Nicole Kidman Steamy Pic ‘Babygirl’ Wows Venice Film Festival 5

The Venice Film Festival finally got to meet Halina Reijn’s Babygirl.

The erotic thriller from A24 had its world premiere inside Palazzo del Cinema on Friday evening on the Lido. The capacity crowd seated inside Sala Grande responded with a wild standing ovation for star Nicole Kidman and her cast of collaborators Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas and Sophie Wilde. The audience jumped to their feet as the credits rolled with warm, enthusiastic applause and whoops and hollers for the cast, especially Kidman. The standing ovation continued for a solid seven minutes with waves of clapping and cheering greeting Kidman as she rose, waved to the crowd and walked out of the theater. “You nailed it!” yelled one audience member. “Slayed it! Erotic thriller slay!”

The love started early when Kidman and crew arrived to the scene. Fans lining the barricade erupted with cheers as she made her entrance in a striking Schiaparelli Couture creation that featured a corset bustier in nude organza embroidered with black sequins that cascade into black fringes. The look, designed by Daniel Roseberry, was paired with a long black velvet skirt and stilettos. Kidman greeted Reijn, dressed in a white cape, and the two gathered for a warm embrace. Dickinson wore a suit by Bottega Veneta while Wilde looked dramatic in a custom look by Loewe with a black silk veil.

The premiere was a well-attended and starry affair thanks in large part to Armani who hosted many of its ambassadors and guests of the house including Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart, Chase Stokes, Ella Purnell, Odeya Rush, Ncuti Gatwa, Madisin Rian, Kaya Scodelario, Eva Green and others.

Babygirl follows Romy, a high-powered and polished CEO living in New York, as she puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with a much younger intern. Kidman stars as the executive, a woman who has never experienced true pleasure with her sweet and caring husband, played by Banderas. Dickinson plays the staffer, Samuel, while Wilde stars as Esme, Romy’s assistant. Reijn directed the 108-minute film from her own script, and she also produced alongside David Hinojosa and Julie Oh. The A24 film is due for release on Dec. 25.

In a revealing interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Reijn said Babygirl was explicitly inspired by the sexual thrillers of the 1990s, especially the work of Paul Verhoeven. “Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction, 9 1/2 Weeks, Indecent Proposal, not only because they entertained me at the time, but also because I felt really seen by them, weirdly, even though they were all directed by men and had a sometimes not-too-friendly view of women,” explained Reijn, who added that her intent was to also bridge the “orgasm gap” in Hollywood.

Reijn, who also directed Bodies Bodies Bodies for A24, later added that it seems there’s been a cultural shift away from sexuality out of fear. “But I think there’s a general need and a hunger for it — a need to look at sex in an honest way and to see the humor in it. We have all these new rules about consent, which are amazing and super important. But at the same time, we are still animalistic, and we need to still look at that part of ourselves. I think that’s where this urge comes from to make these movies.”

During Friday’s press conference, Kidman opened up by saying it’s a liberating story told through the female gaze, and it touches on themes of “desire, inner thoughts, marriage, truth, power and consent.” She called it a “very deep and freeing” experience to be in the hands of a female auteur like Reijn. It’s paying off in early reviews as THR’s chief film critic David Rooney praised Kidman in the role for her “physical and psychological fearlessness.”

“I think that’s what made it so compelling, was being in the hands of Halina [as my director], because I knew she wasn’t going to exploit me. I mean, however, anyone interprets it, I didn’t feel exploited. I felt very much a part of it. It’s the story that I wanted to be a part of, that I wanted to tell, and every part of me was committed to that,” she added.

For his part, Dickinson praised Kidman as “a living legend.” He added: “In building my character I worked on his confusion as a young man, representing his generation. Also, we had a wonderful intimacy coordinator that really helped us through the process.”

While she said that she was feeling “exposed and vulnerable and frightened” on the eve of presenting Babygirl to the world, she might feel a sense of relief now based on the audience’s reaction. After the world premiere, A24 is hosting a bash for the film at the iconic Hotel Cipriani, which has become the hottest ticket at this year’s festival so far.