This post contains spoilers
Babygirl is a 2024 American erotic thriller film written, directed, and produced by Halina Reijn. Nicole Kidman takes on the role of a powerful CEO in the movie who risks her job and family by having an affair with a much younger intern. Romy Mathis, a CEO of a tech company in New York, is not satisfied about her marriage with her husband, Jacob. One day an intern, Samuel, in Romy’s tech company picks her to be his “mentor” during the program. After this, their professional relationship takes a dangerous turn when he makes a move on her. Romy gives in, and they begin an affair.
As their relationship deepens, Samuel pushes boundaries, showing up uninvited at her home and even her daughter’s birthday party. Romy tries to set limits but feels trapped, especially when a colleague discovers the affair and threatens to expose her. The stress leads Romy to confess her unhappiness to Jacob. Jacob, devastated, throws her out but later decides to reconcile after a confrontation with Samuel. After that, Jacob and Romy realize they still want to fight for their marriage. Meanwhile, Samuel leaves for a new job abroad, and Romy reclaims control at work, shutting down inappropriate advances from a board member. At home, Romy and Jacob reconnect, working through their issues and rediscovering intimacy, finally building a stronger relationship.
In an interview, Halina Reijn explains that Babygirl draws inspiration from the erotic thrillers of the ’80s and ’90s. While these films were entertaining, they were often rooted in outdated, male-centric views of female sexuality, with women punished for their desires. With Babygirl, Reijn aims to create an erotic thriller from a female perspective.
In a key hotel scene with Samuel, the camera focuses awkwardly and intimately on her, emphasizing her vulnerability and humanity rather than objectifying her, creating a unique, introspective take on the genre.
On the other hand, some think that Babygirl feels restrained, largely because director Halina Reijn tries to cram so many timely themes into the story. It touches on the pressures faced by women in power, age-gap relationships, discomfort with older women’s sexuality, and even the role of AI in shaping humanity’s future. With so many ideas at play, none of them are given enough room to develop into something truly bold or provocative.
Still, the movie has several successful moments despite its poorly organized plot. There is still potential for the genre to develop into something more contemporary and reflective. Fundamentally, Babygirl is an ambitious but flawed attempt to modernize a romantic thriller for a modern audience. Its examination of female desire and power is new, but the picture juggles so many subjects that some appear to be underdeveloped due to its heavy reliance on other themes. Nevertheless, there are touching instances that convey the complex and chaotic nature of human relationships.
Despite its flaws, Babygirl sparks conversations about how the genre can grow, and that alone makes it worth watching.
Edited by: Yağmur Ece Nisanoğlu