SiftPop

by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer

Not to use what I’m sure is already a common cliche surrounding this movie, but I was in fact quite worried when I went into the cinema to see Don’t Worry Darling. Whether it was the overblown behind-the-scenes drama, the polarizing initial reactions, or even just the vagueness of the plot details, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. 

Having now seen it, I can confirm that I’m still not quite sure what I got myself into, and will require at least one more week and more viewings to come to a complete assessment. However, I have to write some sort of reaction down, as that is what a review is, right? So then, we find ourselves here. 

Directed by Olivia Wilde, and starring herself, Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Nick Kroll, and Gemma Chan, this story finds itself in the 1950s, where Alice (Pugh) and Jack (Styles) live in the idealized community of Victory, an experimental company town that houses a top-secret project. However, when cracks in her idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something sinister lurking below the surface, Alice can’t help but question the nature of her reality. 

From the moment you say go, there is clearly something else brewing beneath the surface, immediately placing this film in the genre of high-concept conspiracy science fiction. How exactly? That I can’t elaborate on — however, this is definitely the mindset to enter your own experience with.

The performance given by Pugh is head and shoulders above the rest. She is fascinating, calculated, and constantly battling inner turmoil as she starts to peel back on said cracks of her perfect life. It’s no wonder that Wilde wanted to cast her after having seen Ari Aster’s Midsommar, as during this movie’s runtime, you can see many similarities in performance, which are pertinent to the success of the narrative. In short, you have to believe in Alice’s journey if the rest of the film is also going to work. 

Having said that, whether the rest of the film, or even the performances work, is another thing entirely. Namely, and this isn’t surprising, Styles’ turn as outwardly devoted and inwardly conflicted husband is quite imbalanced as a character. To be honest, with how much of the marketing has been focused on their relationship, his contribution overall is minimal at best, and forgettable at worst. The rest of the cast does fine, with Wilde and Pine giving the next most interesting performances. However, ultimately, none can take away from Pugh, which isn’t a bad thing, but it does result in the film living and dying based on her. 

Which brings me to the story and the journey we’re taken on as a whole. Does it work? Honestly right now it’s about 50/50. When I was in the film, I was certainly sucked in, where the foreboding tension that is slowly built and then ramped up by 100 in the final act worked to keep me attentive, and desperately paws at the mystery up until those final moments. However, once the credits rolled and I was throwing my empty candy bar treats in the bin, reflecting on what I had seen, nothing but questions sprung to my mind — and not in a good way.

With any high-concept science fiction movie, there is an element of the unfinished, of the intrigue, of the mysteries left open for the mind to further explore and pull apart, long after the final scene is on the screen. However, it’s important for a filmmaker to understand what does and doesn’t make for a satisfying frustration, and what is simply lazy screenwriting. While there is certainly plenty of the former, particularly around the central struggle of the film, there is also, unfortunately, plenty of the latter as well.

Unlikely and disconnected character turns, unexplored story arcs, and final act twists that serve to do nothing except elicit some audible audience gasps are all present in Don’t Worry Darling. Like I said, sure, this all works in the moment; however, if the payoff, or that aforementioned satisfying frustration, isn’t present, then it can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.

Now for the question of the hour: do I recommend this film? Yes, as I am still happy I watched it. There is enough present here that left me later struggling with the metaphor and wider sociopolitical position of the film in the form of reading other reviews, watching YouTube breakdowns, and getting lost down an Easter Egg TikTok spiral, which is exactly what I want in my high-concept sci-fi. Do I think it was perfectly packaged? Not at all. In fact, not by a long shot — but there is enough there. 

So really what I’m saying is that if this genre type film interests you, then it’s definitely worth a watch. However, if what you like is satisfying endings, stories tied up in neat little bows, and uncomplicated character studies, then I highly recommend you look elsewhere. 

Score: 7/10

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