Romy’s got it all, right? She’s killing it as the boss of a big company in New York, juggling life as a wife and mom. But there’s one snag—her sex life with her artsy theatre-director hubby Jacob isn’t really doing it for her. Then she meets Samuel, this young intern, at work. He seems to pick up on her vibe and takes the lead in what quickly turns into an exciting—but pretty risky—relationship. They start playing around with some intense power dynamics.

In the backdrop, the filmmaker had dabbled in American cinema before teaming up with none other than Nicole Kidman for this film. Nicole breathed life into Romy’s character with tons of passion and energy, proving once again that she doesn’t shy away from challenging roles.

Romy knows she’s walking a fine line here, putting both her job and her family life on the line. With Antonio Banderas playing her husband and their two daughters in the picture, diving into a steamy affair with young Samuel only adds to the chaos. She’s exploring a whole new side of herself in search of something different sexually, playing with kink and submission—pretty wild compared to her usual control-freak existence.

And that’s where things really start to get interesting…
Romy’s journey has some childhood flashbacks, but honestly, it feels like they might have thrown in a bit too much explanation for stuff that’s already pretty accepted these days.

That said, the writing really digs into how Romy and Harris’s relationship grows, showing off a more genuine vibe than what we usually see. It doesn’t start picture-perfect on-screen; instead, you get to see all the awkwardness and stumbles that come with diving into something new and different.

Harris Dickinson’s character is super intriguing. He represents this modern idea of masculinity that juggles consent while exploring all sorts of gender roles without getting defeated by the confusion it sometimes brings.

Overall, what you get is an erotic thriller that’s got less of that traditional thriller vibe. It’s funnier and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Plus, with a Dutch woman navigating America’s strict ways and backed by A24’s unique touch, it adds an interesting spin to everything.
This movie does a great job blending humor with serious moments. It’s self-aware just enough to make you laugh without feeling cheesy or over-the-top. It plays around with the idea of fiction within fiction, kind of like being in on an inside joke while watching the characters deal with their own crazy adventures.