Babygirl

''Babygirl'' is a 2024 American erotic thriller film written, directed, and co-produced by Halina Reijn. It stars Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, and Antonio Banderas.

The film debuted on August 30, 2024, at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Lion. It is scheduled to make its North American premiere at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2024. It will be released theatrically by A24 in the United States and Canada on December 25, 2024.

Premise

This cinematic work explores the complexities of power dynamics and sexuality within a professional setting as it revolves around a high-ranking CEO ( Nicole Kidman) who embarks on a forbidden romance with a captivating intern (Harris Dickinson), who is significantly younger.

Cast

Production

Development

It was announced in November 2023 that David Hinojosa of 2AM was going to produce the project alongside Halina Reijn of Man Up Films, with A24 financing the project. Julia Oh, Zach Nutman, and Christine D'Souza Gelb of 2AM served as executive producers. It was later revealed that Julie Oh would take on the producer role, contrary to earlier reports that she would serve as an executive producer. In addition to her role as producer, Halina Reijn directed the film from a screenplay she wrote. The project marked Reijn's second English-language feature film, both produced by A24.

The film's workplace dynamics were influenced by cinematic elements from '' Indecent Proposal'' and '' Basic Instinct''. The affair in the film was set in an American workplace because the stricter hierarchy and rules in the U.S. compared to Europe was felt by the filmmaker to make such a relationship feel even more forbidden and taboo.

Reijn added that her interest in exploring women's relationships with their bodies was a key motivator for making this movie. She also credited her passion for the erotic thrillers of the 1980s and 1990s, particularly those by directors Paul Verhoeven and Adrian Lyne, as the inspirational driving force behind her decision to make this film.

Casting

In November 2023, Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde and Jean Reno were announced as part of the cast. Other cast members included John Cenatiempo, Vaughan Reilly, Victor Slezak, Anoop Desai and Maxwell Whittington-Cooper. Esther McGregor was reported to star.

Filming

Principal photography began in December 2023, in New York City. Filming took place from December 2023 to February 2024.

Release

''Babygirl'' premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2024. It will later premiere at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2024. The film is set for a release in the United States and Canada on December 25, 2024, for its theatrical debut.

Reception

Critical response

Damon Wise of '' Deadline'' praised the performance of Kidman as " hereally goes the distance, imbuing Romy with a psychological vulnerability that is missing from the film it most obvious sounds like ('' Fifty Shades of Grey'') and presenting a unique reversal of the film it most obviously looks like ('' Secretary'')." He also mentioned Dickinson's performance as "an inspired piece of casting, manifesting like a monster from the id with his dorky, knife-and-fork haircut and clothes that he appears to have put on with a shovel."

David Rooney of '' The Hollywood Reporter'' called out the film as "sexy, dark and unpredictable" and praised the cast performance. He mentioned Dickinson was "a magnetic screen presence", Kidman was "in spectacular form, swinging from outrage to fear to ravenously lustful consent", Wilde brought "sly notes of humor". Richard Lawson of '' Vanity Fair'' praised the overall film as "Reijn creates the sense that we are watching test subjects through a two-way mirror. This doesn’t necessarily make the proceedings any less interesting. But one does maybe crave a bit more heat from a movie that is so willing to tackle intimate matters."

In a more critical review, Xan Brooks of '' The Guardian'' stated, "for all its excited carnality and seesawing power struggles, the film’s thrills feel machine-tooled and vacuum-packed. Babygirl rolls off the track looking almost as neat and anonymous as a box from Tensile’s upstate delivery warehouse." However, he commended Kidman's "bright, bold performance" as it "carries a top-note of distress, as though she is not entirely convinced by everything she’s signed up for." On the contrary, Owen Gleiberman of '' Variety'' praised the overall film as "a shrewdly honest and entertaining movie about a flagrantly “wrong” sadomasochistic affair" and he termed Kidman's performance "fearless".

Robbie Collin of '' The Telegraph'' praised the film, noting that it "is sharp enough – and hot enough." He highlighted Nicole Kidman's performance as "ferociously good, convincing utterly as this formerly level-headed careerist whose deeply buried, long-denied appetites are simultaneously proving her making and downfall." Alison Willmore of '' Vulture'' described the film as "a self-love story," emphasizing that part of its message is about the importance of allowing oneself to be vulnerable and to "let yourself be small for a while." Glenn Kenny'' praised Kidman's performance but the film itself did not convince him "Kidman has garnered kudos for an uninhibited and daring performance, but when has she ever shied away from uninhibited and daring performances? I love to see them always, but I love to see them even more in good movies." Kevin Maher of '' The Times'' mentioned that "...like the best BDSM experiences (they say), is slightly contrived but very satisfying."

Radhika Seth of '' Vogue'' acknowledged that the film isn't for everyone, dividing critics and even premiere attendees. However, she praised Antonio Banderas, Nicole Kidman, Halina Reijn, and Cristobal Tapia de Veer for their standout contributions to the film. Ben Croll of '' TheWrap'' said that despite hints at deeper themes and narratives, the film stands out for its surprising absence of cynicism. Martin Tsai of '' IndieWire'' noted that while the film does elicit some laughs, whether intentional or not, it ultimately feels more demeaning for Nicole Kidman than '' Dogville''. He pointed out that Catherine Breillat had already addressed similar themes more skillfully in '' Last Summer'', and criticized Reijn for lacking the nuance needed to elevate the film into something more meaningful.

Accolades

References

External links

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{{Halina Reijn

2024 thriller films
2020s American films
2020s English-language films
2020s erotic thriller films
A24 (company) films
American erotic thriller films
Films directed by Halina Reijn
Films scored by Cristobal Tapia de Veer
Films shot in New York City