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This 25th December, Santa gave us one of the raunchiest Christmas films yet. Directed by Halina Reijn, Babygirl is the story of a high-ranking CEO who finds her “release” in her employee, after being fed up with her unsatisfying s*x life. Starring Nicole Kidman in the lead role, Babygirl takes us on a wild, seductive ride through the blurred lines of power and desire. And the fact that the film does this with barely any nudity is a statement in itself.
Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in Babygirl (2024) | Credits: A24So, the question is, how did Halina Reijn pull off an erotic thriller despite keeping nudity in the backseat? Well, as an actress herself, she grew tired of being naked in every other project she signed on. Thus, she took it upon herself to prove that you don’t need to shed your clothes to make a film in the genre.
Why Halina Reijn said no to nudity for Nicole Kidman
Babygirl is Halina Reijn’s way of bringing a beloved Nicole Kidman character back to life, kind of. Remember the 1999 erotic mystery Eyes Wide Shut where Kidman’s character reveals her s*xual fantasy to her husband (Tom Cruise)? She admitted to having fantasies about a naval officer she met on vacation which then sent Cruise’s Bill into a spiral.
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut (1999) | Credits: Warner Bros.Well, Babygirl is Reijn’s take on what would have happened if Kidman’s Alice actually acted on her fantasy. In the film, a married Kidman, begins an affair with her employee (Harris Dickinson), due to an unsatisfied s*x life.
Despite it being an erotic film, there is barely any nudity in it to go by. Reijn confided in Entertainment Weekly,
I’m playing with taboos, and I’m provocative and want to provoke a discussion about s*xuality and freedom. But at the most, you see two very short snippets of an actual s*x act. The rest is all suggestion.
She added that as an actress, she had been nude in many of her films and plays and decided that it was about time a s*xual story was told without relying completely on nudity.
I was naked as an actress in every film, every play. I was done. I wanted to create a s*xual movie where you didn’t show anything, but yet it’s super central. We do show bodies, but it’s very elegant and graceful. You almost see nothing. It’s done in a way where that would hopefully connect to other women. This is how women see s*x.
And that’s how Reijn proved that less can definitely be more if done right. Her decision to keep nudity minimal in this provocative drama doesn’t hold back the film’s erotic charge – instead, it somehow amplifies it.
The most provocative scene in the film
A still from Babygirl | Credits: A24As Reijn said, Babygirl features two short clips of s*xual acts but neither of those two was the most provocative for her. In fact, the scene that does stand out to her has nothing to do with anything remotely sensual.
In the scene, Dickinson’s Samuel orders Kidman’s Romy a glass of milk. When she finishes the glass, her affair partner looks at her and goes, “Good girl.” Now that’s what Reijn is talking about.
She stated,
I find the most shocking scene is when he orders her the milk and she drinks the whole glass and he says, ‘Good girl.’ They don’t even touch. That, to me, is super arousing.
She rightfully added that for women, it’s all about the story, the tension that comes before the deed.
Because, for women, often it’s all about the story. It’s about what is in our minds. We don’t like two bodies just banging into each other. That means nothing to us. We need a whole foreplay of chapters and stories, and that’s what I’m trying to do with the film.
Her film resonated with the critics and the Rotten Tomatoes score currently stands at 77% with the critical consensus calling the thriller “more provocative than prurient.” Well, mission accomplished.
Babygirl is currently playing in theatres.
Eyes Wide Shut is available to watch on Paramount+.
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