If you keep up with news of the latest movies–or that of Harry Styles–chances are that you’ve also heard about the new movie Don’t Worry Darling. And if you have, what you’ve also likely heard are the tabloid-worthy headlines detailing its alleged production woes.
Controversy has followed Don’t Worry Darling since the beginning. From high-profile casting shake-ups shortly before the film’s shooting, to a scandalous on-set romance between the film’s director and its leading male (global pop) star, even up until its cringe-worthy world premiere at Venice Film Festival (which set the internet ablaze with #spitgate), perhaps no other movie in recent memory has generated as much gossipy and salacious drama as this has.
And now, as the film finally hits theaters, the question becomes: is the film actually any good?
What general audiences seem to agree–and what this reviewer is personally confirming–is that no, Don’t Worry Darling is not good enough to transcend its own self-generated scandalous fodder. While I found the film to be visually enjoyable, ultimately, it’s under-written, poorly directed, narratively underwhelming, and overall quite boring. Audiences are likely to only remember Don’t Worry Darling as a misfire that also stirred a lot of supplemental controversy.
It doesn’t bring me any inner delight saying this. In fact, I anticipated the film’s release at the time of its announcement. It’s true that there are a ton of talent both in front of and behind the camera. Olivia Wilde had previously won over audiences (and myself) with her directorial debut, the fresh and fun high school buddy comedy Booksmart; so the announcement that she would be following that film with one that’s best compared to The Stepford Wives and The Matrix was intriguing. But now, that choice just rings as confusing.
If you’re aware of its marketing, Don’t Worry Darling teases a world of 1950s American utopia; one in which sharply dressed men return home from work every day in their flashy Cadillacs, all awaiting a martini, a pot roast, and a smile from their doting, subservient wives. It’s an intoxicating Mid-Century Modern world to behold where young couples and families live in marital bliss. Among them is Alice (Florence Pugh), who enjoys her life of cleaning, cooking, and bedding her husband Jack (Harry Styles).
It’s not long before inexplicable cracks start to appear in Alice’s life. Flashes of nightmarish imagery break a perfectly manicured day; cracking an egg reveals nothing inside; and a house whose walls are slowly–literally–suffocating her. It slowly leads Alice to question her life as well as the vision of Victory’s dangerously charismatic leader, Frank (Chris Pine). From there, the film takes predictable steps towards a simultaneously baffling and underwhelming ending.
Don’t Worry Darling at least has the intention of being a high-concept film, aiming to excite and challenge adult movie-goers. But ultimately, the film suffers from an empty story and confusing logic. Florence Pugh–who never gives a false note and who regularly steals every movie she’s in–does the same here. But Olivia Wilde doesn’t communicate a clear enough vision for Pugh, or her co-stars Harry Styles and Chris Pine, as to the movie’s intentions. Is it a social commentary? A silly satire? A sci-fi horror? Or, all of the above?
I’ll admit that following the tabloid headlines around Don’t Worry Darling was entertaining and enjoyably juicy while it lasted. Now that the film has debuted to disappointing results, there isn’t really much here to worry, much less care about.
123 minutes. ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ is rated R for sexuality, violent content and language.
