MOVIE NEWS – A24’s latest erotic thriller, Babygirl, has sparked heated discussions this holiday season, though perhaps not for the reasons one might expect. Described by some as “sexy, dark, and unpredictable,” the film has also drawn criticism for the notable age difference between its stars Nicole Kidman (57) and Harris Dickinson (28). Now, director Halina Reijn has stepped up to defend her film, which debuted on Christmas Day with a box office haul of $1.5 million.

Babygirl tells the story of Romy Mathis (Kidman), a New York tech CEO who embarks on a passionate relationship with her much younger intern, Samuel (Dickinson). The film currently holds a Certified Fresh score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, although its audience score is a lower 54%. In an interview with W Magazine, Reijn addressed the criticism, pointing out that this isn’t her first film to feature a notable age gap. She believes this dynamic should be normalized on screen.

“When we see films where the male and female actors are the same age, we find it strange. That’s ridiculous. The idea of age gaps reversing, with women in different types of relationships, should be normalized. We’re no longer confined by societal expectations. But the male gaze and patriarchy are so ingrained in us that breaking free from them is incredibly challenging.”

This isn’t the only film this year where Kidman’s character is romantically paired with a much younger co-star. She also starred in A Family Affair opposite Zac Efron, playing Brooke Harwood, a widowed writer who starts a relationship with Chris Cole, a younger actor working with her daughter (Joey King). Unlike Babygirl, however, A Family Affair received poor reviews, holding a mere 36% rating from critics and an even lower 30% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nicole Kidman Embraced Her Role as Romy Mathis

Kidman is no stranger to the erotic thriller genre. One of her most notable performances was in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut over 25 years ago, at the age of 32, when she was married to co-star Tom Cruise. Now with decades of experience, Reijn revealed that it was Kidman who approached her for the role of Romy, expressing her desire to fully commit to the part.

“Nicole reached out after watching my debut film, Instinct. She read an early draft of Babygirl and immediately said, ‘I want to play this role.’ She also told me she wanted to surrender to the character without changing a thing. That meant a lot because I knew this script was controversial and deeply personal for me, even surrounded by shame. I needed someone as brave as the story itself.”

Babygirl is now playing in theaters. Nicole Kidman will next star in Amazon MGM’s thriller Holland, Michigan, and on the small screen, she’s set to appear in the Liane Moriarty adaptation The Last Anniversary and the Prime Video series Scarpetta, based on Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta novels.

Source: MovieWeb