Nicole Kidman delivers a riveting performance as Nancy Vandergroot, in Mimi Cave’s second feature film, "Holland". The movie, initially premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival, is set for release on Prime Video on March 27. Nancy's journey begins as a suburban mother, who, on the loss of a pearl earring, hastily accuses her son's tutor of theft. As the narrative progresses, Nancy's tendencies to rush to judgments get more serious when she suspects her husband, Fred (Matthew Macfadyen), of having an affair.
Unlike the vibrant style and charismatic performances from Kidman, Macfadyen, and Gael García Bernal (Dave - Nancy’s friend), a wobbly narrative tolerance presents itself as the film's major setback. Andrew Sodroski’s screenplay is visually compelling but cracks under a twist in the plot that shatters the ongoing suspenseful drama. It leaves the film with a slackening sense of suburban paranoia and domestic isolation.
Nancy was once simply a home economics teacher, living blissfully with her loving family in a charming Michigan locale, singing praises about her idyllic life. However, beneath her tranquil façade, secrets start bubbling. Suspecting Fred's betrayal on trivial findings, she turns to Dave, a fellow school teacher, for help. Dave, nurturing an unconfessed admiration for Nancy, agrees to aid her in her plight.
As the investigation gains momentum, Nancy's constant state of anxiety escalates, giving way to nightmares and a complex relationship with Dave. This paranoid woman's character nourishes Kidman’s strong acting skills - showcasing a perfect blend of innocent public imagery and underlying appetite for risk.
The key highlight of 'Holland' is undeniably Mimi Cave’s direction, which artfully portrays suburban discomfort. Cave, collaborating yet again with Fresh cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski, paints a horrifying picture of Nancy's unstable psyche, amplified by Alex Somers' ominous music score.
However, all these outstanding elements fail to compensate for the confusion and loose ends in the narrative. Gael García Bernal also provides an impressive performance as the determined, slightly obsessed Dave, but his character development falls flat, like many other aspects of the plot. Despite the shocking reveal in the final act, the conclusion seems like a deflation, leaving the movie to stumble along, burdened by unresolved storylines.
