Don’t Worry Darling: 15 Mind-Bending Plot Holes & Mysteries

The highly anticipated project by Olivia Wilde could have been overshadowed by controversy even before its premiere. However, it has since garnered a small yet passionate following as a complex thriller that explored gender dynamics intriguingly. Featuring an impressive ensemble of actors like Florence Pugh, Wilde herself, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, Chris Pine, and Harry Styles, the sci-fi tale revolving around Alice and Jack was filled with unexpected twists but left some viewers puzzled due to unresolved questions.

In “Don’t Worry Darling,” the character Alice, played by Florence Pugh, experiences a tumultuous journey ordealed by her enigmatic spouse, Jack (portrayed by Harry Styles). She thought she was enjoying an ideal life as a housewife, with Jack working at the Victory Project, but unbeknownst to her, an intricate simulation had been manipulating her mind to serve Jack within a digital utopia. Fortunately, Alice managed to escape from this construct reminiscent of “The Matrix” towards the end. Nevertheless, the final scenes of “Don’t Worry Darling” have some gaps in logic and unresolved mysteries that make the movie seem somewhat inconclusive.

Why Was Alice Hallucinating (If She Was Hallucinating)?

Alice Had Unexplained Images in Victory Project

The film “Don’t Worry Darling” presents instances where it appears Alice might be experiencing hallucinations. Although some of these scenes are later explained, others remain unexplained. The opening ballet sequences and peculiar images align with the simulation initiation process, which is understandable. Yet, the movie fails to provide a reason for the in-world phenomenon that Alice encounters, causing her to question the authenticity of her surroundings.

Alice perceives her house walls closing around her, discovers empty eggs, and undeniably witnesses a red plane plummeting. Interestingly, Margaret underwent the same hallucination, clinging to a plastic toy resembling Alice’s plane. These shared illusions led them to doubt the authenticity of their world. However, it remains unclear why they experienced such collective delusions. If it’s due to a coding issue, why would it only affect Margaret and Alice? Yet, if it’s rooted in their subconscious, why would they share similar hallucinations? The film doesn’t explicitly reveal whether Frank is intentionally manipulating candidates; thus, the storyline remains intricate.

What Was the Actual Role of the Employees in Victory?

There Were Waiters, Musicians, Drivers, Security & More in the Victory Project

Triumph boasted a considerable workforce that surpassed its resident count. At Frank’s extravagant gathering, musicians were playing, waiters tended bar at the poolside soiree, models showcased gowns for the ladies to purchase, tram conductors navigated the crowd, security personnel ensured everyone’s safety, and there were undoubtedly other roles in play. Notably, Dita Von Teese graced the event with her presence, performing a dance inside a champagne glass to captivate the gentlemen.

As a dedicated viewer, I can’t help but wonder about the real-life sources behind these characters gracing our screens. They’re diverse in gender, and not all seem to be mere non-player characters. These individuals are resourceful, intelligent, and imaginative – traits that suggest their existence beyond the confines of the film. However, the movie leaves us hanging when it comes to addressing the ethical quandary of having so many people at Victory’s service. Does Frank deceive them? Are they compensated so generously that they don’t mind? Or are they, much like the town’s women, unwitting participants in Frank’s program?

Was Anyone Looking for Alice in the Real World?

People Can’t Just Disappear in Someone’s House

One puzzling query raised in the movie “Don’t Worry Darling” is: How could these men successfully keep all these women captive without anyone outside noticing? Considering Alice was a hospital worker with relatives and acquaintances, it seems odd that no one launched an investigation after her disappearance, given she had connections and a boyfriend like Jack whom people close to her would know.

Surprisingly, this investigation didn’t promptly point the authorities towards any of Alice’s former partners, not even a hint. As an admirer with limited means, Jack barely managed to afford the program, leaving little room for resources in tracking down the missing women. Frank neglected security at their residence, and there was no evidence suggesting he could deter the police from investigating these disappearances. It’s almost surreal that no one seemed to be actively searching for Alice or any other wives, making this film a captivating mystery indeed.

Why Would Frank Program Men To Die in the Real World If They Die in the Simulation?

It Seems That Only Men Would Die in the Simulation

Following Alice’s unintentional taking of Jack’s life, someone appears and alerts her that in the real world, men perish when they meet their demise within the simulation. Notably, this individual emphasizes “the men,” implying that women wouldn’t face such consequences. Given Frank’s desire to dominate the women, it is logical that he wouldn’t want the women to succumb to death if one of their husbands were to inadvertently end their lives.

But why would he murder these men if they included him? It seems plausible that Frank devised this tool as a means of controlling the husbands, considering himself immune to danger, but it’s an ill-conceived notion. In reality, even someone like Frank could have simply slipped in the shower and met his end.

The Quality of the Simulation Is Inconsistent

It’s Pretty Advanced Technology with Mediocre Design

It appears that the issue might lie in the film’s inconsistent simulation of its world. The movie seemed to be so engrossed in delivering its message that it overlooked the necessity of creating a realistic environment to enhance the storyline. For instance, it remains uncertain whether Frank’s technology is commonplace or a revolutionary breakthrough in this universe. The portrayal of his brainwashing videos and their intended audience gives the impression of Frank as a narrow-minded individual. Given his fame, it seems unlikely that he could abduct women so openly without consequences, suggesting he may not be well-known.

It seems Jack discovered Frank in a lesser-known online community. Given that Frank’s project is quite ambitious, one might wonder about his role: Is he the brain behind the coding or merely the public figurehead? Is he financially well-off, and if so, what benefits does he derive from this? The Victory Project, while impressive in concept, has been criticized for its mediocre programming. Frank appears to manipulate the experiences of these women and develop an interactive, lifelike simulation. However, the scope is limited, and the simulation falls short. So, how can technology be so advanced yet flawed at the same time?

How Did Margaret Realize the Truth?

Margaret Seemed to Know Even More than Alice in the End

In the movie “Don’t Worry Darling,” it is Margaret who becomes the initial character affected by the “enlightened” environment of The Victory Project, experiencing episodes where she saw glimpses of an alternate reality. As she started to awaken from the controlled state she had been in, she was deemed mentally unsound and isolated from other women within the community. Margaret persistently imagined a plane crash and would often take her son out into the desert, leading to his unfortunate death due to heat exposure.

It wasn’t clear what caused Margaret to realize that she wasn’t in the real world. Her trigger for this revelation was Jack humming a tune while she was asleep in bed, so it would have been helpful to understand what prompted her to start exploring this theory since it was a significant moment in the story.

What Happened to Margaret in Don’t Worry Darling?

If She Killed Herself in Victory, Would She Die in the Real World? Or Was She Killed?

In the film, it becomes clearer later on that Chris Pine’s character, Frank as head of Victory, managed the project responsible for Margaret’s care. He deceived everyone about her recovery being in a hospital within the digital construct, when in reality, such cases like Margaret’s could be terminated in the physical world to avoid raising suspicions in the virtual realm. This aspect deserved more screen time in the movie.

Although the truth behind what happened to Margaret, whether her son existed or she was murdered, remains uncertain, as does the whereabouts of her husband, her story is captivating enough for a standalone film. It’s unfortunate that the only Black character in Don’t Worry Darling, who seemed integral to the plot, received minimal attention, solely serving to spur Alice into action. Given the significance of this character, it would have been more satisfying for viewers to learn about Margaret’s ultimate fate.

Why Didn’t Frank Have Better Security Measures?

Frank Had Hundreds of Men Watching Over Victory Project, but None in the Real World

In a more straightforward rephrasing: Frank was marketing Victory Project headsets in the real world, allowing oppressive husbands to control their wives digitally. However, there was a chance that women might regain consciousness and attempt to escape. To counteract this, he strategically stationed guards dressed in red jumpsuits within the structure, who functioned like antivirus software, capturing individuals such as Margaret when they resisted.

Despite lacking weapons like guns or vehicles, these guards couldn’t easily intimidate, control, or harm people within the construct. Moreover, there was no guard posted at the exit of the program, even after Frank discovered Alice had almost escaped through it. This setup didn’t match the image that Frank held or the way the Victory Project was presented – as an impregnable fortress.

How Did Pregnancy Work in the Program?

The Movie Even Jokes about Peg Being Pregnant All the Time

In the context of the program, what I’m curious about is the mechanism behind Margaret and her son’s pregnancies. Since we see Kate Berlant’s character, Peg, being pregnant throughout the movie, and other women giving birth as well, I wonder if their pregnancies are real or simulated within the program. If they are real, I’m intrigued to know how this could be possible within the confines of the program. Are they adopting real children and integrating them into the simulation? Or perhaps these children are born and immediately connected to the system from infancy? It’s all very fascinating!

Is there doubt about whether Margaret’s son was genuine or not, perhaps a digital creation? The concept of pregnancy in the movie seems hard to reconcile with the idea of a simulation suddenly making a woman pregnant. Does childbirth happen spontaneously in these simulations? How do they manage labor and delivery? It appears that the creators of the film didn’t put much thought into the scientific aspects, choosing instead to simply say, “A magical force is at work here.” Upon closer examination, the portrayal of pregnancy in the movie becomes increasingly implausible. While Bunny mentions that the children are not real and are based on her deceased children, the film fails to provide a clear explanation for the other cases. This is particularly noticeable given Jack’s apparent discomfort with Alice, who was shown to be able to get pregnant both in reality and in the simulation.

Why Did Frank Antagonize Alice?

Frank Was the Agent of His Own Destruction

As Alice began noticing flaws in Victory, she also voiced her opinions more frequently. During a heated dinner argument with Frank, he provoked her by criticizing her chances of success. Strangely enough, this confrontation motivated Alice to probe deeper into Frank’s actions and attempt to alienate Jack from his superior.

Instead of leaving Alice puzzled about where the husbands spent their days (as they secretly worked to pay Frank for his tech firm and signed out of the program, making their actions more deplorable), Frank should have addressed Alice’s doubts, not inadvertently fueling her suspicion that would lead her to plot against the other wives. However, the movie hinted at Frank being obsessed with controlling Alice but didn’t fully develop this narrative thread.

Why Wasn’t Bunny Used as a Spy?

Bunny Played the Fool the Entire Time

In this scenario, Olivia Wilde’s character, Bunny, was the sole spouse privy to the deception, yet she never attempted to appease Alice or function as Frank’s informant. Instead, she appeared unfazed by the simulation, making her an intriguing personality. There was potential for Bunny to play a more significant role – perhaps even fabricating stories about Margaret’s recovery to mislead Alice and confuse the situation further.

It’s plausible that Bunny would have made an excellent choice for Frank’s confidante, given that she willingly immersed herself in this virtual reality, allowing her to be with her deceased children. In this scenario, Frank’s technology was able to recreate a second life for her based on her memories. Therefore, because Alice vouched for Bunny, she could have safeguarded their ideal world, and in a sense, served as a guardian for it.

What Did Shelley Do With Victory?

Shelley’s Character Doesn’t Go Anywhere

In the movie Don’t Worry Darling, Shelley (Gemma Chan), Frank’s wife, fatally stabbed him within the Victory Project. This act was motivated by her anger over his inability to prevent Alice from escaping. Consequently, Frank died in reality as well, giving Shelley complete control of the project. However, the specifics of her plan remained unclear, as the movie ended with Alice’s successful escape.

It would’ve been fascinating to uncover Shelley’s intentions alongside the other wives, discovering whether she truly wielded power in their shared reality and understanding the extent of her feelings for Frank. She is undeniably a complex character, brimming with unexplored layers, particularly in the context of the film.

How Did Jack Afford the Program?

Jack Had a Mediocre Job, But He Could Pay for Groundbreaking Technology

One key theme portrayed in the film is how some men struggle to cope when women outshine them financially or in success, reflecting the vulnerability of certain male egos. This is evident in Jack’s actions, as he resents Alice for earning more than him. Feeling unable to maintain the lifestyle he believed they were entitled to, with him being the primary earner, as traditionally expected by some “men’s rights” advocates, he designed this scenario within the simulation.

In the simulation, it seems odd that Jack, who struggles financially due to his disagreements with Alice, can maintain such an extravagant lifestyle for Alice, given their financial conflicts. The question arises: how is he managing to cover these costs when the very source of their disputes stems from a lack of sufficient income?

Did Alice Expose the Victory Project?

Don’t Worry Darling Should Have Had an Epilogue

In the film Don’t Worry Darling, Alice’s escape is followed by a black screen, her heavy breathing echoing over the credits, hinting that she might have been conscious. This ambiguous ending, though intriguing for the audience, seemed to some as an evasion of fully resolving the plot, considering the elaborate setup of Frank’s mysterious dark web project and his recruitment methods, including Jack.

Alice might have freed the other women as a means to an end, yet she could potentially pursue the husbands herself out of desire to keep Bunny confined with her children’s “spirits.” Granted, this would lead to a gripping confrontation with Shelley, who appeared more interested in wealth and power than liberation or feminism. Nonetheless, it certainly added an intriguing element to the story.

Why Didn’t the Husbands Kill Alice?

The Husbands Seem as Confused as the Wives in Don’t Worry Darling

In a turn of events, when Alice, under suspicious circumstances, murdered Jack within the guise of her false home, then hastily fled to jump into a vehicle and locate an escape route, all the husbands were left distraught and shouting. Interestingly, only Bunny’s spouse attempted to hold Alice back. Notably, if the other spouses had chased after Alice and ended her life in this scenario, she would have perished in reality as well.

This was an ideal moment to counteract Alice, a potential danger, as her husbands had always been aware of the situation. Keeping this under wraps would have enabled Victory to manipulate the other wives’ memories, erasing the traumatic event. However, it seemed insufficient and implausible for them to merely observe Alice flee, given her potential to shatter their idyllic lives.

Why Didn’t Frank Use Real-World Security?

Frank Underestimated the Agengy of the People in His Own Project

Following the Margaret incident, it became clear that there might be untapped abilities in women. In fact, Frank went as far as having Alice undergo a lobotomy and reprogramming after she exhibited disobedience. This was yet another warning sign that should have prompted him to bolster his security measures even further.

So, it would have been wise to establish a safety measure, ensuring that each woman sleeping had a protector monitoring their home. In Alice’s situation, if she managed to get rid of the headset, her care would still be ensured, preserving the covert aspect of the malevolent undertaking. This aligns with Bunny cautioning Alice about how desperate Frank’s group was to safeguard themselves and their investments.

2025-05-03 04:26