Don't worry darling review (Spoiler free)
I walked into psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde, having not viewed the trailer and with zero awareness of squabbles amongst the cast or controversies regarding the films subject matter. I point this out because the additional noise most certainly would’ve impacted my viewing experience. Going in cold was the correct decision as the post-release hullabaloo around the Katie Silberman penned screenplay and the films commentary on Incel culture and the patriarchy is just as interesting as the film itself. And this film is nothing if not interesting. Don’t Worry Darling leans into the fairly common 3-act-film trope of throwing a jarring tone shift/plot twist into the final act that causes the viewer to re-evaluate everything occurring across the first two. It works. The reveal at the onset of the final act is undeniably exciting and will make you want to immediately revisit the films dream-like and trippy first hour. Said first hour is a relentless nostalgia trip into 1950’s American excess layered over the backdrop of a perfect California summer and repeated long shots of immaculately manicured muscle cars pulling out of impossibly perfect driveways in impossibly perfect cul-de-sacs. I remember thinking that the oversaturated and distractingly picture-perfect nature of the cinematography betrayed something sinister. And oh boy was I correct. The film is presented exclusively from Florence Pugh’s point of view, almost stubbornly so, and her performance carries the film. She is required to play so many different aspects of a fractured and confused psyche that you can’t help but feel exhausted for her by the films end. She deserves Best Actress Academy Award consideration. The films manifesto on the dangers of male dominance and desire for unfettered control is polarizing for fairly obvious reasons. Whether you agree or disagree with that premise, one must credit Olivia Wilde and the rest of the creative team for committing to a look and tone that feels fresh and engaging even if there isn’t anything particularly novel about the specific plot twist. Lots of films have delved into the matter of free will and simulated worlds…but not quite like this. It really does feel like a movie within a movie. Give it a shot. Recommended.