Don’t Worry Darling (2022)

DON’T WORRY DARLING is an intriguing psychological thriller. The film is set in an experimental company town called Victory. The town is home to the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. At first, everything seems perfect in Victory. But soon, cracks begin to appear in the town’s idyllic façade. Alice, played by Florence Pugh, starts to question what is really going on in Victory. She becomes increasingly disturbed by the strange behaviour of the town’s residents. As the film progresses, the sinister truth about Victory begins to emerge. The town is not what it seems and the people who live there are not who they appear to be.

I “read” the movie as a critique of 1950s patriarchy and the oppressive plight of women who, in that era, were largely confined to the home and who were often left feeling isolated and unfulfilled.

The film’s setting in an experimental company town is also significant. Company towns, particularly in America, have a long history of being used to control workers and keep them in line. They are places where the worker is completely dependent on the company for their livelihood. This dependence makes workers easy to control and manipulate. The film’s use of Victory as its setting allows for a critique of the way that workers are treated in company towns. The town’s residents are not allowed to leave, and they are constantly being watched. They are also subjected to a strict set of rules and regulations. This creates a feeling of paranoia and unease among the town’s residents.

The film is visually stunning, and the acting is excellent. The film’s atmosphere is eerie and unsettling. The plot is twisty and unpredictable. I found myself guessing at what was going to happen next, only to be surprised by the film’s twists and turns. Overall, I enjoyed DON’T WORRY DARLING and would recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your movie guide for your local show times.)