-Rose McGregor, Vaughan Reilly
- Director: Halina Reijn
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller
- Runtime: 114 minutes
- Rated: R
- Release Date: December 25, 2024
- Read about Babygirl (2024) on Wikipedia and IMDb
More Movies Starring Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman has starred in the following movies:
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
- The Others (2001)
- Dogville (2003)
- Birth (2004)
- The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
- The Northman (2022)
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
- Babygirl (2024)
More Movies Starring Harris Dickinson
Harris Dickinson has starred in the following movies:
- Beach Rats (2017)
- Triangle of Sadness (2022)
- Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)
- The Iron Claw (2023)
- Scrapper (2023)
- Blitz (2024)
- Babygirl (2024)
More Movies Directed by Halina Reijn
Halina Reijn has directed the following movies:
- Instinct (2019)
- Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
- Babygirl (2024)
