A 1950s desert utopia hides a dark, simulated reality in this psychological thriller
In short: In the idyllic company town of Victory, California, housewives enjoy lives of luxury while their husbands work at a mysterious headquarters. But when Alice Chambers begins to suspect the town’s sinister secret, she uncovers a reality far more artificial—and controlling—than the perfect desert life she once knew.
Directed by Olivia Wilde, the 2022 psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling follows Alice, played by Florence Pugh, as she discovers that her 1950s-style community is actually a simulation. In this artificial world, men log out of the program daily to work real jobs, funding the simulated lives of their wives who remain unaware of the truth. The film’s premise, which draws inspiration from works like The Matrix and The Truman Show, explores themes of control and gender dynamics, with Wilde noting that the antagonist, Frank, was inspired by psychologist Jordan Peterson.
The production was marked by intense media scrutiny, including reports of on-set conflicts and a high-profile casting change where Harry Styles replaced Shia LaBeouf. Despite these controversies, the film’s crew and cinematographer Matthew Libatique publicly dismissed rumors of unprofessional behavior. Filming took place in Los Angeles, utilizing iconic architectural landmarks like the Kaufmann House and the Volcano House, the latter serving as the film's mysterious Victory Headquarters.
Upon its release, the film received mixed critical reviews, holding a 38% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While critics almost universally praised Pugh’s performance and the film's visual style, reactions to Styles’s performance were divided, and many reviewers found the screenplay’s handling of its core concepts to be heavy-handed or derivative. Despite the critical reception, the film grossed $87.6 million worldwide and found success on streaming platforms, reaching 2.7 million households in its first week on HBO Max.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Don't Worry Darling
- Also: Wikidata — Don't Worry Darling · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Don’t Worry Darling: The anxious question of what women want after #MeToo? · CC0
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