'Don't Worry Darling' is one of those movies like 'Cleopatra' in the 60's and 'The Island of Dr. Moreau' in the 90's, which is destined to be better remembered for dysfunction behind the scenes then for what's actually on the screen. From Shia LaBeouf's departing mid production, to the affair between Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde and it's role in the latter's being divorced by husband Jason Sudeikis, to the apparent falling out between Wilde and star Florence Pugh who has refussed to do promotional work for the film. An awkward Cannes premier was followed by poor reviews at home but decent box office. So I went to the theater to watch a dumpster fire.
To my surprise I was more or less with the film for the first 80% or so, until it got to the twist. This is a movie which largely exists for its twist, it telegraphs that one is coming throughout and the entire marketing campaign is built around getting you curious about said twist. However this is also the kind of movie where there are only so many permutations the twist can take.
Florence Pugh is a housewife living in a seemingly idealic if isolated community full of post war prosperity, a late 50's maybe early 60's aesthetic. The men all go off to work each morning on the mysterious Victory Project out in the desert, while the women keep house, shop, and take a synchronized dance class. A friend's nervous breakdown combined with various little things lead Florence to conclude something isn't right, things are not what they seem. She proceeds to investigate, though seemingly everyone seeks to deter her.
There is a darkside to paradise, something is rotten at the heart of the American dream, the good old days weren't. This is well worn territory and I don't think Wilde or screenwriter Katie Silberman had anything that new or insightful to say about it. I'm not sure why they even decided to make this movie.
The film's chief claim to contemporary relevancy, a part of the twist, was kinda hacky and not handled all that well. It dosen't make a whole lot of sense and there are plot holes a plenty. One major clue, a pivot point in the story, is never explained, and given what is explained dosen't have any reason I can see to exist. I'd be curious to know if that explanation was cut for time.
The movie looks good, costumes, set design, people. The soundtrack is obvious and the cinematography underserves. Pugh gives a commited and sympathetic performance which is principly what makes this watchable. Wilde has talent as a director, her previous film 'Booksmart' I really enjoyed and it even made my ten best list for 2019. 'Bookmart' however had a very straightforward story construction, 'Darling' is far more complicated and it just seems to have gotten away from her. **
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