Is Don't Worry Darling woke?
Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2022
Wokeness Score
8/10
Strongly Ideological
Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
Key Summary Points
- Portrays 1950s traditional gender roles as a fabricated misogynistic prison created by resentful men.
- Critiques incel culture, Jordan Peterson-inspired figures, and Trump-era nostalgia for 'better times'.
- Frames female rebellion against housewife life and male control as heroic feminist awakening.
Wokeness Analysis
Don't Worry Darling centers on a simulated 1950s utopia where men trap their wives in a male-fantasy world of enforced traditional gender roles, portraying this setup as a misogynistic prison created by incel-like figures inspired by Jordan Peterson and Trump-era nostalgia. The narrative frames the 1950s housewife lifestyle as inherently oppressive and artificial, with the protagonist's awakening and rebellion serving as a direct critique of patriarchal control, online radicalization of men, and resistance to women's career ambitions. Director Olivia Wilde explicitly drew from The Feminine Mystique, anti-Trump sentiments, and concerns over bodily autonomy and Roe v. Wade, embedding heavy social commentary on feminism, consent, and male fragility. While the thriller elements and visuals provide some entertainment, the plot twist and character arcs are shaped to deliver an ideological message about smashing the system of traditional norms, with diversity nods like a Black character questioning the order. Many elements feel forced to serve progressive messaging on toxic masculinity and the dangers of nostalgia for pre-feminist eras, overshadowing pure storytelling for a didactic tone that alienates viewers seeking escapism.
Plot
In the idyllic 1950s company town of Victory, California, Alice (Florence Pugh) lives a seemingly perfect life as a housewife while her husband Jack (Harry Styles) works on the secretive Victory Project. The community enforces strict traditional roles, with wives enjoying leisure and the men handling mysterious work. Alice begins experiencing hallucinations and suspicions after witnessing odd events, leading her to uncover that Victory is a simulated reality designed by cult-like leader Frank (Chris Pine). In reality, modern-day men have trapped their partners in this virtual utopia to enforce subservient roles, with Alice confronting the non-consensual imprisonment. The film explores themes of control, autonomy, and rebellion as Alice fights to break free.