Olivia Wilde has a drastic sophomore slump with her second feature film. Don't Worry Darling is a clunky patriarchal thriller with little mystery to an obvious plot. Themes of gender inequity and female subjugation are handled with a fire hose delivery. It's pretty clear from the opening minutes where the narrative is heading. You then have to sit through a labored runtime for the protagonist to catch up. Bizarre imagery and sounds have the opposite intended effect. They increase annoyance instead of intrigue. Don't Worry Darling needed a subtler approach on all fronts.
Florence Pugh stars as Alice Chambers, a housewife that dutifully cooks and cleans while looking absolutely gorgeous. She has steak dinners and cocktails waiting each evening for her hardworking husband's arrival. Jack (Harry Styles), along with every other man in their fifties suburban setting, leaves promptly in the morning and vanishes all day. Their work on the Victory Project is top secret. Significant others know never to ask what they're doing or tread into the desert surrounding their closed community.
The wives laugh, gossip, and attend ballet classes. Everyone holds strict form and obedience to Shelly (Gemma Chan), the uncompromising wife of Frank (Chris Pine). He's the revered sage that heads the Victory Project. His omnipresent teachings echo from every billboard, radio, and television. All the Victory Project's participants clamor for Frank and Shelly's approval.
The facade begins to crack when a dear neighbor starts to ask questions. Margaret (KiKi Layne) is branded a kook and unwell from her outbursts. Bunny (Wilde), Alice's best friend, warns the other wives to avoid her insanity. A horrific incident changes Alice's calculus. She's unnerved when official accounts lie about Margaret. Another strange occurrence leads Alice trekking into the desert. She has to see the Victory Project and learn what their husbands are actually doing.
Don't Worry Darling Pours it on Thick
Don't Worry Darling pours the narrative batter thick from the start. The apron-clad, vacuuming, and window cleaning Alice could have been pulled from an antiquated page of Life magazine. The wives look impeccable. Graphic sex scenes, and the fact that the women aren't allowed to drive, are early sledgehammer clues to the rub. The Victory Project is male dominated fantasy to the extreme. Husbands bring home the bacon for subordinate wives to cook. They raise children, keep homes tidy, and are available in an instant for sexual gratification.
I found two performances to be problematic. Chris Pine's overblown portrayal of Frank is almost laughable. He's Jim Jones, David Koresh, and Marshall Applewhite on steroids. Pine has formidable screen presence, but it's badly misused. Frank's diabolically comical instead of creepy. The second poor characterization belongs to Harry Styles' Jack. He's never believable and has little impact in a crucial role. Insert sigh here. The tabloid fracas between Wilde and the original casting of Shia LaBeouf as Jack holds some merit. The final product is flawed. Jack stands out as a weak link. I couldn't help but think that LaBeouf, a brilliant actor despite his public personal failings, would have been far superior in pivotal scenes.
Don't Worry Darling disappoints. My high expectations weren't remotely met. Its themes have value but are poorly presented. Wilde is a good actress and capable filmmaker. Booksmart was a banner directorial debut. Wilde will undoubtedly bounce back on her next outing.
Don't Worry Darling is a production of New Line Cinema and Vertigo Entertainment. It will have a theatrical release on September 23rd from Warner Bros.