Don’t Worry Darling – Worth The Watch, Not The Drama [REVIEW]

IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN DON’T WORRY DARLING THIS IS A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW

Don’t Worry Darling is the 2nd Directorial Film by multi-hyphenate Olivia Wilde (Booksmart). The film has been shrouded in drama from beef with Florence Pugh (Black Window), to PAs on TikTok, rumored relationships & breakups with mega-popstar Harry Styles, and more. 

While everyone says all press is good press, for me the drama surrounding this film feels like one giant PR stunt to get people to see a possibly terrible movie. So, going into Don’t Worry Darling I was expecting the worst, but hoping for the best. What I got was something in the middle.

DON’T WORRY DARLING – EVERYTHING IS NOT AS IT SEEMS

In the film, we meet Alice and Jack Chambers (Florence Pugh & Harry Styles), an adorable 1950s couple living in the desert of what seems like Palm Springs. However, this isn’t your typical suburban neighborhood. The men are working for a secret company working towards making the world a better place. While the wives are left to clean the house, cook dinner, go shopping, and never leave the neighborhood. This society functions on one major rule – don’t go into the desert because it is not safe.

However, after witnessing a tragic moment from one of her neighbors Alice doesn’t feel like shopping or staying in the house. Instead, she stays on the trolly for a joy ride. However, this leisure day is interrupted when Alice sees a plane crash over the mountains. The Trolly driver refuses to go out there. So, Alice walks the miles hoping to help whoever crashed. Instead what she finds will change her world forever.

THE A++ PERFORMANCE OF FLORANCE PUGH

Ms. Flo has become one of my favorite young actresses to hit the big and small screen today. Her performance in Don’t Worry Darling is nothing short of spectacular. While there are other juggernauts in the film, Chris Pine (Star Trek), Gemma Chan (Eternals), Nick Kroll (Big Mouth), and Harry Styles (Eternals) Pugh outshines them all. 

As we know through the drama unfolding the role of Jack originally went to Shai Labeouf (Honey Boy). However, he left the film, and Style was brought in as his replacement. Styles did a good job as Jack, but I can see why LaBeouf was the original first choice. The way the story plays out it would’ve been a vastly different performance and story feel – one that could hold up against Pugh’s. While Styles is dashingly handsome and makes a great image for a perfect 50s husband, he falls into the background.

IS THIS FILM ANOTHER STEPFORD WIVES?

After watching the Don’t Worry Darling trailer I assumed it was another Stepford Wives movie. While I’m my assumption isn’t 100% correct, I’m also not wrong. The film takes us on a journey of patriarchy, consent, toxic love, and a few more themes. However, while the film does have a multitude of things it wants to say in the end it actually says nothing. 

When the climax of the film happens and all is revealed the theming begins to contradict itself – starting with Olivia Wilde’s own character, Bunny. Also, the reveal is unclear until Bunny says a specific line which doesn’t work for me.

In the end, I was left with so many unanswered questions – a list that continues to grow the more I think about it. What was the earthquake? What was the plane? And more that would spoil the fun. Overall, I enjoyed Don’t Worry Darling and believe it’s worth a watch for Florence Pugh and the Cinematography alone. However, when I left the film I would’ve given it a B-. Now, after thinking more about it – C+.

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