There’s always the argument of originality versus sequels when it comes to Hollywood. There is more risk when developing a story based on a new concept, especially in an untested genre, but sometimes that risk pays off. So does the film Don’t Worry Darling pay off with its risky proposition? Yes, and no. Don’t Worry Darling is an original story which is directed by Olivia Wilde in her second feature film as a filmmaker. Her first film Booksmart was a clever film that subverted the college comedy genre. It appears that Wilde hoped to do the same with the psychological thriller genre with her latest film.
Don’t Worry Darling is about a young married couple, Jack and Alice, who is played with charisma and chemistry by Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. One has to wonder if Styles could pull off a character as mysterious as Jack and it is safe to say he certainly does. The cast is brimmed with talent from Wilde herself starring in the film as well as Chris Pine, Gemma Chan and many others. The set-up is vague though, as the young couple are living in an American 1950s-esque paradise that doesn’t seem right. Something is wrong. The men go to work, but where are they working? The women are neglected to look after them when they return home, but why?
The story slowly unfolds with some interesting ideas and some unique visuals too. The film however starts to lose a little focus halfway through when it is revealed what the big mystery is, which I won’t spoil here. From this point on the film becomes more of a thriller and some of the questions that were asked at the start of the film become forgotten and unanswered. There are some modern themes scattered throughout the film and Pugh does a fantastic job of playing a woman who is gaslighted and driven to find answers all by herself. There are not many twists and turns, but the premise almost feels like you’re walking into something from The Matrix in the end the film feels a bit more like The Truman Show.
Don’t Worry Darling is a bold film with bold ideas, and sadly Wilde hasn’t captured her style yet with her second feature. She does explore some interesting visuals and the film does look good - it has glossy sunshine aesthetic. It does stand out above some other films but there are other films that have done similar concepts to this one but executed it much better. There’s not a lot left to discuss without diving into spoilers, but this is a film where you get more out of it with the less you know. I had seen the trailers and previews for the film and as usual, they showed off too much in them which took away some mystique from the actual film.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Don’t Worry Darling isn’t a special film, it is a film with a message and it attempts to drive that message instead of exploring certain consequences and other outcomes. It feels very modern and timely, and it has a unique look but the story does feel weak compared to other films similar to it. Pugh and Styles steal the show though with two fantastic performances as a couple who are very much in love. This is very much Florence Pugh’s film and it is worth watching to see her compelling performance, but it is also an enjoyable and engaging ride too.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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