Warning: this review contains spoilers for the movie Don’t Worry Darling.
An a-list actor/director relationship, awkward press tours, and gender pay disparity rumors made Don’t Worry Darling one of the most talked about movies before it ever hit theaters. But, did the final product live up to all the hype?
I’m afraid not.
Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling is a visually stunning film, but that’s one of the only things it has going for it. It seems like the entire movie’s resources went towards the picture-perfect 1950s Palm Springs set, gorgeous costumes, and artistic cinematography choices, while the plot fell by the wayside.
I feel more clarity about whether or not Harry Styles actually spit on Chris Pine at the film’s premiere in Venice than I do about this plot.
In fact, I spent most of this movie wondering what the storyline even was.
Nevertheless, I will do my best to recap it for you.
Alice and Jack Chambers (Florence Pugh and Harry Styles) are the perfect couple living a life of luxury in the sunny community of Victory in the 1950s. Their relationship is the epitome of the gender roles that define the era: the man of the house Jack works hard during the day, while Alice cleans, gossips with friends, and prepares a gourmet dinner for her husband’s return. The two enjoy a naughty romp, and then it’s off to bed to do the whole thing again tomorrow.
If the above seems too good to be true, that’s because it is. Alice starts unfolding as she realizes Victory isn’t the happy little community it appears to be. It’s a terrifying virtual simulation masterminded by the community’s respected leader, Frank (Chris Pine). His society is all about rules and control, and when these rules are questioned or broken there are serious consequences.
Although the plot had many holes and left much to be desired, it did bring up important themes about a woman’s place in society. Alice’s character spent much of the movie being gaslit by the men surrounding her. Any time she sought help for her disturbing visions while questioning the world around her, she was told she was “having an episode,” or “not feeling well.”
The audience could share Alice’s confusion and frustration during those scenes because we knew she was telling the truth. It brought up painful memories of having been gaslit myself, which I’m sure other moviegoers could relate to.
Pugh managed to make a mediocre and confusing storyline interesting to watch.
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Another high point of the film was Florence Pugh’s performance. She breathed new life into an overdone character concept of the housewife who knows a little too much for her own good. As the kids say, she carried this entire movie on her back. All in all, the only reason I’d recommend seeing Don’t Worry Darling in theaters is to be part of the conversation surrounding the film; if you’re looking to see a good movie with substance and clarity, this just isn’t it.
Written by: Diana Gebbia
Edmazing
October 7, 2022 at 3:10 am
So is this basically a bad ripoff of the Stepford Wives