We get a lot of mystery box shows and movies. What makes them work are compelling characters, a quirky world, and a satisfying mystery. But if the film leans too strongly one way, it can tilt off the balance and the entire project.

That’s the case with Holland, which landed on Prime Video Thursday. The film boasts a cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Matthew Macfayden, but it’s the quirks of the set up that end up distracting from the heart of the story.

In the film, Nancy (Kidman) is a devoted wife, mother, and teacher. She lives a quiet life in Holland, Michigan with her son (Jude Hill) and husband Fred (Macfayden), a local optometrist. But he takes a lot of business trips and when he’s gone on one, Nancy begins to suspect something is going on.

She shares her suspicions with her friend, a fellow teacher Dave (Bernal). But Dave is reticent to get involved. Eventually, he helps her sneak into her husband’s office to find more proof of his affair. What she finds confirms some suspicions, but it also brings her and Dave closer. They want to be together, but she’s afraid to leave her husband and the scandal it might create. But what if he was the cheater that got outed?

Nancy and Dave track Fred to a conference to get their proof. Nancy has to head back early, leaving Dave to uncover the proof. But what Dave finds, and what Nancy discovers when she digs deeper, turns the whole situation on its head.

The film comes from a script by Andrew Sodroski, who worked on the series Manhunt. There is some potential in the premise, with some interesting twists and turns. But the problem is that it takes a bit too long to get there. And by the time we get there, the whole thing flames out.

The Third Act, which should have been more tense and dramatic, feels awkward and a bit boring. The performances here are fine, but there’s not enough of a hook for a story that takes a long time to make its points.

In addition, the film seems to focus too much on the quirky nature of this town, which is obsessed with Dutch culture owing to its name. There’s festivals and special breakfasts at church. There’s small-minded small-town folks, and Fred’s obsession with a miniature train set. All of it feels like a distraction that simply slows the pace of the film.

I liked the potential in the story, especially with this cast. But the execution and the story construction leaves a lot to be desired.

Holland is now streaming on Prime Video.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.