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Babygirl Review

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Cinema with neon sign and people sitting inside

Violeta Paez

Babygirl (2024), directed by Halina Reijn, is an erotic thriller which received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences.

The film is an exploration of desire, power, and risk-taking, focusing on the taboo relationship which unfolds between high-powered tech CEO Romy (Nicole Kidman) and her much younger intern Samuel (Harris Dickinson).

Reijn, a Dutch actress, writer and director, has previously directed films such as Instinct (2019) and Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022).

Pushing boundaries

The affair begins when Samuel chooses Romy as a mentor for his internship program, to which she initially objects. After her reluctant acceptance of the pairing, Samuel begins to push Romy’s boundaries.

This non-sexual boundary pushing comes to a climax during a work outing when he orders her a glass of milk, a test which Romy gladly accepts by polishing off the whole glass whilst maintaining eye contact with him. This scene marks a significant point in the film’s narrative, and the sexual relationship between the two begins soon after, with Samuel as the dominant partner and Romy as the submissive.

Kidman’s portrayal of Romy is a triumph as she strikingly captures the nuances and complications of womanhood.

Romy seems to struggle in all her relationships. Her sexual relationship with her husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas) leaves her unfulfilled, and she keeps her colleagues at arm’s length, with the ‘milk scene’ being the first time she has socialised with them outside of work.

Romy and Samuel’s relationship

As her relationship with Samuel unfolds, she struggles to remain in her submissive position. Her journey in their relationship is awkward, unsettling, and, at times, amusing. The audience sits in discomfort, stifling laughter as Romy stands facing the corner under Samuel’s command during the pair’s first intimate rendezvous in a dingy hotel room.

Despite Babygirl’s subject matter, much of the content itself is not explicitly sexual, instead relying on the unresolved desire between Romy and Samuel to build intense anticipation. While there are cringeworthy moments, the sexual chemistry and tension between Romy and Samuel is undeniable.

“Regardless of its strengths, the film does have some weaker points.”

This is one of Dickinson’s first major roles, and his screen presence is magnetically fearless. Samuel is multifaceted and seductive, at times commanding attention with his domineering attitude and at others eliciting laughter with his uncertainty and clumsiness.

Dubbed TikTok’s “white boy of the month”, his physicality is essential to the creation of tension throughout the film. This culminates in the solo shirtless rhythmic display to George Michael’s ‘Father Figure’, reminiscent of Barry Keoghan’s nude routine in Emerald Fennell’s hit Saltburn (2023).

Samuel joins Romy in her exploration of the dom/sub dynamic, and his presence leads her to new experiences. This reaches its peak in the scene where she appears to be completely out of her comfort zone as she finds him at a gritty, sweaty rave.

Cinematic techniques

Babygirl’s colour palette makes use of earthy, muted tones, grounding the film in realism and emphasising the everyday dilemmas the characters face. This is particularly evident in the home setting, heightening the emotional impact of the family’s struggles both prior to and after the revelation of Romy and Samuel’s affair.

Exposing close-ups allow the audience to witness the characters’ emotions, particularly Romy’s internal conflict. Meanwhile, the score transports us throughout the story, from the suspenseful hum tones in tense moments to the heavy bass and distorted beats heightening the gritty rave scene.

Weaknesses

Regardless of its strengths, the film does have some weaker points. There are plot holes in the narrative itself, with little explanation as to how Samuel ends up in a relationship with co-worker Esme, who then uses her awareness of his and Romy’s relationship to blackmail her into making changes within the company.

There is little development of the peripheral characters, with Romy and Jacob’s youngest daughter seeming to serve no purpose at all to the advancement of the plot and providing little at all by way of entertainment.

“It is a poignant exploration of identity and agency”

Babygirl is a masterclass in intimate storytelling, examining the themes of manipulation, boundary-pushing, and self-discovery. With standout performances from both Kidman and Dickinson, the film explores the complexity of relationships and the power dynamics through which they are shaped.

It is a poignant exploration of identity and agency, providing the audience with an erotically charged energy coupled with some uncomfortable encounters, which ultimately push the characters to confront their limits and question their identities.

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Featured image courtesy of Myke Simon on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here. 

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