Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Florence Pugh shines so bright, she makes everything around her seem pale.
However, Don't Worry Darling, manages to send a slight yet effective shiver down your spine as we watch this seemingly perfect world, where traditional house roles are perfectly kept.
That setting alone may make some of us feel a bit sick, but, Olivia Wilde, who both directed and stars the film, decided to take this to a somewhat, expected direction, juxtaposing fear of tradition with fear of the future and the dangers of technological advancement.
It seems like no matter where we travel in time - women find themselves in a bit of a pickle.
Wilde did nothing new here, yet the film is not overbearing, and thanks to Pugh's exquisite facial expressions and captivating voice; you are left wanting more.
My only real disappointment is the ending, sadly, not bold enough, and a bit of a rush-job.
Keeping it short: we find out that the very dashing Harry Styles, participated in an experiment in the 'real world' in which he leaves for this mechanically generated 'world' led by Chris Pine's very well played villain, every day. Through some kind of machine (very upsettingly for me, resembling "The Clockwork Orange"with its eye-opening system-thing) the people in the experiment are transported to this 'new world', everyday - men, are aware of it all - women, in complete oblivion.
We see Alice (Pugh) go through a journey of realisation, as she starts picking up on cracks in the fake world. Alice is determined to get to the bottom of it as everyone around her try to convince her she is loosing it; a common technique Wilde is using here, but as I said, if it's innovation you are after, this is not the movie for you.
In a series of beautifully shot scenes, Alice gets to put the puzzle together.
After realising she is sedated in the real world, having her partner Jack (Styles) signing her up for the experiment without her consent- Alice slowly recollects her memories and reveals to the audience she is in fact a medical doctor. When confronting Jack, we get to hear his side of things. He seems to think that the solution for Alice's long hour shifts and constant tiredness due to her demanding career, is giving (forcing) her a life of a house wife, whilst the Real Man is working away.
Choosing Styles to play this part was a stroke of genius, as he has this sweet vulnerability, almost convincing me that taking a medical doctor's career away, leaving her to clean and cook all day, actually makes more sense.
Or is it just the fact that sadly, Jack's perfect world is a reality, still, too easy to picture.