Harry Styles may not sing in Don’t Worry Darling, but his musical genius still made it into the film in a hauntingly memorable way. The pop icon-turned-actor stunned director Olivia Wilde and the production team by composing the eerie “trigger song” that recurs throughout the movie — and he did it in just five minutes. From composing music to delivering a powerful performance on set, Styles proved he’s more than ready for his Hollywood spotlight.
Five Minutes to Haunting Perfection
While prepping for Don’t Worry Darling, director Olivia Wilde was struggling to find the right “trigger song” — a melody meant to evoke deep unease for the characters Jack (Styles) and Alice (Florence Pugh). Styles casually asked about the tune, then retreated to his piano. Just five minutes later, he sent Wilde a demo that became the final version used in the film. Wilde immediately recognized its brilliance, calling it both “sweet and creepy” — exactly the tone she needed.
A Homemade Nursery Rhyme with a Dark Twist
Styles described the melody as having a “homemade nursery rhyme feel,” which made it especially effective in the film’s shifting emotional contexts. The song subtly changes meaning based on where it’s used — a quiet echo of the film’s psychological tension. “It takes on a couple of different lives,” Styles said, hoping the audience would feel the emotional pull without fully understanding it.
No Singing, But Yes — Tap Dancing!
Though Styles doesn’t sing on-screen, he does get to showcase his performance chops in a surprising way: a 35-second tap-dance sequence. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for someone to require a tap routine from me my whole life,” Styles joked. The unexpected moment adds a unique layer to his already dynamic role and shows his willingness to dive fully into character, even if that means learning choreography from scratch.
A Performance That Moved the Director to Tears
Styles wasn’t originally cast in the role — he replaced Shia LaBeouf — but he brought such depth and emotional power to his scenes that Wilde was brought to tears. One particular performance, in which Styles screamed his lines with primal force, caught everyone off guard. “He took it to another level,” Wilde told Rolling Stone, describing it as a moment of raw, spontaneous brilliance. “Those are the best moments for an actor — when you’re completely outside your body.”
From composing an iconic melody in minutes to delivering gut-wrenching performances, Harry Styles is showing he’s far more than a pop star dabbling in film. With Don’t Worry Darling, he’s cementing himself as a multifaceted talent — one who’s just getting started on his cinematic journey. Stay tuned to TVSeasonspoilers for more updates and the latest news.