After months of anticipation for this movie to come out, I had the pleasure of watching it opening night to indulge myself in the utopian world of Victory. Directed by Olivia Wilde, “Don’t Worry Darling” is her sophomore film, after she previously directed “Booksmart” in 2019.

Viewers get insight on a busy housewife, Alice Chambers (Florence Pugh), and workaholic husband, Jack Chambers (Harry Styles), set during the 50s in an experimental town. The movie follows Alice and Jack’s seemingly perfect life, leaving the viewers to wonder what could go wrong in paradise. Eventually, Alice starts doubting the town’s motives and questions what the husbands are actually doing all day at work. 

Going into the movie I was nervous, but interested in how the movie was going to play out, because of the surrounding drama and low Rotten Tomato reviews it received. I soon realized I had nothing to worry about because I was quickly intrigued and was glued to my seat for the whole two hours. 

Right off the bat, I was drawn to the visually alluring cinematography. During the recurring breakfast scenes that appeared in the movie, a lot of symmetry was used to display how perfect their life was. Another notable scene was the dinner party scene –– Alice and Frank (Chris Pine) are head-to-head arguing about the authenticity of the town. Previously, the shots focusing on Alice were from a high angle, making her seem vulnerable around Frank, but now they were shot straight-on, representing that they are now equals.

The aesthetic of the film was established early on, and the crew nailed it. Palm Springs desert was a perfect backdrop because it’s bright and sunny on the surface, but there was much more to the sinister story. Costume designer, Arianne Phillips did a fantastic job pulling all of the tiny details from hair and makeup together with the wardrobe.

The majority of the film was very well done, except for the occasional plot-holes. As a viewer, you immediately get submersed in the idyllic life of the housewives. I was disappointed in the lack of setup in the plot, such as how all of these people decided to move to the secluded town of Victory. It felt like I would over-analyze into what I thought was a symbolic scene, when it had no real ties to the larger story. 

Florence Pugh was stellar in this film. Previously starring in the hit movie “Midsommar” (2019), I knew she was going to crush this role. On the other hand, Styles’ deliverance of lines and emotional range fell flat during intense scenes. Don’t get me wrong— I love Harry Styles—but this film allowed Pugh to shine specifically. Styles’ and Pugh’s chemistry on screen was perfect and vocally paired well for the movie’s main original theme song, “With You All the Time.” The soundtrack added so much to the 50s vibe and I left the theater with the songs stuck in my head. 

Gemma Chan and Chris Pine rocked their roles. They were wildly underutilized, and I wish they had more screen time, particularly diving into more of their relationship. Pine made for a delicious villain and Chan is just magnificent (personally I think she should be in every movie ever). Kiki Layne who plays Margaret did a phenomenal job despite having many of her scenes cut. 

Besides some of the minor flaws, I really enjoyed this movie. Although many of the themes within this movie have been done before, If you’re looking for a gripping thriller that leaves you questioning reality, I recommend checking this movie out.

“Don’t Worry Darling:” ★★★★☆