Based on the trailer, all of the Hollywood buzz, as well as the director and cast, I was very excited to see Olivia Wilde’s film Don’t Worry Darling. However, I came away from it feeling that it was a film that could have been executed much better than it was.

Starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, the psychological thriller follows Alice, played by Pugh, and Jack, played by Styles, who live in the 1950’s in the utopian experimental community called Victory. While the men go away all day to work at the top secret Victory Project headquarters, their wives follow a classic housewife schedule, which includes cleaning, shopping, cooking and gossiping. However, Alice slowly starts to realize that not everything is what it seems and that the leader of the victory project, Frank, played by Chris Pine, is hiding what the Victory project really is.

Styles wasn’t kidding when he said this “feels like a movie”, but the moving force that pulled you into this movie was Pugh’s phenomenal performance. From the very start of the movie, her on screen presence made this movie enjoyable. She fit so nicely into the 50’s look and played the role perfectly. In one scene, it felt similar to her performance from a similar scene in the movie Midsommar. Styles’ performance was actually very surprising. This role was a big step-up from his small role in the movie Dunkirk. Although at some points it felt odd to see him on a screen and not on stage, he and Pugh fit perfectly together.

The movie was two hours long, and it felt like it should’ve been even longer. As soon as the movie started it got right into the sinister secrets that the Victory project could be hiding, there was no leading up to it which I definitely did not enjoy. A movie like this should have had more build up and suspense. I’ve seen viewers say this movie left them “mind-boggled” and “confused” or even “questioning reality.” While there were multiple plot holes, these people definitely haven’t watched a single Christopher Nolan movie. It almost felt as though Wilde just blended together ideas from a Jordan Peele movie and a Nolan movie.

In regards to casting, it felt like she was just watching random TV shows and movies and thought, “Hey, I want this person to be in my movie”. It was a very odd mix of actors, along with Styles, Pugh and Pine there was Nick Kroll, who had a very minor, insignificant role. He should stick to comedy or should’ve used more comedy in this movie, that is what he is meant for. Nepotism also came into play as actress, Sydney Chandler, daughter of Kyle Chandler was put into the mix. She had a very minor role as well. As for Wilde, her character in the movie, Bunny, was one I actually loved. At the end, you learn a lot about her and sort of feel for her.

I have been waiting more than a year for this movie, and although it wasn’t disappointing, it just wasn’t carried out well. Also, in press interviews Wilde made it sound as though this movie was going to be from a female’s point of view, but it was obviously from a male’s point of view, which let me down big time. It was almost like she wanted us to feel bad for Jack in the end. This movie was a brilliant idea that I would’ve loved to have seen produced better. It had so much potential and while I did enjoy it, something was just missing. I don’t know if it was the fast-pace of it all or the multiple plot holes, but I’m pretty sure I am going to have to see it a second time to resolve all those plot holes anyway. Don’t Worry Darling had many unfulfilled promises and clearly I’m not alone in my opinion, as is reflected by the 39% score on the Rotten Tomatoes website.