Film review: ‘DON’T WORRY DARLING’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’

Given its intriguing premise and the quality of production director Olivia Wilde brings to the film, it’s unfortunate that the ambitious psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling doesn’t quite deliver on its promise as a mystery thriller or as social commentary.

Set in the 1950’s, the film sees young married couple Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles) living in the seemingly idyllic community of Victory, a town specifically built for employees of the mysterious Victory Project.  It quickly becomes apparent that, even for 1950’s America, there’s something a bit odd about this place.  Every morning, the town’s men head off to work in a convoy, crossing the surrounding desert to what looks like a Bond villain’s mountain lair while the women stay home and dutifully cook, clean or enjoy poolside cocktails with friends.  While seemingly revelling in this suburban utopia, Alice starts to experience disturbing dreams and hallucinations and receives a strange warning about the town from another resident (Kiki Layne).  As she begins to question the world of Victory, she comes into conflict with the company’s boss, the creepy Dr Frank (Chris Pyne) a man it appears it unwise to cross.  Suffice to say a disturbing revelation awaits Alice but it would be wrong to reveal any more.

This film tantalisingly touches on a range of vital ideas including the status of women, male hegemony, the dangers of conformity, the questionable ideal of American suburbia and the lure of nostalgia.  Unfortunately, it develops these into neither a thoroughly satisfying story nor a powerful socio-political/feminist thesis.  It appears Wilde and the scriptwriters Katie Silberman, Carey Van Dyke and Shane Van Dyke (grandchildren of Dick Van Dyke) were filled with inspiration about various ideas and images but didn’t quite know how to tie all of these together.

Also, many of the concepts touched upon and a number of plot points recall a plethora of other films and tv shows.  The compliant women of The Stepford Wives, the isolated, vulnerable but rebellious female of Rosemary’s Baby and the sense of something sinister lurking beneath a calm surface as in Ari Aster’s Midsommar are particularly prominent and probably the only references a reviewer could name without delivering major spoilers.  Consequently, at times, the film simply resembles a patchwork of influences.

The film also has some structural issues as it’s somewhat repetitive (although might be partly justified by the regimented 1950’s suburban life it critiques) and it contains some slow patches.  Still, Wilde often impresses as director.  She fashions some memorable scenes that make use of unsettling hallucinogenic imagery and superb production design which wonderfully recreates an iconic vision of 1950’s suburbia. Also, Wilde breaks up the film’s largely placid surface with a few pulse-pounding action sequences.

The cast performances are mixed.  Florence Pugh, whose star has been on the rise with fine performances in Little Women and Black Widow (where she seemed far more enthused about the film than star Scarlett Johansen) clearly demonstrates her strength as a leading woman.  She convincingly captures the anxiety and confusion of a person trapped in an increasingly strange and threatening world.  In what may have initially seemed like stunt casting, Harry Styles delivers an ‘ok’ but often ineffectual performance as Jack and a more seasoned actor would most likely have given the character the nuance required to make him the conflicted figure he needed to be.  As the smug, oily cult leader-like Dr Frank, Chris Pyne doesn’t have quite enough screen time to fully assert himself but he’s still impressively menacing when he appears.

Don’t Worry Darling could have been a much better film and while we might feel unsatiated by what Wilde delivers, there’s (just) enough mysterious goings-on and cinematic flair to make this worth a moviegoer’s time.

Nick’s rating: ***

Genre: Drama/ Action/ Thriller

Classification: M.

Director(s): Olivia Wilde.

Release date: 6th Oct 2022.

Running time: 123 mins.

Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.

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