The Idyllic Visual Appeal of Don't Worry Darling
Don't Worry Darling– this article will not be discussing the multi-layered drama between the film's costars. Instead, let's focus on the alluring 1950s utopia setting in Don't Worry Darling. From Slim Aarons’ iconic, high society photos to a uniform cul-de-sac in Palm Springs, the film's beauty is undeniable.
Source: House Beautiful
Set in the 1950s, we follow the lead woman, Alice (Florence Pugh) and her husband Jack (Harry Styles) as the intention of the company town, Victory, unravels. Women like Alice begin questioning their role in this picture-perfect society and what their husbands do after uniformly pulling out of the cul-de-sac for work at the Victory Project. Don’t Worry Darling reveals thrilling truths about how Victory came to be. Between the strange atmosphere and misogynistic qualities of Victory, the knockout visuals may be the only thing you find desirable after watching this film.
Architecture: Slim Aarons and Eerie palm Springs Cul De Sacs
Featured in the film as the Victory Project leader, Frank’s (Chris Pine), home, the Kaufmann House was the perfect touch to the utopian, mid-century visual feast. You may have recognized the home from “Poolside Gossip,” a photo taken by Slim Aarons, who was infamous for his paradisal mid-century visuals.
While they weren't mansions like Franks’, other residents home nevertheless had picturesque qualities from the inside out. Filmed in a cul-de-sac called Canyon View Estates located in Palm Springs, the exteriors of the homes are heavily representative of mid-century architecture, as that is when they were originally built.
Source: Desert Sun
Interior Design
The interior design of Alice and Jack’s house effectively represents a 1950s home: from the pitted living room to the shag carpets and mid-century kitchen. Their home was a quintessential part of the storyline as it placed the film in the ideal era and adorned the plot with an eerie, idyllic feel.
The Victory Project Dome
Source: Variety
The dome-shaped building in the middle of the desert that Alice stumbled upon seemed too out of this world to be true, but it is in fact a real building. The “Volcano House” is located in Newberry Springs, California, and with added reflective mirroring, it was transformed into a vital part of Don’t Worry Darling’s act two twist.
Lastly: the most visually appealing stills to come out of the film
Just for extra measure, here are a few stills from Don’t Worry Darling that are sure to please your eyes.
What did you think of Don’t Worry Darling’s attempt at a utopian 1950’s setting? Let us know below.