Babygirl Review(2025) – A Bold and Electrifying Exploration of Desire

Nicole Kidman has built a career on bold, unconventional choices, seamlessly shifting between mainstream projects and deeply provocative roles. Babygirl, directed by Halina Reijn (Bodies Bodies Bodies), once again showcases her fearless approach to acting, delivering a performance that is both raw and electrifying. While the film doesn’t dwell in dark psychological territory as much as some of Kidman’s past projects, it remains a compelling and daring exploration of power, passion, and self-discovery.

Kidman plays Romy, a high-profile tech CEO in New York, whose marriage to Jacob (Antonio Banderas) appears strong, at least on the surface. However, beneath the veneer of success and control, Romy harbors deep-seated desires, which she secretly indulges in solitude. Everything shifts when she meets Samuel (Harris Dickinson), a self-assured and enigmatic intern at her firm. Unlike others, he immediately senses Romy’s unfulfilled longing, igniting an unexpected and intoxicating connection between them.

A Story of Power, Seduction, and Hidden Longings

Rather than following a predictable path of obsession and scandal, Reijn crafts a complex and layered narrative that subverts expectations. The film isn’t just about forbidden attraction—it’s an intricate study of desire, autonomy, and the push-pull of control in relationships. With moments of sharp humor woven into its steamy, tension-filled sequences, Babygirl refuses to conform to traditional moralistic storytelling, instead presenting something fresh and deeply engaging.

Dickinson delivers a mesmerizing performance as Samuel, exuding a presence that is both calming and dangerously alluring. His interactions with Romy create an unpredictable chemistry, where every glance and exchange crackles with unspoken intensity. Their backstories are only hinted at—Romy’s upbringing in cults and communes, Samuel’s description of himself as a cuckoo chick, always disrupting the spaces he enters—yet these glimpses into their pasts are enough to suggest a shared sense of displacement, a connection that fuels their fiery and deeply personal entanglement.

Kidman’s Uncompromising Performance

As expected, Kidman dominates the screen, embodying Romy with an unfiltered emotional depth that makes her both vulnerable and fiercely powerful. She embraces every facet of the character’s transformation, from her reserved composure to moments of uninhibited release, making each scene pulse with authenticity. One particularly breathtaking sequence—where Romy floats in a pool, her hair billowing in the water—perfectly captures the sensory and emotional awakening at the heart of the film.

Banderas plays Jacob with subtle brilliance, portraying a man who is both patient and devoted, yet never overshadowing Romy’s journey. He evokes genuine sympathy without undermining the film’s focus on Romy’s agency and desires, making his presence essential to the story’s emotional stakes.

A Unique and Captivating Vision

As the film progresses, the tension escalates, but instead of taking a predictable turn, Reijn maintains a refreshing unpredictability, ensuring the narrative remains deeply personal rather than overly sensationalized. Through tender and unflinching storytelling, Babygirl becomes a film about self-acceptance, identity, and the complexities of human longing.

With its charged sensuality, thought-provoking themes, and an utterly fearless performance from Kidman, Babygirl is a film that lingers long after the credits roll—a compelling and beautifully crafted meditation on desire, control, and personal liberation.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5/5) – A gripping, seductive, and emotionally layered film, led by a stunning performance from Nicole Kidman.