Starring: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson and Antonio Banderas
Directed by: Halina Reijn
Rated: R
Running Time: 114 minutes
A24
Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars
Without knowing it, mainly because I was a child, I grew up during the peak of erotic thrillers like “Basic Instinct,” “Disclosure,” “Fatal Attraction” and “Wild Things.” It’s a fascinating genre because sex is still one of the most taboo things in society. In an age where our media drips in murder porn, shocking live footage of incidents, and true crime, we still can’t have frank discussions about the things that make us horny.
Enter “Babygirl,” a film about robot AI company CEO Romy (Nicole Kidman) who seemingly has it all, a loving wife, some kids that seem tolerable, several places to call home in the city and countryside, and of course the job of running what appears to be a multi-billion dollar company. Only problem? She can’t orgasm. Her husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas) just can’t get her off, so much so that after sex she wanders off after sex to masturbate to porn in secret. Samuel (Harris Dickinson), a blunt intern at Romy’s company, request Romy be his mentor in the internship program. Sparks…don’t fly, but the pants definitely come off.
“Babygirl” is interesting because there isn’t the traditional passionate build-up with romantic cliches. Instead, the two immediately sense each other’s horniness and it’s not long before Romy is on the floor, acting like a dog for Samuel. The sexual encounters increase and amplify, flirting with revealing the whole hook-up to Jacob, the robotics company and others. It’s the kind of film where the sexual powder keg hinges on how well the blow-up is.
Without spoiling anything, “Babygirl” really plays into the notion of dominant and submissive, and even how that dynamic isn’t as black and white. The film says a lot and will most likely speak to everyone’s perception of sexuality, without it coming down to just a blanket statement on men versus women, or bosses versus employees, or #MeToo, or whatever societal battle one wants to wage. While it says things about all those, it ultimately speaks to a personal level. To me, it’s about the nature of humans and how it’s difficult to pigeonhole or categorize us. Sex is a big part of our lives and yet it doesn’t define us.
Kidman and Dickinson play really well off each other, but for some reason the same magic doesn’t happen when other characters, like Banderas, come on-screen. It makes the film drag a little bit in spots because we have such high octane sexual thrills to soak in. That being said, the intensity of the affair lingers throughout like a scent your nose can’t escape. If there was ever a need to rejuvenate the erotic thriller genre, “Babygirl” has given us reason that it can be more than just late night trash, but an engaging commentary that resonates with those willing to have a frank viewing experience with it.