Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Film details
Science Fiction · Mystery · Thriller · Olivia Wilde · 2h 3min
Synopsis
Alice and Jack are lucky to be living in the idealized community of Victory, the experimental company town housing the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. But when cracks in their idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something much more sinister lurking beneath the attractive façade, Alice can’t help questioning exactly what they’re doing in Victory, and why.
Verdict
It presents traditional family roles as patriarchal oppression in a false utopia.
In-depth analysis
Don't Worry Darling is a psychological thriller that, beneath an impeccable 1950s aesthetic, unfolds a critique of the traditional family order as a form of male control. Alice, powerfully portrayed by Florence Pugh, lives in the utopian community of Victory, where husbands like Jack provide and wives maintain the perfect home. Soon, cracks reveal a sinister simulation: men have confined their partners to submissive roles to satisfy fantasies of dominance, using gaslighting to maintain the illusion. The final twist confirms that this 'perfection' is a voluntary prison chosen by men fearful of female autonomy.
Visually dazzling, with direction by Olivia Wilde that evokes The Stepford Wives, the film prioritizes the message over narrative coherence, resulting in a simplistic feminist plea. It criticizes patriarchy by equating provision and complementary roles with oppression, ignoring nuances of mutual responsibility in marriage. It does not explore redemption or healthy bonds, but rather the destruction of the system as liberation. For parents, a warning: it invites one to view family stability as suspicious, prioritizing individualism over shared commitment. Although Pugh shines in her awakening, the background blurs the dignity of male-female complementarity, presenting it as a trap. It entertains, but leaves a void: where is the heroism of family sacrifice? Recommended only for mature adults, with subsequent dialogue about true freedom in relationships.