BABYGIRL
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, and Sophie Wilde
Director: Halina Reijn
ADRIANO
There is something interesting about Babygirl that I really love. It's a horny movie, for sure, but it's also very non-sensational. The eroticism is more in service of what writer/director Halina Reijn wants to say about untapped desire and power balance. Even in the movie's hottest moments, Babygirl is bound by a smart script that offers laughs and shock. With a great ensemble to back it up, I found myself glued to the screen, watching the mind games and dominance go down. If you come for the hot stuff, you'll get it…and a whole lot more.
NICK
No doubt a very sexually driven film, there's something missing from Babygirl. Both Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson bring great performances to the screen – as does the glue of the film, Antonio Banderas – so it's not the cast. So the problem must be in the direction. Whether it's the cheesy, too-on-the-nose musical montages or the hints of unintentional camp, there are flaws that really took me out of the film. I will give credit where it's due, though: director Halina Reijn handles the sexuality with a maturity few would, and she deserves to be commended for that.
QUENTIN
Perhaps this is more an issue of expectation management, but based on the trailers, I expected Babygirl to be…I don’t know…hot? Sure, nominally, it’s an erotic thriller, but it’s blandly clinical, lacking in overall sexiness and horny delights (many of which are reduced to montage form). That said, the performances are great, especially Nicole Kidman, who seemingly thrives playing the rich white woman with the imperfect perfect life, and writer-director Halina Reijn confidently explores sexual desires, repression, liberation, and power dynamics. It’s certainly not a bad movie, but it’s being marketed as titillating and lurid eroticism; since that’s not what Babygirl is, I walked away wanting.
PAIGE
Babygirl is an unapologetically arousing, yet poignant, film anchored by an edgy and unrestrained performance from Nicole Kidman. Although the plot may seem a little underwhelming at first glance, writer/director Halina Reijn draws viewers in with an innovative and artistic storytelling approach that explores a woman's struggles to define her own needs and sexual desires while also experimenting with power dynamics. This drama tackles its complex themes with nuance, empathy, and style, all of which bring the erotic subgenre back to life. Halina Reijn, you are the true babygirl here.
AMARÚ
Babygirl sets itself up to feel like real life - chaotic in the repetitiveness of work, life, family, and finding pleasure amongst it all. So when its erotic nature starts to unfold, it is naturally uncomfortable and alluring, pulling you into Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman’s intriguing affair with their seductive performances. Yet, when it explores the psychological consequences afterwards and throughout, the plot becomes more contrived and artificial, entering into a whiplash of disjointed melodrama. While Babygirl is an interesting look into humanity’s relationship with power and pleasure, it lacks the depth to really explore some of its dangerous repercussions.
This film was reviewed by Nick, Adriano, and Quentin as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and 2024 Zurich Film Festival respectively.