Does Nicole Kidman ever miss? Even when the script does, she rarely does — and Holland, her latest psychological drama directed by Mimi Cave, proves that yet again. The film, Cave’s sophomore effort after Fresh, begins with promise but eventually devolves into a muddled mystery that never lives up to its suspenseful setup.
Key Highlights:
A Promising Start with Strong Casting
Kidman plays Nancy Vandergroot, a teacher in Holland, Michigan, suspicious of her husband Fred (Matthew Macfadyen), an optometrist who seems to be hiding something. After firing the family’s babysitter (Rachel Sennott, criminally underused in a one-scene role) over a missing earring, Nancy spirals into a state of paranoia.
She teams up with fellow teacher Dave Delgado (Gael García Bernal) to investigate Fred’s sudden business trips. But what starts as an intriguing domestic thriller quickly loses its way.
A Script That Ignores Its Own Logic
The screenplay by Andrew Sodroski becomes increasingly chaotic, stringing one hollow reveal after another. Tension is sacrificed for unnecessary detours and undercooked subplots.
- Racism faced by Dave appears only when convenient to Nancy’s story.
- Fred’s elaborate train set remains a curious but pointless detail.
- The Holland setting, though visually rich, is underutilized—its uniqueness irrelevant to the plot’s progression.
The plot’s internal logic collapses under the weight of contrivances, with emotional stakes given little room to develop.
Wasted Talent, Except for Kidman
Both Macfadyen and Bernal are left stranded in underwritten roles, while the film relies heavily on Kidman’s expertise. She brings a tragicomic sense of suspicion and emotional vulnerability to Nancy—traits the script fails to fully support.
The role echoes her past performances in The Stepford Wives, yet Kidman manages to make Nancy distinct, lending nuance to an otherwise hollow protagonist.
Direction Without Direction
Mimi Cave’s direction lacks the confidence and clarity she showcased in Fresh. Here, the film is self-aware but aimless, filled with aesthetic choices that serve no narrative purpose. Viewers are left guessing — not in anticipation, but in confusion.
By the second half, audiences are likely to predict the film’s trajectory, only to be let down by the lack of payoff. The film flirts with Coen Brothers-style dark comedy and Shyamalan-esque suspense, but lacks the precision to emulate either.
Holland Movie Review
The holland movie may offer Nicole Kidman another chance to shine, but it’s ultimately a disappointing thriller that never knows what to do with itself. With Mimi Cave’s direction adrift and a script too clever for its own good, Holland ends up being a curious but unfulfilling watch.
There’s a smarter, darker, and more engaging movie buried in the premise—but unfortunately, Holland can’t seem to find it.
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