***spoilers ahead***
Don’t Worry Darling is one of the most anticipated movies of 2022. It is a psychological thriller that has many artistic elements. Along with all of its thrilling aspects, the movie stars Florence Pugh and Harry Styles. Just these two names alone were bound to drive many people to see the movie. After I watched it in theaters, I noticed how this movie dove into many themes, and how those themes can be applied to reality.
- Society
The “Victory Project” in the movie seemed to be this utopian society, which presented the “ideal life”. The man behind the victory project even claimed to be “changing the world” many times and “breaking out of society’s mold”. Although, this man’s idea of breaking out of society’s mold was to create a virtual simulation almost like the 1950s. The wives stayed home to cook, clean, and attend to the house while the men were working.
It was fascinating to think that someone could be so fed up with the monotonous routine of society, that they would take such extreme measures. The routine of society and life in general had the ability to convince men to basically kidnap their significant other and put them in a simulation against their will. In addition, they would rather risk being a guinea pig for this new victory project than to just try to fix their life at home. It raises the question as to what technology could do for people who are sick and tired of society in the future.
- Control
This movie had many elements of control in it, specifically control over women. Similar to the 1950s, the women did not have many rights in this victory project society, therefore, they had no say. In addition to being put in a simulation against their will, they were not allowed to go to Victory HQ because that was their way out of the simulation.
These themes of control can be applied to women today. The rights of women to their own bodies and birth control are up for debate today. In addition to women’s rights, we live in a time where companies and businesses control us. Most people are addicted to some form of technology, to the point of being dependent on it to function. I know I couldn’t even get through a day of school or work without some form of it. Unfortunately, these forms of technology and men in power have control over us, even if we aren’t in the Victory Project simulation.
- Female pleasure
As the trailer hinted, this movie got pretty spicy! Many shows and movies usually depict sex as being more pleasurable for the male than for the female. However, Don’t Worry Darling was heavy on the female pleasure. However, I believe the reason the character, Jack, was focused on his wife’s, Alice, pleasure was because of the guilt he felt. Whenever he would go back into the real world and realize what he had done, he would then come home to Alice, to “make it up to her” (if you know what I mean). So, while it was great to see representation in this area, it wasn’t always done with the right motives as it was most likely out of guilt and remorse.
I would definitely recommend you watch this movie, if you haven’t already! There was a lot to unpack and think about after. After watching, I just sat in the theater processing what I had witnessed for over 2 hours. Trust me, if you are sitting in the movie theater and bored through the first half, just know it gets better. It had a slow start and the ending was way more intense than I thought!