Film overview / ‘Do not Fear Darling’

“Don’t Fear Darling” (M) ***

THIS is a curate’s egg kind of a film – some elements good, others much less so.

Within the Arizona desert city of Victory, a couple of {couples} stay on a one-road, pastel-coloured cul-de-sac, visually the kind of ’50s Americana that sells the promise of the American Dream, with completely manicured lawns, doting wives, and hard-working husbands. 

The darling of the title is housewife Alice (Florence Pugh in a terrific portrayal) who maintains a clear house, all the time places dinner on the desk and adores her equally adoring husband Jack whose very first thing on getting house from work is to pleasure her with a fast 34½ (ie her half of 69). 

Alice’s neighbour Margaret (KiKi Layne) is satisfied Victory husbands are holding one thing from their wives, however when Alice begins asking questions, Victory’s facade begins to come back undone.

Frank (Chris Pine) leads the city’s males, perfecting the highest secret “Victory Venture”, which he believes will change the course of historical past. His progressive considering dominates the city with mind-control propaganda and an absence of free will.

Director Olivia Wilde and screenwriter Katie Silberman work arduous to vigorise a narrative by Carey and Shane Van Dyke. Alice’s inside psychosis manifests itself in hanging visions, rumbling sound design and percussive rating, that includes girls in misery.

Jack (boy-band-star Harry Types) delivers under-developed appearing abilities and will get to sing (about potatoes) and dance a delirious faucet dance that appears and feels a tad misplaced.

Among the movie’s 123 minutes may need been bypassed with out detracting from the drama. Others are plain ill-conceived for causes that director Wilde (who additionally performs a supporting position within the Victory neighborhood) should bear duty. 

And no matter Victory’s males are engaged on begins and stays an unexplained thriller, which makes the screenplay’s influence a tad lower than strong.

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