Nicole Kidman Unravels Dark Small-Town Secrets in 'Holland'
Max Sterling, 2/26/2025Nicole Kidman stars in the psychological thriller "Holland," directed by Mimi Cave. Set in a seemingly perfect small town, the film explores dark secrets through Kidman's character, Nancy, who uncovers unsettling truths alongside her colleague. Premiering at SXSW and on Prime Video March 27, this film promises a chilling look at the facade of Americana.
In what appears to be a delicious cocktail of "The Stepford Wives" meets "Pleasantville," Nicole Kidman is set to unravel the sinister threads of small-town perfection in the upcoming psychological thriller "Holland." The Academy Award-winning actress — who has made a career of portraying women on the edge of revelation — steps into the shoes of Nancy Vandergroot, a seemingly content teacher and homemaker whose pristine life begins to show dangerous cracks.
Set against the deceptively charming backdrop of Holland, Michigan — a town that practically bleeds Americana with its tulip fields and windmills — the film presents a facade so perfect it practically screams "run." Director Mimi Cave, fresh from her disturbing debut "Fresh," appears to have crafted a narrative that toys with our collective suspicion of anything that appears too good to be true.
The recently released trailer presents Kidman alongside Matthew Macfadyen (riding high from his Emmy-winning turn in "Succession") as her husband Fred — a community pillar whose smile carries just enough weight to make viewers uncomfortable. "You get to make up a story and control everything," his character ominously tells their son while fiddling with a miniature model of the town, "Like directing your own film, but better." The metaphor isn't subtle, but in the realm of psychological thrillers, sometimes the heaviest hands leave the deepest bruises.
Cave recently shared with PEOPLE that Kidman's role draws inspiration from her earlier work in "To Die For" — a comparison that should excite fans of Kidman's more nuanced performances. "She plays this incredibly undertone comedic lead and I knew she had that in her, but maybe just hasn't been in a role [like that] in a while," Cave revealed. "She is so funny, so deeply funny."
The story takes a sharp turn when Nancy and her colleague Dave Delgado (played by the ever-reliable Gael García Bernal) begin to sense something amiss in their picture-perfect community. "It might seem like we have everything all together," Kidman's character observes in the trailer, before delivering the chilling follow-up: "right under the surface, it's like we're being strangled."
The cast is rounded out by promising talents including Rachel Sennott, Lennon Parham, and Belfast breakout Jude Hill as Nancy's son. The screenplay, penned by Andrew Sodroski, appears to dance on the knife-edge between domestic drama and psychological horror — a space where Kidman has repeatedly proven herself to be particularly comfortable.
What sets "Holland" apart from similar entries in the genre is its apparent self-awareness. The trailer suggests a film that isn't afraid to acknowledge its predecessors while carving out its own identity. When Nancy warns that "This comes out, our life is ruined," we're left wondering whether the "this" in question is supernatural, psychological, or perhaps something more mundantly sinister.
For Kidman, "Holland" represents another bold choice in a career that's seen her consistently gravitate toward complex, challenging material. Coming off her provocative turn in A24's "Babygirl" and appearances in "The Perfect Couple" and "Lioness," she seems determined to continue pushing boundaries rather than resting on her considerable laurels.
The film is set to premiere at SXSW next month before landing on Prime Video on March 27, promising audiences a twisted tale that might make them think twice about the appeal of small-town living — or at least about neighbors who seem a little too perfect.
