
Olivia Wilde’s follow-up to the heady Booksmart strives to be a penetratingly snarky thriller, but comes up short of ‘Victory’ in a project shrouded in on-line controversies/quarrels. The director and co-writer co-stars as best friend Bunny in part hostess mode in a high-end SoCal desert enclave where cocktail parties and Valium are the thing. What seems like a 1950s family sitcom has a notable narrative ‘twist’ but doesn’t really surprise with any subtle power or entertainment. In spite of having Chris Pine as the cunning Frank who runs the mysterious, though progressive company with the same name as it’s town. As well pop star Harry Styles and rising employee Jack Chambers and, especially Florence Pugh’s seemingly typical housewife Alice, who becomes the most intriguing, sneaky character. In what ultimately loses its way as an enticing update on films like The Stepford Wives and The Truman Show with an Orwellian gaze into a conformist, patriarchal society. Filled with pleasant visuals from the 50s along with a choreography line from Busby Berkley and the use of eye control in the opposite manner used in Clockwork Orange, Don’t Worry Darling has much to watch but offers no explanation of the ‘Twilight Zone‘ ending.