Don’t Worry Darling by RACHEL PONTING

From rumours of Florence Pugh and Olivia Wilde falling out on set to Harry Styles supposedly spitting on Chris Pine at its Venice Film Festival premiere, there has been a lot of online buzz surrounding the release of Don’t Worry Darling. This drama between the all-star cast is what motivated me to watch the film. Yet, as I hadn’t seen any of Olivia Wilde’s other works, I had no idea what to expect.

I was pleasantly surprised. Cinematographer Matthew Libatique and costume designer Arianne Phillips beautifully portray life in Victory, the seemingly utopian desert town in which the film is set.

This town appears to be an antiquated suburban dream - whilst the men leave each day to work on a top-secret project, their wives spend their days cooking, cleaning and socialising in apparent luxury. This idyllic life, though, is not as it seems. The film follows Florence Pugh’s Alice as she uncovers the ugly truth of the Victory Project. Pugh’s amazing performance anchors the movie, as she flawlessly portrays the breakdown of her reality.

The social commentary is astute and impactful. Wilde successfully illustrates the dangerous role that technology can play in upholding the patriarchy, a warning which is especially relevant in the context of the growing popularity of misogynistic male influencers such as Andrew Tate.

That being said, the plot felt poorly executed. The major reveal about the Victory Project comes in the final act of the film and makes the ending feel rushed– I was left with questions, but not in a good way.

Kiki Layne, who plays Margaret, has revealed that many of her scenes were cut from the film, which could explain some of the plot inconsistencies. However, it’s unclear whether this is also the case for Gemma Chan. Her character Shelley’s baffling actions at the end of the film remain unexplained.

The acting at times was questionable as well. After seeing that viral excerpt of Styles shouting, I’d braced myself for the worst. But ultimately, I don’t think he’s a terrible actor. In fact, his character work is strong, and he and Florence Pugh had undeniable on-screen chemistry. However, he definitely wasn’t the best man for the role and his performance at times felt flat and uncomfortable, especially when contrasted with Pugh’s.