Don't Worry Darling: We review one of the most talked about films of 2022

23 September 2022, 19:30 | Updated: 24 September 2022, 01:31

Watch the trailer for Don't Worry Darling

By Jenny Mensah

Find out what we thought of the Olivia Wilde-directed film starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh.

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Unless you've been living under a rock the past few years, you'd be hard-pressed to have missed Harry Styles' stratospheric rise from former One Direction heartthrob to fully-fledged global superstar.

Now, if 15 sold-out Madison Square Gardens, a headline set at Coachella and a Mercury Prize nod weren't enough to add to his list of achievements, could Harry Styles be set to successfully pull off a role as Hollywood leading man? Well he's certainly got people talking regardless.

Don't Worry Darling hasn't just garnered a bit of attention. It's been a complete PR wet dream, with rumours of a huge rift between Olivia Wilde and Florence Pugh and a rather bizarre press run which took the hype surrounding the film to an all-time high.

Harry Styles might have convinced us he didn't spit on Chris Pine, but has he managed to make a believable transition to Hollywood star?

Find out what we thought of the Olivia Wilde-directed film here.

Don't Worry Darling is in cinemas now. Picture: YouTube/Warner Bros. Pictures

When is Don't Worry Darling released?

Don't Worry Darling is released in UK cinemas on 23rd September 2022.

Who's in the cast of Don't Worry Darling?

Don't Worry Darling stars Harry Styles as Jack Chambers, Florence Pugh as Alice Chambers, Olivia Wilde as Bunny, Gemma Chan as Shelley , Kiki Layne as Margaret, Nick Kroll as Dean and Chris Pine as Frank.

Elsewhere in the cast are Sydney Chandler as Violet, Asif Ali as Peter, Kate Berlant as Peg, Douglas Smith as Bill, Timothy Simons as Dr. Collins, Ari'el Stachel as Ted and Daisy Sudeikis as Rosie.

What's it about?

The synopsis for Don't Worry Darling reads: "While the husbands spend every day inside the Victory Project Headquarters, working on the “development of progressive materials,” their wives—including Frank’s elegant partner, Shelley (Chan)—get to spend their time enjoying the beauty, luxury and debauchery of their community. Life is perfect, with every resident’s needs met by the company. All they ask in return is discretion and unquestioning commitment to the Victory cause.

"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. Just how much is Alice willing to lose to expose what’s really going on in this paradise?

"An audacious, twisted and visually stunning psychological thriller, Don’t Worry Darling is a powerhouse feature from director Olivia Wilde that boasts intoxicating performances from Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, surrounded by the impressive and pitch-perfect cast."

Is Don't Worry Darling worth watching? Our review:

From the minute the opening credits roll, you know you're in safe hands. Not because you know Don't Worry Darling is going to be really good, but because you know it's going to look really good. Bathed sumptuous colours and good-enough-to eat 50s fashion, there's no denying this is one stylish movie. And by the time The Right Time by Ray Charles kicks in, you know the soundtrack is going to follow suit. Luckily with style does come substance, and the cast all play their part in this well-paced psychological thriller.

You'll breathe a sigh of relief to find out out Harry Styles does indeed play a Brit in the film (a point they mention we assume to avoid any confusion). But, since Harry Styles' Northern English/American drawl sounds like no one else but Harry Styles, it's often hard to suspend your disbelief about the pop-star. Despite this, he does a pretty good job at holding his own amongst a cast of seasoned actors.

Florence Pugh was described by Olivia Wilde as the "darling" of the film, but she is so much more, giving a fierce and believable portrayal as Alice throughout. We wouldn't go as far to say she carries the movie, but she certainly is doing a lot of leg work, showing her incredible range as she goes from picture perfect 50s housewife to a woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Plus, she does plenty of actual running too.

While it's not a particularly new concept (the idyllic mid-century lifestyle draws instant comparisons with The Stepford Wives), Don't Worry Darling does manage to entertain, intrigue and keep audiences on the edge of their seats. And if the story doesn't beguile you, the costume, soundtrack, staging and vintage cars certainly will. Despite all this, reader beware: there are a few moments that will feel a bit naff and out of odds with the general style of the film,, but luckily (for reasons you'll understand when you watch the it) these are very few and far between.

In these times it's hard to justify spending your hard-earned cash on a visit to the cinema, but if you want to be transported to another place and time (and see some beautiful people wear beautiful outfits while you're at it), we'd say this is money well spent.

3/5 stars.