Don’t Worry Darling, had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and it’s the most ambitious film Olivia Wilde has ever directed; filled with topics of sexuality, femininity, mystery, gaslighting and secrets no one will ever see coming. Don’t Worry Darling is not just a sleek movie but satisfying in tone, approach and design.
Veteran Florence Pugh has managed to top herself as Alice, a loving housewife trying to solve the mystery of not just what her husband Jack (Harry Styles) does and goes on behind closed doors, but what lies beneath their new town is a shock she may not be prepared for. The chemistry between Styles and Florence is delicious, haunting and beautifully frustrating, as he tries to balance being the perfect husband, rising in the ranks of his job; all while trying to keep his wife at bay. With the potential of his world crumbling, the depth and beauty of their marriage soon transforms into desperation and toxicity. Harry proves himself as an actor, matching wits and talent with Florence.
An audacious, twisted and visually stunning psychological thriller, Don’t Worry Darling is a powerhouse feature from director Olivia Wilde that boasts intoxicating performances supported by an impressive and pitch-perfect cast.
Set in the 1950’s New Line Cinema’s Don’t Worry Darling, Alice (Pugh) and Jack (Styles) are lucky to be living in the idealized community of Victory, the experimental company town housing the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. The 1950’s societal optimism espoused by their CEO, Frank (Pine)—equal parts corporate visionary and motivational life coach—anchors every aspect of daily life in the tight-knit desert utopia. While the husbands spend every day inside the Victory Project Headquarters, working on the “development of progressive materials,” their wives—including Frank’s elegant partner, Shelley (Chan)—get to spend their time enjoying the beauty, luxury and debauchery of their community. Life is perfect, with every resident’s needs met by the company.
All they ask in return is discretion and unquestioning commitment to the Victory cause. But when cracks in their idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something much more sinister lurking beneath the attractive façade, Alice can’t help questioning exactly what they’re doing in Victory, and why. Just how much is Alice willing to lose to expose what’s really going on in this paradise?
Check out the video above for our reaction to Don’t Worry Darling.
Full review to come this week.
