★★★
Don't Worry Darling is a psychological thriller directed by Olivia Wilde, with a screenplay written by Katie Silberman, based on a story by Carey Van Dyke, Shane Van Dyke, and Katie Silberman. The ensemble cast features the talents of Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan, Sydney Chandler, Kiki Layne, and Nick Kroll.
Jack (Styles) and Alice Chambers (Pugh) live in an idyllic 1950s neighborhood, in a utopian community. Jack works on “The Victory Project” for a glamorous company that values discretion and harbors possibly disturbing secrets. When Alice starts to question both the project and the experimental community, their whole world begins to unravel. She even butts head-to-head with community leader, Frank (Pine). With hallucinations becoming more vivid and frequent, can Alice unravel the secrets of The Victory Project before it’s too late?
Prior to the release of the movie, the only thing getting passed around more than the trailer for Don’t Worry Darling were the rumors about on-set conflicts and drama. This begs the question, which will be more memorable about this film: the rumors or the movie itself?
While everyone in front and behind the camera does a good job, two knockout performances come from Florence Pugh and Chris Pine. Pugh lights up the screen and is the backbone of the movie, carrying it well. She is charming and witty, capturing hearts as viewers follow her journey into possible madness. Pine does a fantastic job as Frank, conveying both confidence and creepiness in equal measure. Frank’s cult-like hold on everyone in the community requires a charismatic charm that oozes from Pine’s delivery.
The story feels solid during the first half of the movie, however the “big reveal” toward the end muddles the theme. At a distance, the movie is intriguing, thought-provoking, and tries to play with themes of gaslighting, sexism, and societal expectations. Unfortunately, when looked at too closely the loose ends at the conclusion of the film begin to look a bit frayed.
The intriguing part about the trailer is the eeriness that comes with perfection. That is what made The Stepford Wives so creepy, and it holds true in Don’t Worry Darling as well. It is the layering that gives the audience an unsettling, squirmy feeling. The film sets the foundation with perfect houses and the perfect wives. Layer on top of that, the shuddersome ballet class with an instructor that chants constant mantras about “symmetry” and “order,” almost reminiscent of Susperia. On top of that is the eerie radio broadcast which melodically and hypnotically drones on and on about “loyalty” and a promise for protection from the evils of the outside world. All of this creates an illusion of order and routine for Alice. She cleans her already clean house. She cooks perfect pot roasts. She has sex with her perfect and successful husband. But when she begins to pick at those layers and question the perfection, what will she find?
Off-screen drama aside, Don’t Worry Darling can stand on its own. The story is intriguing with a script that keeps the audience engaged throughout the 123-minute run time. The mystery isn’t overly convoluted. Performances from the cast are well-done and set-design and cinematography are on-point and stylish. It is when moviegoers try to dissect the ending too much that the film begins to waver a bit, but it is a fun ride with interesting twists on old themes.