‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Review: Ignoring the Tabloids

I walked into the theater at 7:20 for a 7:15 movie and almost every seat was full. From women in their thirties to a group of unsettling TikTokers… it seemed like every demographic was ready to watch Don’t Worry Darling. But why? 

Shia Labeouf, Spitgate, Flo vs. Wilde, Olivia being served custody papers during Cinemacon, Harry Styles, Venice…the drama was a virus that kept multiplying. 

The film itself was something that could only be watched in a theater with an audience. The plot’s twists and turns and compelling cinematography deserve to have their place on the big screen. When people have asked me if I enjoyed the movie or not I say, “Despite the drama, it was an entertaining watch!” 

Although the Shia Leabouf and “Ms. Flo…” drama seems to be stuck in the past, more stories resurfaced during their press tour following the Venice Film Festival. All eyes were on this cast. So, when the attention was heightened, so were the rumors. After the film’s four-minute standing ovation and Harry Styles and Nick Kroll’s kiss, Styles reportedly spit on co-star Chris Pine––this was later deemed “a complete fabrication.”

Similarly, the romantic rumors between Wilde and Styles had seemed true until Styles and Wilde seemingly stopped communicating. Later, at the Venice Film Festival, the pair were seen dodging each other, and would not take a photo together. Funny enough, Wilde was spotted dancing in the pit of Styles’ show shortly after, so these rumors were again, deemed untrue. 

Now, it is safe to say that there was something unique happening on this set given Florence Pugh’s lack of connection to the film. On Pugh’s Instagram, there were two posts regarding Don’t Worry Darling, and not one of them mentioned Styles or Wilde. Plus, multiple personal assistants on the film have stated allegations against the actors, specifically Wilde, but no one can confirm nor deny them. 

Nevertheless, as all of this drama is unraveling, so are the reviews. Once the trailer was released, there was minimal criticism and excessive hype because of the thrilling cast and highly anticipated story. However, as the drama began to pick up and the Internet continued to pull loosely developed stories from minimal evidence, this film was considered a Film Maudit. This expression was coined in 1949 to describe a “cursed film” that is not fully taken seriously given external consequences. Because Wilde is a woman, and since the film was released with messy PR, this title impacts the viewer's and critics' perspective. 

Knowing the film was deemed a Film Maudit and the press surrounding the cast amassed a 38% on Rotton Tomatoes, why did it take number one in the box office with over 19 million dollars in sales? The drama. 

In Wilde’s sophomore film, it is proven that all press is good press because the theaters were packed to the brim with people of all ages that were itching to see the movie. It seems as many individuals were there for Harry Styles as one teenager raised her voice to say, “He is so hot!” in my screening. However, many people were there for Pugh, and to see how compelling the film was for themselves. 

So, let’s talk about the film itself. Personally, I enjoy an open-ended film where not every question is answered and that was the case for Don’t Worry Darling. After watching so-called film reviewers, or hopeless teenagers (who believe they have the answer to what is in Wilde’s mind) on Tik Tok, they seemed upset regarding the lack of answers. “What about the red plane?” “Why did Chris Pine’s wife kill him? “What did Alice’s breath mean at the end? Is she home or back in the simulation?” The real question is, do we have to know? Or did the writers purposely leave the ending for the viewer’s interpretation? 

Don’t Worry Darling was entertaining at best. I hardly felt the need to check my phone or whisper to my friends on either side of me––it was the type of film where you didn’t want to go to the bathroom because you may miss something important. 

Even though the film made it known it was set in the 1950s, there was an underlying message of straying away from traditional thinking that made me question whether or not the Victory project was real before the final reveal. In the first scene, the viewer sees Styles and Kroll kiss on the lips, furthered by gay-esque jokes––a progressive statement for such a traditional mindset. Similarly, in the sex between Alice and Jack, they are not holding the 1950’s facade, but rather embracing modernity by having modern sex and rejecting the need for children. Their actions paired with the seemingly traditional sense of the 1950s were an interesting juxtaposition that foreshadowed the truth behind the Victory project. 

The cinematography, costume design, and set design in Don’t Worry Darling encapsulated the vintage Palm Springs aesthetic perfectly. Each car was a bright color, each woman’s dress pattered with polka dots and strips and each house had low-barring ceilings with pops of color throughout the rooms. This sense of normal perfectionism rejects the chaos that is rumored to disrupt the simulation. Yet, it is accurately used against the characters––the mirrors squish Alice, Margaret jumps off the roof, and Bunny worships her children who are not real. 

In terms of acting Florence Pugh and Chris Pine carried this film, although Harry Styles was widely anticipated, he was not terrible––frankly, he brought in a sum of those box office sales. He undoubtedly has the looks to play the stereotypical 1950’s working husband, but he was fine at best. Florence Pugh, on the other hand, took the role of Alice by a storm, fully embracing each line and delaying psychosis that the leaders of the Victory project, and Jack, put her through. 

Seeing as this film got such terrible reviews is undoubtedly swayed by the drama––Florence deserves an award for her performance but because of the Film Maudit, this is unlikely. Even though I do not think the film was perfect, it is something unique that has not been seen since utopian films such as The Giver. And despite allegations against Wilde, she definitely knows how to direct a movie. If I were the critic, I would give Don’t Worry Darling a solid 7/10––it is not perfect but it is unique and powerful, and left me thinking even a week later.