For better or worse, ‘Don’t worry dear’ is one of the most talked about movies of the season. Although perhaps more because of the behind-the-scenes scandals involving Olivia Wilde, Florence Pugh, Harry Styles and others than because of the content itself, which proposes to put us in an intriguing dystopia to tell a horror story in the suburbs.
An idea that, on the other hand, is not excessively original. A few examples of suburban nightmares occur to us a priori, with slight touches of science fiction, which you already wanted show the wealthy middle class that housing far from the center was not synonymous with security. Here we select three more than recommended that are available to play in streaming.
‘The Stepford Wives’ (‘The Stepford Wives’, 1975)
Address: Bryan Forbes. Distribution: Katharine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Peter Masterson, Nanette Newman, Tina Louise.
Of course, many of us made the connection from the first trailer for ‘Don’t worry dear’ with this classic adaptation of Ira Levin’s novel, carried beautifully by Bryan Forbes. Moving to a seemingly idyllic community, where women are progressively accepting a disturbing submissive role which is then pointedly explained.
An obvious metaphor, but well drawn, with its well-measured point of satire to add spice to an exercise in intrigue and seventies terror. Witty and dark, it has managed to stay relevant over the years thanks to its critical message against family conservatism and the consumerism inherent in American society. Nor is the review made by Frank Oz insignificant, with more jokes and the same bad drool, in ‘The Perfect Women’.
See in Filmin | Criticism in Espinof
‘The Truman Show’ (‘The Truman Show’, 1998)
Address: Peter Weier. Distribution: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Ed Harris, Natascha McElhone.
Less terrifying, also pulling less far-fetched and more realistic science fiction, but also a suburban nightmare less removed from our current reality than it seems. With an extremely inspired Jim Carrey, ‘The Truman Show’ makes a timely reflection on how the industry comes to commercialize a person’s life for the sheer entertainment of the masses.
Turned into a huge cult film over the years, Peter Weir’s film continues to have a powerful force thanks to how plausible everything is. The almost perfect life and the ideal of happiness can only be sustained as lies for a period of time, after which all the sludge is uncovered and completely questions the entire nature of being. The Aussie gets all of that to shine as he makes a perfect commercial movie.
See on Amazon Prime Video and on Filmin | Criticism in Espinof
‘Vivarium’ (2019)
Address: Lorcan Finnegan. Distribution: Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg, Jonathan Aris, Olga Wehrly, Danielle Ryan.
Here is a recent science fiction gem that plays well with symbols and their influences to make a chilling midlife crisis story and suddenly see your existence trapped in the comfort of the suburbs. Monotony, stagnation in unexpected roles, a mysterious infant who will begin to disrupt the dynamics of the leading couple.
Lorcan Finnegan manages to create a current and very real nightmare, despite the very quirky elements that we see developed. ‘Vivarium’ manages to work especially because of the way in which it drinks from the most modest classic science fiction, managing to talk about very recurring themes in a way that is very refreshing and forceful.
Watch on HBO Max | Criticism in Espinof