After all the buzz leading up to the premiere, “Don’t Worry Darling” had a pretty lackluster critical reception. /Film’s own review concluded that, despite a decent start, it “can’t overcome its rather simplistic story and a disappointing reveal that ultimately doesn’t match up to its build-up.” So how did a film with such an accomplished cast and a promising premise falter so dramatically?
For one thing, the buzz may have built up certain expectations for the film that either tainted the audience’s expectations or gave the premise very big shoes to fill. The sci-fi set-up presented a perfectly good allegory but failed to interrogate its themes particularly deeply or to piece things together in a satisfying way. Major events like a plane falling out of the sky and Pugh’s character having a vision of being crushed in the closing space between a wall and a window aren’t explained in detail, but rather incorporated into a larger explanation of the sinister hidden reality behind this utopian universe.
But the negative reviews and tabloid gossip haven’t stopped new viewers from discovering the film in droves now that it’s made its way to Netflix. This new boost in viewership just goes to show that an initial critical or commercial flop doesn’t have to be the final verdict for a movie; streaming has given “Don’t Worry Darling” a shot at a second life.