The most anticipated psychological thriller of the year hit box offices across the globe on Friday, September 23. The film has been preceded by a lot of publicity following the alleged feud between lead actress, Florence Pugh, and co-star/director Olivia Wilde.
In and of itself, the film does a great job of achieving the psychological thriller feel, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats with every twist and turn. While the final twist is just as terrifying and messed up as can be anticipated, it does leave audiences with far more questions than answers, leading to some extensive plot holes that even film experts cannot seem to figure out.
While boasting an impressive cast, Florence Pugh or “Miss Flo” (as Wilde likes to call her), CARRIED the movie with her portrayal of the main character Alice. Chris Pine and Gemma Chan, both of which are fantastic actors, deserved more screen time, as we only get a handful of lines from Chan and not nearly enough character development from Chris Pine’s character, Frank.
The leading man, Harry Styles, looks gorgeous in his 1950s suits as he dotes on his beloved wife Alice, but Styles’ acting falls flat when it comes to the more serious scenes. Personally, I am a Harry girl for life, but Style’s tap-dancing scene was both confusing and left me at a loss for words… and not in a good way.
Lastly, the film attempts to bear a social commentary on the dangers of incels and the Jordan Peterson-esque mentality: one that romanticizes the 1950s woman, whose place is in the home, raising children, looking fabulous as she scrubs the tub, making meals for her family, and happily serving her husband. While I am in full support of showcasing the dangers of said mentality, the film falls flat at pushing that narrative.
The reality is that we live in a day and age where virtually anyone who has access to the internet can disseminate whatever messages they see fit, and with this comes the rise of bigoted and misogynistic podcasts, blogs, and channels, which inevitably influence groups of people who identify with that kind of mentality. This is a serious problem, and the film attempts to showcase this. But in actuality, it simply brushes lightly on the said fact within the final five minutes of the movie and it just feels like too little too late.
In conclusion, is Don’t Worry Darling the best movie you’ll ever watch? Absolutely not. But the sets, the costumes, Florence Pugh’s immaculate portrayal of Alice, and a drop-dead gorgeous cast make it palatable and entertaining.