Erotic Thrillers Are Back, Baby!
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A Steamy Exploration of Desire and Power Dynamics in “Babygirl”
Director Halina Reijn’s new film, “Babygirl,” delves into the complex world of desire, power, and consent with a modern edge. starring Nicole Kidman and Harry Dickinson, the erotic thriller explores the verboten romance between romy, a woman stifled by societal expectations, and Samuel, a charismatic man who embodies the very desires she has suppressed. Reijn, who transitioned from acting to directing, recognizes the impact the #MeToo movement has had on her career, noting, “If #MeToo wouldn’t have happened, I wouldn’t have sat here today.” she acknowledges the movement’s meaning but also expresses concern about the potential overcorrection, fearing a sanitized approach to depicting sexuality in cinema. “I think it’s risky to say, ‘We have all these rules, we have all these words, and now we’re all perfect.’ No! We have all these tendencies. We still fall in love with the forbidden fruit…We are still beasts underneath it all.And if we don’t shine a light on those tendencies in ourselves that are dark, that is dangerous. We need to talk about this. And here’s a story of what happens when you don’t talk about it. My movie is a warning in that sense — a light, steamy, hopefully entertaining warning,” Reijn explains.
A still from Babygirl, starring Nicole Kidman and Harry dickinson. (Elevation Pictures)
Reijn describes “Babygirl” as more than simply an erotic thriller, seeing it as a generational comedy of manners.This perspective was influenced by her time working with younger cast members, including Amandla Stenberg and Rachel Sennott, on the slasher film “bodies bodies Bodies.” Reijn’s “Babygirl” promises to be a captivating exploration of complex themes, sparking conversations about desire, power, and the consequences of suppressing one’s true self.‘Babygirl’: Exploring the Complexities of Modern Relationships in a Neo-Noir Thriller
“I felt like a dinosaur,” admits director Reijn.”They really had to teach me so much about what real feminism is nowadays. My ideas were just so dated … [Babygirl] is about an older generation and a younger generation,and how differently they view things like body positivity,kink positivity,equality in the workplace and how they want to be seen and how they want to be treated.”
Mastering the Language of Manipulation
Reijn’s neo-noir thriller, ‘Babygirl’, delves into the tangled web of relationships in the modern world, exploring how the power of language can be both empowering and manipulative.
The film showcases how younger characters wield language as a weapon,blurring the lines between empowerment and exploitation. A scene featuring Dickinson’s character, Samuel, pressuring Kidman’s Romy into verbally consenting to an affair exemplifies this dynamic. While Samuel’s words appear to champion Romy’s agency, his subtle manipulation and paternalistic tone reveal a darker undercurrent.
Another compelling example involves Romy’s assistant, Esme (Sophie Wilde), who resorts to blackmail to secure a well-deserved promotion and advance workplace depiction. This scene cleverly satirizes the complexities of progressive ideals, highlighting that achieving social justice can sometimes involve unorthodox, even controversial, tactics.
Humanity in the Shadows
Reijn emphasizes theEvery character in ‘Babygirl’ is driven by their own desires and motivations, forcing the audience to grapple with moral ambiguity.
“Every single one of my characters is using whatever they can to get what they want. As an audience, you’re like, ‘Who can I root for?’ … All my four lead characters are human and ambiguous. All of them are light and dark. And all of them have flaws and beautiful sides to their characters. So that’s what I wanted to do [with the erotic thriller]: make it incredibly human and complex.”
‘Babygirl’ opens in theaters December 25th.
## Archyde Exclusive: Director Halina Reijn Talks Forbidden Desire and Feminism in “Babygirl”
**Archyde:** Halina,thank you for joining us today. your new film “Babygirl” has certainly generated buzz. erotic thrillers seem to be making a comeback, and yours feels like a very modern take on the genre. What drew you to this specific story?
**halina Reijn:** I’ve always been fascinated by erotic thrillers. Films like “Basic Instinct” and “Fatal Attraction” really spoke to me when I was younger. They made me feel less alone in my own darker fantasies and desires.
But I also recognized the problematic elements frequently enough present in these classics, particularly the punishing “femme fatale” trope. I wanted to explore those power dynamics in a more nuanced and humanistic way,showing complex characters grappling with their desires in a more realistic setting.
**Archyde:** “Babygirl” stars Nicole Kidman as Romy, a powerful tech CEO stifled by her algorithmic life, who embarks on a forbidden romance with a young intern played by Harris Dickinson. Can you talk a bit about the characters and their dynamic?
**Halina Reijn:** Romy represents this modern woman caught between societal expectations and her own inner yearnings. She’s accomplished, successful, but also deeply unfulfilled. Samuel,conversely,is charismatic,aspiring,and embodies the very desires Romy has suppressed. their relationship becomes a thrilling exploration of power, lust, and the consequences of pursuing forbidden desires.
**Archyde:** The #MeToo movement undoubtedly changed the landscape of Hollywood. How has that impacted your filmmaking,especially in a genre like this that often walks a fine line?
**halina reijn:** #MeToo was a pivotal moment,and I wouldn’t be sitting here today without it. The conversations it sparked forced the industry to confront its own uncomfortable truths and paved the way for more open discussions about consent, power dynamics, and representation.
However, I do believe there’s a danger in becoming overly cautious and sanitizing depictions of sexuality. We are still complex beings with primal urges. “Babygirl” is a** warning** - a steamy, hopefully entertaining one – about what happens when we don’t acknowledge and address those darker tendencies within ourselves.
**Archyde:** What do you hope audiences take away from “Babygirl”?
**Halina Reijn:** I want people to engage with these characters, their desires, and their flaws. I hope ”Babygirl” sparks conversation about consent, power, and the complex realities of modern relationships. For me, it’s about embracing the messiness of human sexuality and exploring it with honesty and empathy.
