Few cinematic experiences have left a bigger impact on me recently than the 2022 Sundance premiere of Fresh.
Director Mimi Cave made a striking impression with her body-horror thriller starring Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones. The film was shocking, disturbing, and utterly fascinating, announcing the arrival of a bold new filmmaker.
Now, Cave is back with Holland, an homage to ’90s erotic thrillers, featuring a stellar cast. Nicole Kidman stars as Nancy Vandergroot, a seemingly happily married woman whose husband, Fred (played by the incredibly talented Matthew Macfadyen), is the local optometrist in the small town of Holland, Michigan. The town, steeped in Dutch culture, is in the midst of its annual Tulip Festival when Nancy’s world begins to unravel.
As paranoia takes hold, Nancy starts to question the people around her and the inconsistencies in her husband’s behavior. Her suspicions reach a breaking point when Fred fails to answer his hotel phone while away on a work trip, he then returns home with a parking ticket from a state he was not supposed to be visiting.
Fearing infidelity, Nancy enlists the help of a fellow teacher, Mr. Delgado (Gael García Bernal), to investigate. Their search takes unexpected turns, leading the film down a far darker and more unpredictable path than one might expect.
Kidman is right in her wheelhouse as an anxiety-stricken Midwestern mother. Macfadyen brings the same strength and dry humor that earned him multiple awards for Succession, while Bernal delivers yet another reliably strong performance.
Holland evokes the feel of ’90s thrillers like Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction, while also carrying the eerie suburban paranoia of Pleasantville. The Dutch-inspired setting provides a unique and visually striking backdrop, adding to the film’s distinct atmosphere.
Cave’s direction is spot-on, capturing both the disorienting, disassociated reality of this small town and the suffocating paranoia consuming Nancy’s life. At its best, the film is fun, intense, and full of surprises.
That said, the climax stumbles slightly. While the final twist is undeniably shocking, it feels somewhat predictable, and the ending comes off as a bit abrupt.
Still, Holland is well worth watching for its immensely talented cast, fun twists, and the continued rise of Mimi Cave as a filmmaker to watch.
