As I write this, the newly released thriller Holland is ranked #5 in the United States on Prime Video’s top ten. That’s great, but the director of Holland already made a movie that is much better, and you can stream it right now on Hulu.
Holland is the second feature-length movie from director Mimi Cave. The film stars Nicole Kidman as a teacher and mother who suspects her husband of infidelity. She enlists the aid of a fellow teacher and friend, Dave (Gael García Bernal), to investigate her husband’s activities. What they discover will change everyone’s lives.
Holland is okay, but the mystery is better than what the discoveries lead to. It’s still worth watching for fans of domestic mysteries, but I thought the ending felt a bit flat. The reason I felt that way could be because I’d seen the director’s previous movie, Fresh, and it was one of my favorite films from that year (ranked #11 on my Best Horror Movies of 2022 list).
Fresh was released in early 2022 as a Hulu Original. The direction in Fresh is somewhat similar to Holland—stylish and bright with darkness being gradually revealed. But the story in Fresh is much better. The characters feel more developed, and the plotting is more focused. Plus, the ending is way more satisfying than the finale of Holland.
I can’t say too much about Fresh without spoiling some fantastic surprises, but the setup involves Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) meeting Steve (Sebastian Stan), and having her entire pessimistic idea about dating turned around. Noa is smitten, but Steve has a disturbing plan for their romantic getaway.
I’m not trying to bash Holland here. I’m just saying that if you saw anything you like in that movie, then you’ll probably like Fresh even more. The themes are similar in many ways, and both thrillers have a “fun yet disturbing” vibe that make them a great pair. Maybe a double feature?
I’m really just trying to say that Fresh is an amazing movie. If you haven’t seen it, you should make a point to watch it. Mimi Cave is a great filmmaker, and Fresh is one of the best feature-film debuts in recent memory.
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