Don't Worry Darling (2022)

It’s the 1950’s inside an experimental community run by a mysterious man named Frank (Chris Pine)–and things are perfect. However, when one day a simple housewife, Alice (Florence Pugh), begins to question her reality and her husband, Jack’s (Harry Styles), role in Frank’s company, things begin to change. Don’t Worry Darling is a psychological thriller that begs the questions “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” and “why.” Viewers are in for a treat as they navigate this captivating film about life in the most unique ways possible.

The first thing I noticed about Don’t Worry Darling was the visuals. Everything from the set design to the animation, to the choreography is developed with expertise, drawing viewers into a film that perfectly represents the 1950’s on a scale just past reality. Stunning doesn’t even begin to describe what can be seen on screen throughout the course of Don’t Worry Darling, and there were times throughout the film that I simply sat back and had no choice but to smile, nearly giddy from how nearly perfect this aspect of the film is. Furthermore, Olivia Wilde, in only her second directorial venture, finds ways to capture the beauty of those aforementioned aspects. She uses mirrors and other reflective devices to create a sense of intensity and mystery–and beyond that she simply manages to present things to viewers in a way that allows them to absorb each and every aspect of this spectacular picture.

Beyond the visuals, sound is used as a device by which to tell the story. Sound effects don’t just exacerbate the scenarios depicted on screen, but, in many ways, they are the story. Humming, chanting, whirring, and more echoed through the theater throughout the course of the film, and Don’t Worry Darling dips its toe in the realm of horror as a result of how well-developed this aspect of the film is. The harrowing sounds that exist throughout the length of the film add levels of horror, pain, passion, and more–and it never relents until the film’s closing moments. Sound effects and score ultimately act as the vehicle by which Don’t Worry Darling is told.

It’s no surprise that Pugh is the star of the show–and that she is ultimately in charge from beginning to end. She manifests pain and suffering in a way that even some of Hollywood’s greats can’t compete with, and she’s ultimately the reason that emotion lingers on the surface of the film throughout Don’t Worry Darling. She’s powerful in her performance, and she demands attention–and more importantly, she deserves it. While there are a series of individuals that play opposite Pugh, it’s Pine that manages to steal the juxtapositional spotlight. His command of the screen is unlike anything that I’ve seen before–and his ability to take complete control, casting a shadow on nearly everyone else in the film is a tall task, one that Pine was more than prepared for. Pugh and Pine don’t have many scenes in which they really converse, but one scene in particular sees the two of them at their best.

Again, both Pine and Pugh are nearly perfect throughout the course of the film, and their control, emotion, passion, and everything in between is invigorating. The dialogue throughout the film is meaningful, full of power and honesty–but that aforementioned scene, the one between Pugh and Pine, sees the dialogue reach an all-time high; and as the two stars bring their A-game, this scene becomes the best of the entire film. They compete with one another throughout this scene, and they constantly one up one another, finding ways to sharpen their artistic tools and deliver something riveting and engaging. Don’t Worry Darling constantly flirts with the line between order and chaos, but in this moment, viewers see the perfect blend of both–and via Pugh and Pine, the dialogue comes to life in incredible ways.

There’s no doubt that Don’t Worry Darling is original–creating something explosive and exciting. However, There are pieces from many different works that marry together to create something seemingly massive and sophisticated. In terms of narrative we get pieces of Get Out and The Stepford Wives. Stylistically, and in terms of sophistication and depth, Don’t Worry Darling is a beautiful blend of WandaVision and Get Out. Elements of all three play a pivotal role in this film, and they create something unique and exceptional. Horror, mystery, crime, drama, and more come together to create a wonderful spectacle, and some artistic endeavors that may not have been thought to work for Don’t Worry Darling contribute beautifully to the film.

Thousands of films and television shows are released each and every year, and the sad reality is that only a handful will be good enough to make a lasting impression. Emotion, visuals, score, acting, and other cinematic aspects must come into play in order for films to stand the test of time–and rarely do films find themselves among the best in every category for a particular year. Don’t Worry Darling, however, has everything you could want from a film. It checks every box, beautifully entices viewers, and finds itself among the best films of 2022. It’s by far one of my favorite films of the year, and I can’t imagine finding many others before year’s end that compare to Wilde’s dazzling film. How much do I love Don’t Worry Darling? The most.

Directed by Olivia Wilde.

Written by Katie Silberman, CArey Van Dyke, & Shane Van Dyke.

Starring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, Nick Kroll, Kate Berlant, Sydney Chandler, Timothy Simons, Douglas Smith, KiKi Layne, Asif Ali, etc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10