In Halina Reijn's steamy new thriller "Babygirl," Nicole Kidman delivers a captivating performance as Romy Mathis, a robotics company CEO whose carefully controlled life unravels when she begins a dangerous affair with a young intern.
The film opens with a glimpse into Romy's seemingly perfect world - she heads Tensile, a cutting-edge automated warehouse company, lives in a luxurious New York apartment, and maintains a suburban mansion with her theater director husband (Antonio Banderas) and two teenage daughters. Yet beneath the polished surface lies restless desire, as evidenced by her secret late-night viewings of explicit online content.
Enter Samuel (Harris Dickinson), a mysterious new intern whose commanding presence catches Romy's attention after she witnesses him expertly calming an aggressive dog. Their charged dynamic quickly evolves into a risky workplace liaison, with Samuel asserting psychological control over his powerful boss through their clandestine encounters.
Kidman, who memorably explored similar themes of desire in "Eyes Wide Shut," brings nuanced complexity to Romy - a woman both aware and helpless in the grip of her attraction. Her chemistry with Dickinson crackles with intensity, even as their relationship takes darker turns involving workplace power plays and threats.
While the film occasionally veers into camp territory (one scene involving milk-drinking and George Michael's "Father Figure" pushes boundaries), Dutch director Reijn maintains taut tension throughout. The movie cleverly subverts expectations of gender dynamics and control while updating erotic thriller tropes for the modern corporate era.
"Babygirl" may not fully develop all its themes about automation and digital dependence, but it succeeds as a provocative exploration of desire, power, and authenticity in an age of carefully curated surfaces. The result is a stylish, entertaining thriller that keeps audiences guessing until the end.
Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language, "Babygirl" runs 114 minutes and opens in theaters this Wednesday through A24.