Nicole Kidman stars as Nancy Vandergroot in Holland, a thriller set in the early 2000s in Holland, Michigan—a picturesque town famous for its Dutch heritage and Tulip Festival. While Nancy appears to have a peaceful life with her husband, Fred (Matthew Macfadyen), and their son, Harry, she begins to suspect that Fred is hiding a dark secret. The film follows her growing paranoia and search for the truth, leading to shocking revelations that disrupt her seemingly perfect world.
Nancy confides in her friend and colleague, Dave (Gael García Bernal), about her suspicions that Fred is having an affair. She discovers a parking ticket from an unfamiliar town and a stash of Polaroid film in his belongings, which deepens her distrust. Despite his reluctance, Dave helps Nancy break into Fred’s optometrist office, where they uncover more suspicious items, including an album filled with unsettling Polaroid photos. This discovery strengthens Nancy’s resolve to find out what her husband is really up to.
A Forbidden Affair, Growing Suspicion, and the Chilling Truth About Fred’s Crimes
Nancy and Dave’s investigation takes a personal turn when they succumb to their emotions and sleep together. However, their relationship is interrupted when Dave is targeted by an angry parent in town, forcing him to confront his own troubled past. Meanwhile, Fred begins to sense Nancy’s deception, warning her to stop digging for answers if she wants to keep her peaceful life intact. But Nancy cannot ignore her growing fears, leading her and Dave to follow Fred on one of his supposed business trips.
Holland (Photo: Amazon MGM Studios)As Nancy and Dave track Fred, they uncover horrifying evidence that he is not an adulterer but a serial killer. Dave follows Fred to a secluded house and catches him in the act of murdering a woman. In a violent struggle, Dave stabs Fred and leaves him for dead in a nearby lake. Meanwhile, Nancy pieces together Fred’s pattern of killings, linking them to his frequent trips to different towns. However, Dave, fearing the consequences, chooses not to tell Nancy that he confronted and seemingly killed her husband.
Fred Returns, Chaos Unfolds, and Nancy Faces a Life-Altering Final Confrontation
Believing that Fred is gone, Nancy and Dave attempt to move forward while keeping their knowledge of his crimes secret. But during the town’s Tulip Festival, Fred reappears—alive and determined to reclaim his family. Dave, sensing danger, urges Nancy to leave town with him. However, when Nancy sees that Dave is carrying a gun, she hesitates. A struggle ensues between them, and in a tragic accident, Dave is severely injured when a motel TV falls on his head. Before Nancy can help him, Fred arrives and convinces her to leave with him and their son, promising to handle the situation.
As Fred drives away with Nancy and their son, she realizes he is weakened from his previous injuries. Seizing the moment, she forces Fred to stop the car, tells Harry to run, and uses Dave’s gun to finally kill her husband. Nancy then rushes back to the motel to check on Dave, but he has mysteriously disappeared. This leaves his fate uncertain—did he survive and escape, or did something else happen to him?
The film concludes with an eerie voiceover, mirroring Nancy’s opening speech but now including Dave’s voice. This suggests that they are connected in ways deeper than just their recent experiences. The ambiguity of the final scene implies that Dave may have survived and run away, finally escaping the town’s suffocating grip. At the same time, it hints that both he and Nancy are unreliable narrators, leaving the audience questioning what was real and what was simply paranoia.
