Small towns have made for some of the best horror and thriller movie settings. “Halloween,” “Sleepy Hollow” and “Jaws” exist in vastly different subsections of the genres, but their close-knit towns all bring an added element of terror. The idea that such violence could never happen in a small town is pervasive, mentioned in documentaries and fictional films alike. In director Mimi Cave’s latest film, “Holland,” Michigan seems like one such harmless place. In real life, it’s a quiet town known for its annual Tulip Time Festival with people who seem charming and vibrant. But in “Holland,” they’re stale and boring, hardly seeming like real people at all.
The film follows local teacher Nancy (Nicole Kidman) as she takes care of her son Harry (Jude Hill), while her husband Fred (Matthew Macfadyen) makes frequent work trips. Bored and lonely, Nancy begins to suspect Fred is having an affair, so she enlists another teacher, Dave (Gael García Bernal) to help her solve the mystery. This suspicion is rooted in practically nothing. It’s a glorified hunch, but it gets the otherwise nonexistent plot moving.
This setup is basic and overdone, which would be forgivable if Nancy, Fred, Dave or even Harry had any unique traits. Instead, they exist as shells of people. Fred is an optometrist. He calls his son “buddy” and makes “pop and milk” for dessert. Speaking of the son, Harry doesn’t seem to like Nancy all that much and just longs to have sleepovers with his friends. Nancy watches “Mrs. Doubtfire” alone and calls her husband when she’s bored. She is a lonely housewife, and we are supposed to find that sad. But the writing and characters are so bland that even Kidman can’t make the audience care.
Of course, since this is supposedly a thriller, there’s a twist. Fred is, to no one’s surprise, not who he says he is. After an hour and a half of Nancy’s endless suspicions and a confusing relationship developing with Dave, this reveal is admittedly a welcome addition to the film. Macfadyen plays the shift from sweet to menacing well, and the writing shines in highlighting this side of his skill set.
To round out the thriller-esque parts of the film, Cave inserts a few nightmares from each of the characters. Nancy dreams of her son fading into a bush before she nearly drowns in a pool of liquified members of her town, and Dave dreams of being eaten alive by Pomeranians after seeing them at the scene of a crime. The dreams always seem a bit out of place, and the nightmare trope can often feel trite. But their vivid and unique visuals showcase a bit of Cave’s directorial style that the rest of the film lacks.
When done right, a unique but classic small town can add realism and charm to an otherwise fantastical film. But it felt like “Holland” could have been set anywhere. Sure, Cave mentions Tulip Time, Dutch dancing and Dutch food. There is even a parade at the end to celebrate Tulip Time. But nothing truly felt specific. This could have been any small town with nice people, a bit of culture and a parade, and it wouldn’t have made a difference to the story. Cave and the writers just don’t make Holland — or these characters — feel special. Even outside of the uninspired plot, that shouldn’t be too much to ask for.
Gabriella is a senior from Los Angeles, concentrating in English, Modern Culture and Media, and Literary Arts. If she’s not at the movies, you can find her coaching the Dodgers from her dorm, plotting her future Big Brother win or perfecting her chocolate chip cookie recipe.
