Don't Worry Darling

Don't Worry Darling is a visual feast that brings the nostalgic allure of mid-century California to life, filled with stunning costumes, rich colours, and sleek production design. Olivia Wilde’s stylistic vision is unmistakable, and every scene sparkles with retro-chic details that make this 1950s-style utopia feel like a vibrant dream. But while the aesthetic shines, the movie struggles to deliver a compelling story beneath the polished surface.

The story centres on Alice (Florence Pugh), a housewife in the picturesque, exclusive community of Victory. Everything in Victory appears idyllic, but Alice grows increasingly suspicious about the mysterious "Victory Project" her husband, Jack (Harry Styles), and all the other men work on. Wilde creates an atmosphere of slow-burn suspense, with breadcrumbs hinting at deeper secrets. Pugh shines as Alice, masterfully portraying her character’s mounting paranoia, determination, and vulnerability, and she brings depth and emotional weight to an otherwise underdeveloped storyline. Unfortunately, Harry Styles, as Jack, doesn’t quite match her intensity; though he looks the part, his performance feels shallow compared to Pugh’s, making their dynamic feel uneven.
‍

As the movie unfolds, Wilde lays down clues and surreal imagery—a swirl of vivid nightmares, cryptic symbols, and eerie choreography that speak to Alice’s unravelling psyche. It’s a suspenseful build-up, but the pacing starts to drag, and scenes feel repetitive, as though they’re biding time until the big reveal. While mysteries don’t always need everything spelled out, Don't Worry Darling takes so long to reach its conclusion that, by the time it does, the reveal feels anticlimactic. The payoff doesn’t feel big enough to justify the lengthy suspense, leaving viewers feeling a bit shortchanged.

While Don't Worry Darling ambitiously attempts to critique the patriarchy and the dark undercurrents of seemingly perfect suburban life, its themes feel like rehashed ideas from other, more layered films. The echoes of The Stepford Wives and Mad Men loom heavily over the story, making some of its twists feel predictable. Despite Wilde’s clear talent for creating an immersive visual experience, the film struggles to push these themes in new directions or give the narrative more substance.