Look, if you’re tired of thrillers where the woman is either a victim or a superhero, Holland offers a third option: a fully human mess. Paulson doesn’t let you off the hook by making Nancy wholly sympathetic. She makes you feel complicit in her choices. You’ll catch yourself thinking, “Okay, maybe I would also hide the evidence under the tulips.” It’s uncomfortable. It’s brilliant.
This movie also proves that Paulson is one of our finest character actors masquerading as a star. She disappears into roles so completely that I often forget she’s the same person who played a sassy witch and a grieving prosecutor. In Holland, she adds another ghost to her collection—a woman who is both predator and prey. And she does it with a Dutch accent that never once feels fake. (I checked. It’s flawless.)
The Verdict? Go In Blind.
If you haven’t seen Holland yet, stop reading reviews. Seriously. Go stream it. Let Sarah Paulson take you on a ride through windmills, lies, and perfectly manicured lawns. Just know that after it’s over, you’ll look at wooden clogs a little differently. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll appreciate how stillness—that quiet, Dutch-style composure—can hold the most dangerous secrets of all.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go bake a cake and pretend I’m not thinking about that final scene. (Spoiler: I’ll definitely be thinking about it.) Talk soon.