Don’t Worry Darling is a beautifully tense The Stepford Wives-esque tale that finds itself somewhat let down by one of its leads.
★★★✰✰
Surrounded by a number of controversies, Don’t Worry Darling manages to exceed any low expectations that may come with such a PR disaster. Set in the fictional desert utopia of Victory, the story focuses on Alice (Florence Pugh) whose husband Jack (Harry Styles) works for something called the Victory Project. The town and the project itself are run by the charismatic Frank (Chris Pine), who, to the viewer, shows all the signs of being a cult leader. Although this is something the characters themselves appear unaware of, with the exception of town resident Margaret (KiKi Layne), and later, Alice herself.
With delightfully intriguing atmospheric shots and continuous tension in the storytelling, even in moments where the characters are anything but, it’s clear that problems one may have with Don’t Worry Darling cannot be blamed on director Olivia Wilde, or cinematographer Matthew Libatique. Worlds away from Wilde’s directorial debut, Booksmart, the eeriness and tension that can be felt in this film, show that perhaps Wilde should lean more into horror directing, although that’s not to say we wouldn’t enjoy another Booksmart-like film from the clearly multi-talented actress.
On the subject of those who are multi-talented, it seems as though Harry Styles can not claim to be one of those, with his acting (or lack thereof) being the main point that lets the film down and stops it from quite reaching its full potential. However, the rest of the cast is exceedingly better. Florence Pugh continues to wow in whatever role she takes, with Don’t Worry Darling being no exception to this. Pugh keeps the audience hooked as we see Alice further unravel as she begins to question just what is happening in Victory. And Chris Pine plays the role of charismatic cult leader Frank almost too well, getting the line between charisma and creepiness just right.
The story has been said by many to be rather like an episode of Black Mirror, which is a fair point to make. But Don’t Worry Darling can certainly stand on its own. Yes, it’s influenced by those that came before it — The Stepford Wives, The Twilight Zone, and more — but rather than being a cheap knockoff of these, writers Shane van Dyke, Carey van Dyke and Katie Silberman use these influences to their advantage. Viewers know from the Stepford-esque beginning and atmosphere of the town that something isn’t quite right in Victory, while the Black Mirror influences can be felt later in the film as you realise just what is going on in this little desert utopia.
Don’t Worry Darling has a trove of interesting characters, from Pugh’s Alice, who finds herself questioning her life in Victory, to Layne’s Mary, who had been doing so before Alice, and whose influence over the film can be felt long after the character disappears. And while it can’t be easy to direct and appear in the same film, Olivia Wilde’s Bunny is perhaps a character that will stay with you long after you’ve left the cinema. Bunny, seems perfectly content in her life in Victory, separating herself from both Margaret and Alice when they are not quite so happy. It’s in the film’s final act that you find out, in a rather heartbreaking twist, just why Bunny is the way that she is.
The film itself does leave you wanting more, but with not quite enough in there for a sequel, it may leave you feeling somewhat disappointed that you don’t know what happens next. However, it is still a great watch, with an interesting story, characters you’ll likely end up having strong feelings about, and a mostly stellar cast.
The Verdict
Don’t Worry Darling is a great watch, with an interesting take on The Stepford Wives-like stories, and one that will likely stay with you long after you have left the cinema. In the immortal words of Harry Styles, the movie, does, in fact, feel like a movie.
Words by Isobel Pankhurst
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