Is it Time for Warner Bros to Start Worrying?
A detailed overview of Don’t Worry Darling before its release date on September 23, 2022.
Don’t Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde with Florence Pugh and Harry Styles in the prominent roles, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. But any press is good press in most cases. Can the WB film overcome all the drama surrounding it?
Cast :
Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling gathered a stellar group of acting talent, featuring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, and Nick Kroll. Wilde also stars in the film, in addition to her directing duties.
Actors were already lining up to work with the new director. It’ll be fascinating to see if Pugh’s rift with Wilde will affect this fact moving forward.
Directing :
Don’t Worry Darling is Olivia Wilde’s second film release. Her directorial debut, Booksmart, received an impressive 96% critical rating on the Tomatometer with 381 reviews.
Following Booksmart will not be easy, but it seems Wilde is fully committed to the art of directing. This upcoming WB mystery thriller could be the one that confirms the actress turned director as a force in filmmaking for years to come! On the flip side, it could be misfortune and cause some level of doubt for her future.
Screenplay :
Olivia Wilde, through affiliation with Warner Bros, purchased the rights to a 2019 Blacklist script. Katie Silberman, Wilde’s writing partner, did a rewrite and delivered her collaborator’s vision. Her modified screenplay gave birth to Don’t Worry Darling.
Many have read the original script and praised its originality. Don’t Worry Darling is a psychological thriller similar to some classic movies. Hopefully, these changes will only enhance the final product!
Plot :
Don’t Worry Darling revolves around a married couple in the 1950s. Alice is a 1950s housewife living with her husband Jack, employed by a mysterious operation called Victory Project that is supposed to change the world. While the women are instructed to stay indoors, Alice becomes suspicious when she begins to witness violent acts committed by her spouse. She contemplates the disturbing secrets her husband’s company may be keeping.
Inspirations :
At CinemaCon 2022, during her allotted time at the Warner Brothers presentation, Wilde confirmed the idea for Don’t Worry Darling was inspired by classics such as Inception, The Matrix, and The Truman Show. As previously stated, the film also essentially took its original concept from Carey and Shane Van Dyke, the writers of the first draft.
These film influences share a common thread where humans are trapped or have to deal with simulated reality. It’s a bold statement on Wilde’s part to cite these three films as sources of inspiration, but it considerably raised my expectations. A well-executed movie in the same realm as these three, and we have ourselves a gem!
Cinematography :
Matthew Libatique is the director of photography for Don’t Worry Darling. He has collaborated with Darren Aronofsky on multiple occasions. Libatique has twice been appointed a nomination to the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, one for Black Swan and the other for A Star Is Born.
As the images in the official trailer indicate, the cinematography looks great. Many visual shots jump out and I can’t wait to see the final version on a big theatrical screen.
Music :
John Powell is the composer of the film, and he is best known for his work on animated flicks. Powell also has an established relationship with Hans Zimmer. He’s a product of Zimmer’s music studio, Remote Control Productions.
John Powell was nominated for an Oscar for How to Train your Dragon. I hope that his score will add to the tension and mystery of Don’t Worry Darling.
Trailers :
The first trailer emphasizes the film’s mystery and psychological aspects, and it doesn’t offer much information about the plot. It gives the impression of a dominant figure in the city, and Pugh’s Alice begins to wonder what is happening behind the scenes.
Trailer #2 is more suspenseful. It shows the tension and distress that these characters will have to go through. Music also plays a role in these sentiments. Together, they form Don’t Worry Darling’s whole. A mysterious and psychological thriller.
Early Box Office Prediction :
Word of mouth and critical reception of Don’t Worry Darling will be crucial to its box office success. The film premiered on September 5 at the Venice Film Festival. Currently, with 54 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the pic stands at 39%. In my opinion, the three-day domestic opening for this film could range from $10 to $30 million. It remains to be seen if word of mouth can exceed those predictions.
My box office prediction for this film is tempered after the lukewarm reactions from critics. The reluctance of the public to support such a dramatic production is also at stake. Don’t Worry Darling will reach the lower limits of its projection.
Let me know if you believe Don’t Worry Darling will succeed at the box office!
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