The following contains spoilers for Don't Worry Darling, now playing in theaters.
One of the biggest mysteries fans were intrigued by in Don't Worry Darling revolved around the supposedly-secret world Florence Pugh's Alice was stuck in with her husband, Jack (Harry Styles), and what it had to do with his job: the Victory Project. From these clips alone, it was clear that there was more to the suburban housewife realm Alice and so many others were living in -- one filled with a weird order and women seemingly submissive to men.
Some theorists wondered if it was mind control, while others thought maybe aliens or mystical forces were at play to subjugate these women. Well, by the time the final act unfolded, Don't Worry Darling's shocking twist was definitely one made for sci-fi fans, with a harrowing message regarding toxic masculinity, similar to what Barbarian did recently.
What Was Don't Worry Darling's World About?
In Don't Worry Darling, Alice was happy in their small desert town while Jack went off to work during the day with the Victory Project on "progressive material" that'd change the world. All the other wives were placated, too, living lavish lives, drinking in the day and lapping up this paradise. That is, until one, Margaret, killed herself, sending Alice down an investigative rabbit hole. She began questioning the cover-up and why all other women were so subservient.
To make it worse, she began experiencing hallucinations and other trigger moments that seemingly hinted her mind was sharing two worlds. It came to a head when she confronted Jack's shady boss, Frank (Chris Pine), who ruled this empire. Alice was eventually taken away, undergoing a procedure that left fans wondering if it was a lobotomy or mental reset, as she returned home quite chipper. In the process, she was once more domesticated and obedient, eager to cook, clean and wait on her husband, like the other wives.
What Was the Victory Project's Dark Secret?
Don't Worry Darling's finale had Alice and a sinister Jack -- who gave his wife up for reconditioning -- trying to have a blissful session at home, reiterating all was well in the marriage. However, as Jack hummed "With You All the Time," her memories kicked in once again, which, coupled with the movie's flashbacks, revealed the harmful truth. Alice was stuck in a digital world, akin to The Matrix, after Jack, in the real world, knocked his wife out, tied her down and held her captive -- teasing Marvel fans of what Styles can offer as Thanos' shady brother, Starfox.
Here, Jack was angry she was working all the time, not understanding the sacrifices she made as a doctor to care for him: an unemployed, selfish man-child. Jack ended up on the dark web, part of the "Organized Chaos" movement led by Frank, which was a scientific project luring in vulnerable, bitter souls. It took on a bunch of men who signed up for the headsets so they could subjugate their wives. They had to care for the women and make sure they didn't die in the real world after forcefully hooking them up to it. As for where the men went during the day in the digital realm, they signed out to work real-world jobs to get money to pay Frank to keep the platform running.
This was Jack's dream because while he was insecure, haggard and degenerate in reality, he became a suave, handsome Brit in the Victory Project, trapping his wife and sating her with a dream life that removed the independent identity she once had. However, this dream wasn't hers, as she loved her medical job, which is why Alice's subconscious, like Margaret's, kept rebelling and trying to find a way out. Luckily, Jack humming that song in the real world would help liberate Alice's mind, allowing her to kill him in the construct, so she could now try to find a way out of this oppressive prison.
See how Jack and the Victory Project run their nasty scheme in Don't Worry Darling, now in theaters.