Shall We ‘Worry, Darling’? Our Review of 'Don’t Worry Darling'

Let me preface this review with this: Don’t Worry Darling is about perspective. Don't listen to the critics; watch the movie, and see what you think. It will be interpreted differently by different audiences, leading to differences of opinion. Now, on to the review.

(L-R) Director Olivia Wilde and Chris Pine (Frank) on the set of Don’t Worry Darling (2022)

Following her directorial debut with Booksmart (2019), Olivia Wilde once again shows her talent behind the camera. As the project has been unable to stay out of social gaze recently, anticipation for the film’s release has been high, with most fans stating that the movie is their most anticipated project of the year.

The film follows Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles) in their dystopian lives in a 1950’s suburbia, The Victory Project. From the second the film starts, you’re transported 70 years in the past, as Wilde and cinematographer Matthew Libatique deliver stunning visuals throughout the entire film. Wilde’s vision for the film is clear, as she lays out a complex story, and unveils the hidden layers, one at a time.

Florence Pugh as Alice Chambers in Don’t Worry Darling (2022) Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

The entire cast takes on the heavy burden of bringing depth to a script that could go one of two ways; complex and thought-provoking, or shallow and predictable. All performers play their parts incredibly well, as they create layers and tension while introducing us to the dynamics of these characters. That being said, two actors stand out, Florence Pugh and Chris Pine. It’s a shame that this film is unlikely to be an Oscar contender, as Florence Pugh clearly deserves a “Best Actress” nomination for this performance.

As much as the film is a crowd pleaser, leaving audiences not only entertained, but shocked, as they laugh and gasp their way through the two-hour film, the film also goes deeper than this. A lot of things have been said surrounding the project recently, with a lot of bad reviews and shocking headlines. It’s unfortunate that some critics are unable to strictly look at the film and find themselves needing to create clickbaity articles based on behind-the-scenes drama.

(L-R) Florence Pugh & Harry Styles as Jack & Alice Chambers in Don’t Worry Darling (2022) Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Additionally, a lot of press surrounding the film has revolved around Harry Styles, as this is his biggest role to date. Styles certainly isn’t bad, and most of what he did in the film was sufficient, but there was one point where many viewers surrounding me, myself included, were almost begging for him to stop talking; it was enough.

Overall, the film is not what it’s being described as, and pulls you into a complex, yet deep story as you grasp to understand all that’s occurred. In a singular sentence, Don’t Worry Darling is a shocking commentary on the lives of women in a male-dominated society and can be summed up as The Truman Show meets The Handmaid’s Tale.

Don’t Worry Darling hits theaters Friday, September 23.

8/10 Cameras