I saw "Infinity Pool" last night in the theatre. It is a very strange movie directed by Brandon Cronenberg, the son of David Cronenberg ("Videodrome", "The Fly", etc.) It is about a couple (Alexander Skarsgård and Cleopatra Coleman) who travel to a luxury resort in a repressive dictatorship. They meet another couple (Jalil Lespert and Mia Goth) who convince them to travel off the grounds of the resort, even though it is prohibited by the rules of the resort and country. Soon a tragedy occurs, and the couple is thrust into a fever dream of drugs, sex and violence. Mia Goth is excellent as the temptress who pushes Skarsgård's character into doing things he would never think of doing. Skarsgård is wasted in this role and his character takes actions that defy common sense. And while some have praised Brandon Cronenberg's direction - I found some of the strange angles and quirks he uses to be more annoying than ingenious. There is a surfeit of sex, violence and gore for those who enjoy that, but I cannot say that it really added anything to a convoluted plot that really makes no sense. Only recommended for Mia Goth's standout performance - wait for cable or Netflix on this one. 5/10.
441 Reviews
Some people will love it, others will hate it
lukebohn1 February 2023
I walked into this movie knowing little to nothing other than Brandon Cronenberg was at the helm, and Mia Goth was staring. I heard it was artsy, and "disturbing" but that should've meant it was right up my alley. What I found out was that, while the film's acting + visuals + base story concept were good....it just felt a little underwhelming.
Let's start with what was good. Like I said, the acting is pretty good from the two main leads. Mia Goth goes over the top, and Alexander Skarsgard goes more realistic and human, which is a good contrast. Visuals are pretty good, same with the sound. The story has a premise that will get you interested in the first 30 minutes, dealing with a rich resort and a local government that loves to clone. However, this is where it has problems.
The story and characters are its biggest problem. They're not bad per se, but they are not are par with the rest of the film. I feel like the cronenbergs always have great ideas, but cannot execute on the characters and fleshing out of the story. You don't relate to the main character "James" all that much. I can sympathise with him, and I kinda liked him but it just wasn't enough. Same with Mia Goth, you never see why the way she is other than maybe inferences (stuff that would spoil the movie). It just needed a special something in the story department to top it off, but we don't get that.
If you like these types of experimental and artsy movies, then I would recommend giving it a shot (you love it). However, if you're more of a casual movie goer, you can probably skip. Unless you wanna pop a couple edibles and have a very weird night. However, Avatar or Puss in Boots would probably give you a better experience in that department.
Let's start with what was good. Like I said, the acting is pretty good from the two main leads. Mia Goth goes over the top, and Alexander Skarsgard goes more realistic and human, which is a good contrast. Visuals are pretty good, same with the sound. The story has a premise that will get you interested in the first 30 minutes, dealing with a rich resort and a local government that loves to clone. However, this is where it has problems.
The story and characters are its biggest problem. They're not bad per se, but they are not are par with the rest of the film. I feel like the cronenbergs always have great ideas, but cannot execute on the characters and fleshing out of the story. You don't relate to the main character "James" all that much. I can sympathise with him, and I kinda liked him but it just wasn't enough. Same with Mia Goth, you never see why the way she is other than maybe inferences (stuff that would spoil the movie). It just needed a special something in the story department to top it off, but we don't get that.
If you like these types of experimental and artsy movies, then I would recommend giving it a shot (you love it). However, if you're more of a casual movie goer, you can probably skip. Unless you wanna pop a couple edibles and have a very weird night. However, Avatar or Puss in Boots would probably give you a better experience in that department.
A Shallow Dive into a Murky World
reelreviewsandrecommendations31 May 2023
James Foster is a one-novel author struggling with writer's block. He and his wife Em are vacationing at a resort on the idyllic, isolated isle of Li Tolqa, where their marital woes cause constant arguments. After meeting Gabi, a fan of his novel, and her husband Alban, James and Em venture outside the boundaries of the resort, where the two couples enjoy a drunken day of sunbathing. However, their dream vacation soon turns into a nightmare after an accident occurs, plunging James into a dark underworld of debauchery and excess. As he battles a twisted justice system, a bizarre cult and his own deepest fears, will James escape, or be trapped on the island ad infinitum?
Written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg, 'Infinity Pool' is an ambitious, headily atmospheric psychological horror that doesn't quite go the distance. Initially intriguing, then frustrating, and finally exasperating, the screenplay tries to balance too many different elements, failing at nearly all of them. Though the film tries to explore some interesting themes of identity, morality and escapism, they are not fully developed or resolved; coming across as rather half-baked.
Additionally, the surreal seediness of the first act- which draws one in brilliantly- does not sit well with the rote science fiction and action-oriented elements of the last two. A cloning sub-plot is both poorly explained and executed, and the denouement is anticlimactic and cliched. Cronenberg's characterisation is rather shallow, to boot, and the main character is largely unsympathetic. James is neither likable nor relatable, and his motivations and actions are often illogical and inconsistent.
With 'Infinity Pool', Cronenberg has created a surreal and distinct world, but fails to do anything interesting with it narratively. Conversely, the film is a visual delight, boasting striking cinematography from Karim Hussain, who uses analog methods in a digital medium to create its disturbing, dreamlike visual style. Hussain also employs unusual framing and lenses to express James' emotional turmoil, as well as the duality between the paradise-like resort and the hellish underworld of the island. 'Infinity Pool' is stunning, with vibrant colours, rich textures and grand compositions drawing the viewer into Cronenberg's horrific environment.
Furthermore, Tim Hecker's score adds to the film's eerie and unsettling atmosphere, and James Vandewater's editing is continuously adept. 'Infinity Pool' also boasts a fine central performance from Alexander Skarsgård, who makes the most out of Cronenberg's scant characterisation of James. Mia Goth also does strong work as the seductive and mysterious Gabi, though her tendency for overacting- which made her so appealing in 'X' and 'Pearl'- hampers the impact of her performance somewhat.
A disappointing waste of potential that leaves the viewer unsatisfied and confused, 'Infinity Pool' could- and probably should- have been much better than it is. Despite some interesting ideas and a strong first act, Cronenberg's narrative is unengaging and familiar. Though the cinematography is consistently alluring, the film is not, and the commendable efforts of Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth do little to keep one's interest held. In the end, perhaps the best one can say about 'Infinity Pool' is that it doesn't go on forever.
Written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg, 'Infinity Pool' is an ambitious, headily atmospheric psychological horror that doesn't quite go the distance. Initially intriguing, then frustrating, and finally exasperating, the screenplay tries to balance too many different elements, failing at nearly all of them. Though the film tries to explore some interesting themes of identity, morality and escapism, they are not fully developed or resolved; coming across as rather half-baked.
Additionally, the surreal seediness of the first act- which draws one in brilliantly- does not sit well with the rote science fiction and action-oriented elements of the last two. A cloning sub-plot is both poorly explained and executed, and the denouement is anticlimactic and cliched. Cronenberg's characterisation is rather shallow, to boot, and the main character is largely unsympathetic. James is neither likable nor relatable, and his motivations and actions are often illogical and inconsistent.
With 'Infinity Pool', Cronenberg has created a surreal and distinct world, but fails to do anything interesting with it narratively. Conversely, the film is a visual delight, boasting striking cinematography from Karim Hussain, who uses analog methods in a digital medium to create its disturbing, dreamlike visual style. Hussain also employs unusual framing and lenses to express James' emotional turmoil, as well as the duality between the paradise-like resort and the hellish underworld of the island. 'Infinity Pool' is stunning, with vibrant colours, rich textures and grand compositions drawing the viewer into Cronenberg's horrific environment.
Furthermore, Tim Hecker's score adds to the film's eerie and unsettling atmosphere, and James Vandewater's editing is continuously adept. 'Infinity Pool' also boasts a fine central performance from Alexander Skarsgård, who makes the most out of Cronenberg's scant characterisation of James. Mia Goth also does strong work as the seductive and mysterious Gabi, though her tendency for overacting- which made her so appealing in 'X' and 'Pearl'- hampers the impact of her performance somewhat.
A disappointing waste of potential that leaves the viewer unsatisfied and confused, 'Infinity Pool' could- and probably should- have been much better than it is. Despite some interesting ideas and a strong first act, Cronenberg's narrative is unengaging and familiar. Though the cinematography is consistently alluring, the film is not, and the commendable efforts of Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth do little to keep one's interest held. In the end, perhaps the best one can say about 'Infinity Pool' is that it doesn't go on forever.
What Happens in La Tolqa Stays in La Tolqa
captainpass3 February 2023
Premise: Not-so-successful writer seeking inspiration for his next book travels to a La Tolqa, a fictional Eastern-bloc country set on what appears to be the Black Sea. He quickly is sucked into socializing with a group of Western tourists who have discovered a quirk in the host country's legal system: Any crime you commit in the host country can be "redeemed" with a large payment to the local officials and a type of ceremony where a doppelgänger of the criminal is created and then executed in place of the "real" self.
In short, the heart of the horror is a sort of reverse-Dorian Gray where morally repugnant acts are carved-off as a separate entity and then destroyed, leaving the perpetrator to indulge in further acts of depravity.
So, what is left of the "real" self in such an arrangement? (If you have seen "Possessor," the thematic preoccupation is very similar.)
The two central characters are Skarsgard's "James" and Goth's "Gabi." From the beginning, James proves himself to be an empty vessel who is more than willing to be towed out to sea by the beguiling (and increasingly cruel) siren Gabi. Despite the presence of his wife at the resort, James abandons any loyalties he might have to her or her own concerns with what is going on. And, in contrast to newcomer-James, Gabi's social circle appears to have existed in this bizarre world of excess and violent privilege for, well, forever. Yet, they seem to effortlessly enter and exit that world at will (back to L. A., of course!).
But what of James? What he becomes and where he ends up in the closing segments are far from clear. (Emptier than what he already was? A shell of a shell?).
"Infinity Pool" is a confident but cold movie. It reminds me quite a bit of the cult-group/occult horror movies that were made circa 1969-1974. The film uses quite a bit of arthouse-style flash imagery (the hues are different, but I was reminded of Norm Li's work in Panos Cosmatos' films). And despite the events taking place on a linear narrative, they are nonetheless sometimes difficult to follow due to Cronenberg's cinematic choices. In short, I can understand the polarizing reviews. I myself have mixed feelings. The film is very well done, the acting top-notch, and Cronenberg certainly attempts much more than the average horror flick director. But the "point" of the film is not always clear . . . And I felt like soaking in Dawn after viewing it. Recommended, with an asterisk.
In short, the heart of the horror is a sort of reverse-Dorian Gray where morally repugnant acts are carved-off as a separate entity and then destroyed, leaving the perpetrator to indulge in further acts of depravity.
So, what is left of the "real" self in such an arrangement? (If you have seen "Possessor," the thematic preoccupation is very similar.)
The two central characters are Skarsgard's "James" and Goth's "Gabi." From the beginning, James proves himself to be an empty vessel who is more than willing to be towed out to sea by the beguiling (and increasingly cruel) siren Gabi. Despite the presence of his wife at the resort, James abandons any loyalties he might have to her or her own concerns with what is going on. And, in contrast to newcomer-James, Gabi's social circle appears to have existed in this bizarre world of excess and violent privilege for, well, forever. Yet, they seem to effortlessly enter and exit that world at will (back to L. A., of course!).
But what of James? What he becomes and where he ends up in the closing segments are far from clear. (Emptier than what he already was? A shell of a shell?).
"Infinity Pool" is a confident but cold movie. It reminds me quite a bit of the cult-group/occult horror movies that were made circa 1969-1974. The film uses quite a bit of arthouse-style flash imagery (the hues are different, but I was reminded of Norm Li's work in Panos Cosmatos' films). And despite the events taking place on a linear narrative, they are nonetheless sometimes difficult to follow due to Cronenberg's cinematic choices. In short, I can understand the polarizing reviews. I myself have mixed feelings. The film is very well done, the acting top-notch, and Cronenberg certainly attempts much more than the average horror flick director. But the "point" of the film is not always clear . . . And I felt like soaking in Dawn after viewing it. Recommended, with an asterisk.
It Runs In The Family
johnnyhbtvs2714 February 2023
After Antiviral and The Possessor, Infinity Pool continues Brandon Cronenberg's path to being a film maker to watch. His films are unique and he will supersede his dad nicely once his legendary career comes to an end.
The casting is great with Mia Goth & Alexander Skarsgard continuing their trend of picking projects that are more exciting than the typical hollywood fair. Both are superb here and are the perfect pair with Goth on manic form, almost on Pearl levels of insanity at times.
The movie has unique ideas and surprises that don't go the conventional ways you'd expect. The film is gorgeous to look at despite being horrific in nature and the ending is well done. The normality of it all is chilling and gets under your skin after what's taken place the previous two hours.
Highly recommend.
The casting is great with Mia Goth & Alexander Skarsgard continuing their trend of picking projects that are more exciting than the typical hollywood fair. Both are superb here and are the perfect pair with Goth on manic form, almost on Pearl levels of insanity at times.
The movie has unique ideas and surprises that don't go the conventional ways you'd expect. The film is gorgeous to look at despite being horrific in nature and the ending is well done. The normality of it all is chilling and gets under your skin after what's taken place the previous two hours.
Highly recommend.
Infinity pool has depth, but lacks cohesion
brodddg28 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
To quickly summarize the plot and themes, infinity pool is a peek into the lives of rich people on holiday in poor countries. They outright disrespect and abuse everything around them, from the culture and customs of the country they're in to the other tourists, and they never face consequences.
Specifically, while on holiday in a military guarded compound, Gabi (Mia goth) and her husband decide to toy with our protagonist James (Skarsgard) and his wife by giving them a taste of their specific brand of debauchery. It's made clear that James and his wife are in a loveless relationship, which makes it easy for him to slip up. Hard drugs, swinger parties, killing locals, kidnapping officials, cloning themselves for the purpose of watching those clones get murdered... there's also themes of gentrification and appropriation.
The cloning process mentioned above is actually the "punishment" for the crimes they commit, but by the end it's quite clear that they more than enjoy it as they kill multiple clones throughout the movie.
In the end, James is in too deep into the world of abundant sin without fear of repercussions. The rich characters easily transition back to their normal lives at home once the vacation is over, leaving him to rot with the trauma they caused and the beast they awakened in him. James ends up going back to the resort during the rainy season alone.
This might be a reach but my final observation is that there's also something about confronting and "killing" your weakest self in order to get out of a rut?
An interesting concept with solid themes and great visuals, but in my opinion the execution was lacking and flow was a problem. Often times things were just happening, without any cohesion between adjacent scenes. The inciting incident itself is quite jarring: at about 30-35 minutes in, James is the perpetrator of a hit and run where he's caught shortly after. Then all of the sudden an official just comes in and matter of factly explains to him that as punishment for murdering a local he's being cloned, and that clone will be murdered in front of him. If Brandon tightens up the storytelling juuuuust a tad, I could see him becoming one of my favorite modern filmmakers.
Specifically, while on holiday in a military guarded compound, Gabi (Mia goth) and her husband decide to toy with our protagonist James (Skarsgard) and his wife by giving them a taste of their specific brand of debauchery. It's made clear that James and his wife are in a loveless relationship, which makes it easy for him to slip up. Hard drugs, swinger parties, killing locals, kidnapping officials, cloning themselves for the purpose of watching those clones get murdered... there's also themes of gentrification and appropriation.
The cloning process mentioned above is actually the "punishment" for the crimes they commit, but by the end it's quite clear that they more than enjoy it as they kill multiple clones throughout the movie.
In the end, James is in too deep into the world of abundant sin without fear of repercussions. The rich characters easily transition back to their normal lives at home once the vacation is over, leaving him to rot with the trauma they caused and the beast they awakened in him. James ends up going back to the resort during the rainy season alone.
This might be a reach but my final observation is that there's also something about confronting and "killing" your weakest self in order to get out of a rut?
An interesting concept with solid themes and great visuals, but in my opinion the execution was lacking and flow was a problem. Often times things were just happening, without any cohesion between adjacent scenes. The inciting incident itself is quite jarring: at about 30-35 minutes in, James is the perpetrator of a hit and run where he's caught shortly after. Then all of the sudden an official just comes in and matter of factly explains to him that as punishment for murdering a local he's being cloned, and that clone will be murdered in front of him. If Brandon tightens up the storytelling juuuuust a tad, I could see him becoming one of my favorite modern filmmakers.
Tries way too hard; ends up being silly
cgearheart1 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I'm upset that I'm giving this such a low review. I just felt like it didn't really amount to anything except for shock for the sake of shock and weirdness for the sake of weirdness. The movie didn't really accomplish anything that wasn't previously accomplished by superior films in similar veins such as Speak No Evil. The visuals were admittedly cool and the overall aesthetic of the movie was well done, but what was the point? It ultimately just amounted to being a very pretentious, try hard, extreme film for commercial audiences. I felt like it tried very hard to be thought provoking when it was really just leaving out details and not really finishing anything it started with. On top of that, the ending scenes with Mia Goth freaking out were very hard to take seriously. I wasn't sure if the director meant for it to be comedic or not.
D+
D+
Infinity Pool is a layered piece of bizarre and atmospheric horror that gives Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård a perfect platform to showcase their talents.
kikilangmore31927 January 2023
This movie is incredibly well made. The music works perfectly and sets the tone from the start. The locations and setting are stunning and compliment the distinct cinematography that impressed me throughout the movie. The atmosphere of the idyllic resort is beautifully immersive and adds a lot to the dread and isolation of being in an unfamiliar country experiencing chaos.
The acting and direction is really top notch, Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård form a great duo for a film like this. They had great chemistry and both gave some of their most intense and polarizing performances. Everyone including the smaller roles were well cast and played their parts quite well.
As someone who normally gets bored in movie theaters, I really liked the pacing of the movie. I might not have loved every creative risk taken, but I think they collectively form a very one-of-a-kind movie that is anything but boring. I think this movie works on a lot of different levels, and while it's not for everyone, it's a unique and excellent addition to the horror genre.
The acting and direction is really top notch, Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård form a great duo for a film like this. They had great chemistry and both gave some of their most intense and polarizing performances. Everyone including the smaller roles were well cast and played their parts quite well.
As someone who normally gets bored in movie theaters, I really liked the pacing of the movie. I might not have loved every creative risk taken, but I think they collectively form a very one-of-a-kind movie that is anything but boring. I think this movie works on a lot of different levels, and while it's not for everyone, it's a unique and excellent addition to the horror genre.
Dive in if you dare
videorama-759-85939113 June 2023
This is a great film to get lost in, and experience the story and it's main character, Skarsgard. I do love original films, and early in the piece, it was so cool, not knowing where the film was going, but later on, in the last 40 minutes, we have moments of predicability. I found this a fun shock movie, where we have some scenes. Which are truly memorably bizarre, the final one, a scene of normality, staying in my mind the most. This is one of these films, that lingers in the memory, days after you see it. It has strobing. 180 degree turn shots, a daunting music score, cloning, and sexy Mia Goth, really playing her part to the hilt. One X rated sex shot we could of done without. Brandon Cronenberg (David's) has definitely created something originally appealing and engrossing, but it gets too ludiicrous and crazy in it's second half. Some of the bloodletting scenes, are pretty heavy. Definitely recommended, but be warned.
Trash
TheNamelessCzar20 October 2023
That was a waste of time. I'm a fan of horror movies and watched this one based on the reviews and "10 best lists". Boy, that was a mistake. The movie started out with a good premise and went absolutely no where. What was the point of all that? It could have been something interesting and intriguing with moral questions and issues to discuss. Instead, the film was full of a bunch of what ifs, obnoxious performances, and gratuitous scenes that serve no purpose. I kept checking role time to see how more pretentious drivel I had to sit through. Good ide, awful execution. Things one to skip and let die.
Quite a riveting movie, sure to polarize audiences
tomqcollins15 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Finally had a chance to watch "Infinity Pool" last night and I have to say I found many aspects of the film to be very impressive.
Foremost among them is the world building that Cronenberg engages in when he conjures a bizarre, yet somehow still believable, post-Soviet police state that exists somewhere between the tropics and the Mediterranean coastline. If my deduction from opening credits is correct, it would appear that Croatia was the main filming location for the outdoor scenes. The country is given some crazy name and appears to be extremely poor and backwards, but with a thriving tourism industry. Thing is, tourists are confined to walled compounds surrounded by concertina wire and protected by armed guards. From what, we wonder?
The whole thing works despite a few ridiculous and entirely unrealistic premises - for example 1) That this poor backward country possesses the technology to create fully functional exact human clones within hours and/or 2) That given their laws regarding crime and punishment, it's hard to imagine anyone would ever want to go there at all with plenty of much safer alternatives available to the (mostly if not exclusively) rich clientele/tourists.
The cast was pretty much perfect for the occasion and the direction and cinematography were great and very visually compelling. In avoiding major plot holes and inconsistencies, Cronenberg does a good job of showing us just enough, but never too much so that it would be impossible to suspend disbelief and part of how he does so is in the visual direction.
As to the plot, well, I can see it being very polarizing to audiences. For one thing, as mentioned, it's semi-unbelievable. For another, it's a little convoluted for much of the film. Who is really in control? Who benefits from this strange place? How are we to interpret the ending?
So as to avoid any more spoilers, I won't get into specifics, but will conclude by saying "Infinity Pool" is very much of a piece with other recent movies like "Parasite", "Nuevo Orden", "Triangle of Sadness" and even "The Menu." The fabulously wealthy class of society is skewered in each of those films, but never more violently and disturbingly so as in Cronenberg's story - as it should be.
8/10 from me, but I can understand some of the lower reviews as well.
Foremost among them is the world building that Cronenberg engages in when he conjures a bizarre, yet somehow still believable, post-Soviet police state that exists somewhere between the tropics and the Mediterranean coastline. If my deduction from opening credits is correct, it would appear that Croatia was the main filming location for the outdoor scenes. The country is given some crazy name and appears to be extremely poor and backwards, but with a thriving tourism industry. Thing is, tourists are confined to walled compounds surrounded by concertina wire and protected by armed guards. From what, we wonder?
The whole thing works despite a few ridiculous and entirely unrealistic premises - for example 1) That this poor backward country possesses the technology to create fully functional exact human clones within hours and/or 2) That given their laws regarding crime and punishment, it's hard to imagine anyone would ever want to go there at all with plenty of much safer alternatives available to the (mostly if not exclusively) rich clientele/tourists.
The cast was pretty much perfect for the occasion and the direction and cinematography were great and very visually compelling. In avoiding major plot holes and inconsistencies, Cronenberg does a good job of showing us just enough, but never too much so that it would be impossible to suspend disbelief and part of how he does so is in the visual direction.
As to the plot, well, I can see it being very polarizing to audiences. For one thing, as mentioned, it's semi-unbelievable. For another, it's a little convoluted for much of the film. Who is really in control? Who benefits from this strange place? How are we to interpret the ending?
So as to avoid any more spoilers, I won't get into specifics, but will conclude by saying "Infinity Pool" is very much of a piece with other recent movies like "Parasite", "Nuevo Orden", "Triangle of Sadness" and even "The Menu." The fabulously wealthy class of society is skewered in each of those films, but never more violently and disturbingly so as in Cronenberg's story - as it should be.
8/10 from me, but I can understand some of the lower reviews as well.
Skarsgård Everywhere All at Once
df16699n2 February 2023
What a bizarre film. I'm not a big fan of the genre, however I respect this film and it's creative storytelling. Alexander Skarsgård gives an absolutely phenomenal performance as James Foster, and his performance alone is worth seeing this film for. Mia Goth is chilling and great as usual, as she portrays an extremely annoying character in the best way possible. Cleopatra Coleman also gives a very good understated performance. I will say that this is a very graphic and unsettling film and it should be avoided if you are not used to this type of film. Overall, Infinity Pool is a well done and aesthetically pleasing film that continues an impressive streak of critically acclaimed horror films in the past year.
Overrated and obnoxious
Draysan-Jennings15 February 2023
This film totally misses it's mark. It tries so hard to be bizarre and abstract but ends up being pretentious and annyoing. I honestly have no idea why people like this film. I could barely get through it and honestly couldn't wait for it end. I normally like Mia Goth films but this one didn't do it for me. She was super cringe in this. Especially in the scene where she's riding on the front of the car. Her screeching voice almost made my head explode. How this film has a rating above six stars is beyond me. This is definitely not a film I'd recommend or torture myself by sitting through again. 4 stars.
Infinity Pool (2023) Weird, Disturbing, and Incredibly Good
claszdsburrogato20 February 2023
One more film where Mia Goth can demonstrate all her talent and prove that she is an incredible actress. The film explores a more disturbing horror, without Jump Scare all the time, this is something I really admire in current horror films. The scary scenes are very well done and the direction shines brightly. Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård have an excellent performance and make the film even better. The story is very basic, there is nothing very revolutionary in the script. He can be considered slow because of his pace, but he's not, that's just the way he uses to develop his story. It's a good movie, nothing more and it's not for everyone either.
Sick, Twisted, and Fun!
demonblade-3779227 January 2023
Infinity Pool is a good horror film filled with good acting, murders, and the story. The story with it being that a rich couple named James (Alexander Skarsgard) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are vacationing in a resort, but in a foreign country. They eventually meet another couple named Gabi (Mia Goth) and Alban (Jalil Lespert) that the four of them have fun partying. Until one night, James drives them back to the resort, but commits a hit and run that he gets sentenced to jail. In the foreign country, the only way is to escape is death. Although, James has a double clone executed and murdered instead while he and his wife watches. Until that execution, James is slowly pleasuring murder and all hell breaks loose.
Overall, I liked the acting and story that James slowly becomes into of what he is truly capable of until the end of the film. Also, Mia Goth again does not disappoint and delivers such good acting as well. Just a heads up that this movie is not for the faint of heart that it is given its hard R rating. I would recommend to watch Infinity Pool in theaters for a good horror watch.
Overall, I liked the acting and story that James slowly becomes into of what he is truly capable of until the end of the film. Also, Mia Goth again does not disappoint and delivers such good acting as well. Just a heads up that this movie is not for the faint of heart that it is given its hard R rating. I would recommend to watch Infinity Pool in theaters for a good horror watch.
A Whirlpool of Excess...
Xstal14 February 2023
A holiday with your girl takes quite a turn, you only came for a short stay, a brief sojourn, but when returning from the beach, an accident, leads to a breach, and the next day you're arrested, and interned. As you have wealth, you can settle and walk free, an odd procedure and some strange hyperbole, but a boundary's been stepped over, no longer fixed in an enclosure, plus there's a catalyst, to incite, who's full of glee.
Mia Goth, as the seductive Gabi Bauer, alongside her hedonistic friends, introduce the somewhat innocent James Foster, more than ably performed by Alexander Skarsgård, to their limitless world of excess, a world that doesn't quite reward him quite as well as it does his newly found playmates.
Great performances, kaleidoscopic cinematography, original in its interpretation, worth a watch, but you may well wish you hadn't, a bit like James.
Mia Goth, as the seductive Gabi Bauer, alongside her hedonistic friends, introduce the somewhat innocent James Foster, more than ably performed by Alexander Skarsgård, to their limitless world of excess, a world that doesn't quite reward him quite as well as it does his newly found playmates.
Great performances, kaleidoscopic cinematography, original in its interpretation, worth a watch, but you may well wish you hadn't, a bit like James.
This film is unpleasant to sit through, but not for the reasons Cronenberg would want
nicolasroop27 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This film had the potential to be something new and creative in the horror genre, but wirter/director Brandon Cronenberg settles for more of the same of his usual style with little in the way of an understanding of why these events are occuring or even caring that they are happening. Now, I am a fan of his. Antiviral and Possessor are fantastic films that benefit from his particular brand of trippy visuals and existential analysis. The difference between those films and his latest effort is he does little to help build tension and does nothing to make us care for any of the characters he has written. They are all terrible people, not one of them worth redemption.
All the acting is very well done, Mia Goth is always a sure bet when playing a sinister crazy person. Alexander Skarsgård, unfortunately, isn't given enough material here to truly shine in his role. He's a practically one dimensional shell of a character, and that is one of the main reasons the film did not work for me. I felt nothing for his character, and the character makes some of the worst decisions I've seen on film. Barely any of the film makes sense if I'm being honest. Best not to ask why to any of the questions you have because, more than likely, they will not be answered. Seriously, the movie will bring up a point and then completely ditch it the next minute. It was a frustrating watching experience.
I would like to see the NC-17 director's cut just to see how much of the depravity was actually cut out of the film as I felt this one was rather tame, minus a heated and trippy orgy segment that was pretty graphic for an R rated film. But violence wise, I felt the film didn't go far enough and what was shown was just too strange and disconnected for it to have any impact.
Then we come to the ending. Wtf was that? He just decides to stay? Why? Everybody left! There was nothing left to do, why would he not go home himself? Also, he didn't even try to get even with the people who just destroyed his entire life for their amusement? Then what was the purpose of any of this story? It didn't really have one from what I could tell. Disappointing.
Overall, I only recommend it when it's free on a streaming service. Otherwise, I would say don't bother. Only reason I'm not giving it a 0 is because it was well made. The trippy cinematography was on point, but that was about it.
1.5 cults out of 5.
All the acting is very well done, Mia Goth is always a sure bet when playing a sinister crazy person. Alexander Skarsgård, unfortunately, isn't given enough material here to truly shine in his role. He's a practically one dimensional shell of a character, and that is one of the main reasons the film did not work for me. I felt nothing for his character, and the character makes some of the worst decisions I've seen on film. Barely any of the film makes sense if I'm being honest. Best not to ask why to any of the questions you have because, more than likely, they will not be answered. Seriously, the movie will bring up a point and then completely ditch it the next minute. It was a frustrating watching experience.
I would like to see the NC-17 director's cut just to see how much of the depravity was actually cut out of the film as I felt this one was rather tame, minus a heated and trippy orgy segment that was pretty graphic for an R rated film. But violence wise, I felt the film didn't go far enough and what was shown was just too strange and disconnected for it to have any impact.
Then we come to the ending. Wtf was that? He just decides to stay? Why? Everybody left! There was nothing left to do, why would he not go home himself? Also, he didn't even try to get even with the people who just destroyed his entire life for their amusement? Then what was the purpose of any of this story? It didn't really have one from what I could tell. Disappointing.
Overall, I only recommend it when it's free on a streaming service. Otherwise, I would say don't bother. Only reason I'm not giving it a 0 is because it was well made. The trippy cinematography was on point, but that was about it.
1.5 cults out of 5.
A lush, rotten vacation through a dystopian nine circles of hell
drownsoda9028 January 2023
"Infinity Pool" follows James Foster, a struggling writer vacationing with his wife Em at a posh resort in a fictional third-world country. There, he meets Gabi and her husband, Alban. When an illicit trip outside the resort's gates leads to a tragic accident, James is faced with execution; or, as an alternative, the execution of a "double", a clone of himself, whose sacrifice he must bear witness to. What ensues is a rapid psychological downslide into vengeance, self-abasement, and debauchery.
This twisted and imaginative effort from Brandon Cronenberg is sure to divide audiences, though it is not necessarily as overtly arthouse-y as one might expect. The plot setup here is quite familiar, at least at first: Fears and dangers of a third-world criminal justice system loom over the first act, replete with Stalinist prison settings and officers who look like they were pulled straight from the SS. A nervy score and dizzying cinematography plummet the audience toward an "I Know What You Did Last Summer"-esque scenario that warps into something far beyond the familiar trappings of a frivolous slasher movie.
There are voluminous thematic layers here to be unpeeled, and the film descends into a nightmarish scenario in which the protagonist finds himself at the hands of a cultish horde of self-proclaimed "zombies", others who have gone through the same "doubling" as a means of atonement for their crimes. The film forces its audience to contemplate shuddering notions in which one must kill off pieces of themselves, both figuratively and literally, and a masochistic pleasure in doing so emerges amongst Cronenberg's acid-trip visuals. Layered in, perhaps more interestingly, is a pronounced subtext that explores the relationship between the wealthy vacationers and the country's strange justice system, whose loophole offers them quasi-limitless possibilities to engage in crime and debauchery--but at what real cost?
Alexander Skarsgard gives a solid performance here as the downtrodden writer who is doing some "soul-searching" for his belabored second work, while Mia Goth has her hand at what is essentially a classic femme fatale role, delivering an utterly deranged version of the archetype. Cleopatra Coleman stands counterpoint as James's heiress wife, who, unlike him, is deterred by the proverbial flame that he is drawn to like a moth.
Overall, "Infinity Pool" is a nervy and frightening descent through a "nine circles of hell" scenario, shot through with a near-debilitating dose of speculative and science fiction. It is a film that taunts you as much as it makes you think, both to discomforting lengths. If one thing is for certain, an artistic representation of the writer's search for "inspiration" has never looked (or felt) so harrowing. 9/10.
This twisted and imaginative effort from Brandon Cronenberg is sure to divide audiences, though it is not necessarily as overtly arthouse-y as one might expect. The plot setup here is quite familiar, at least at first: Fears and dangers of a third-world criminal justice system loom over the first act, replete with Stalinist prison settings and officers who look like they were pulled straight from the SS. A nervy score and dizzying cinematography plummet the audience toward an "I Know What You Did Last Summer"-esque scenario that warps into something far beyond the familiar trappings of a frivolous slasher movie.
There are voluminous thematic layers here to be unpeeled, and the film descends into a nightmarish scenario in which the protagonist finds himself at the hands of a cultish horde of self-proclaimed "zombies", others who have gone through the same "doubling" as a means of atonement for their crimes. The film forces its audience to contemplate shuddering notions in which one must kill off pieces of themselves, both figuratively and literally, and a masochistic pleasure in doing so emerges amongst Cronenberg's acid-trip visuals. Layered in, perhaps more interestingly, is a pronounced subtext that explores the relationship between the wealthy vacationers and the country's strange justice system, whose loophole offers them quasi-limitless possibilities to engage in crime and debauchery--but at what real cost?
Alexander Skarsgard gives a solid performance here as the downtrodden writer who is doing some "soul-searching" for his belabored second work, while Mia Goth has her hand at what is essentially a classic femme fatale role, delivering an utterly deranged version of the archetype. Cleopatra Coleman stands counterpoint as James's heiress wife, who, unlike him, is deterred by the proverbial flame that he is drawn to like a moth.
Overall, "Infinity Pool" is a nervy and frightening descent through a "nine circles of hell" scenario, shot through with a near-debilitating dose of speculative and science fiction. It is a film that taunts you as much as it makes you think, both to discomforting lengths. If one thing is for certain, an artistic representation of the writer's search for "inspiration" has never looked (or felt) so harrowing. 9/10.
Not as Potent as It Should've Been
TwistedContent18 February 2023
Plenty of hype and intrigue has paved the way for Brandon Cronenberg's new horror feature - "Infinity Pool", and I too, especially after 2020's "Possessor" (8/10), expected a lot. Good news is that Cronenberg family horror brand is definitely kickin', alive and well for already the 5th decade, but the bad news is that the sum of it all fell a bit below my expectations, just like Daddy Cronenberg's last year's return to horror with "Crimes of the Future".
James and Em Foster are enjoying a sunny vacation on the beaches of the fictional island of La Tolqa. The resort is separated from the rest of the country by fences and barbwire, and together with their newly made friends, the couple will venture out and find the island's terrible system of laws, perverse subcultures and surreal happenings.
Led by an absolutely terrific cast with some awesome highlights from Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgard, "Infinity Pool" serves up all the best traditions of a Cronenberg horror movie, including neo-futuristic ideas wrapped in old-school aesthetics, practical effects, psychedelic sequences, beautiful cinematography and editing, and a grim atmosphere. Sounds great, but as the runtime goes, the movie seems to explore less and less of the intriguing concepts introduced. "Infinity Pool" doesn't build up many scares, much of suspense or creepiness, but instead seems to opt for shock, disgust and moral perversion. The ground on which the film is built on is fruitful, with lots of potential, but the exploration after comes as... underwhelming and underwritten. Although I enjoyed it all the way through, in the end I couldn't shake the feeling that it could've been thematically more potent, like Brandon could've squeezed more juice out of these ideas of his.
The world of "infinity Pool" is about minimizing the border between action and consequences, stepping over boundaries that can't be built back up. The characters get desynthesized against the vile nature of humanity, and the film itself, too, although visceral and called "disturbing" by many, feels a tad bit ineffective in a similar way as violence does for the characters involved.
A beast with qualities like these is usually right up my alley, but "Infinity Pool", although leaving my eyes entertained, some pictures ingrained in memory, and a great appreciation for the performances inside my heart, also left my brain feeling like the action stopped before letting the climax happen. My rating: 7/10.
James and Em Foster are enjoying a sunny vacation on the beaches of the fictional island of La Tolqa. The resort is separated from the rest of the country by fences and barbwire, and together with their newly made friends, the couple will venture out and find the island's terrible system of laws, perverse subcultures and surreal happenings.
Led by an absolutely terrific cast with some awesome highlights from Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgard, "Infinity Pool" serves up all the best traditions of a Cronenberg horror movie, including neo-futuristic ideas wrapped in old-school aesthetics, practical effects, psychedelic sequences, beautiful cinematography and editing, and a grim atmosphere. Sounds great, but as the runtime goes, the movie seems to explore less and less of the intriguing concepts introduced. "Infinity Pool" doesn't build up many scares, much of suspense or creepiness, but instead seems to opt for shock, disgust and moral perversion. The ground on which the film is built on is fruitful, with lots of potential, but the exploration after comes as... underwhelming and underwritten. Although I enjoyed it all the way through, in the end I couldn't shake the feeling that it could've been thematically more potent, like Brandon could've squeezed more juice out of these ideas of his.
The world of "infinity Pool" is about minimizing the border between action and consequences, stepping over boundaries that can't be built back up. The characters get desynthesized against the vile nature of humanity, and the film itself, too, although visceral and called "disturbing" by many, feels a tad bit ineffective in a similar way as violence does for the characters involved.
A beast with qualities like these is usually right up my alley, but "Infinity Pool", although leaving my eyes entertained, some pictures ingrained in memory, and a great appreciation for the performances inside my heart, also left my brain feeling like the action stopped before letting the climax happen. My rating: 7/10.
Interesting premise, terribly executed
birdieputt-228 January 2023
The concept behind the plot is interesting, but it is so poorly executed I almost walked out. It was shot like it was a done by a film student trying to use every non-standard technique he's learned. From weird framing to odd psychedelic scenes, it's way too much. Additionally the acting was just plain bad, but having seen Alexander Skarsgard in other things, I'll blame the director for that too. And the female antagonist was just soooooo annoying that I found it hard to believe the main character would go along with anything she wanted. Had this movie been in more capable hands, it might have been OK, but as it is don't bother seeing it.
Deeply unsettling, unique, and unlike anything I've seen before!
UniqueParticle28 January 2023
Well Infinity Pool was absolutely demented and came from a mind of Brandon Croenberg he seems truly effed in the head for creating this film; great for horror fans and I loved everything regardless. The imagery belongs in hell! This film is something very odd, trippy, filled with madness, and not for everyone. The Cronenberg's have a common horror weirdness they are fairly brilliant. To me the movie gets praise because it's art despite being ghoulish and bonkers there's a lot to enjoy like the writing is incredible, flow of the story is great, and highly entertaining throughout I especially love the masks used in several scenes. I recommend and hope anyone appreciates my opinions.
Watchably weird!
stephenmsaunders28 January 2023
Let's begin by saying this is part of a recent trend of weird movies set on islands with an arty look and some generally weird stuff going on.
It's a lot better than Glass Onion, because at least it has proper actors doing proper acting.
And it's at least watchable, which Cronenberg Sr's Crimes of the Future certainly wasn't (see: boring pretentious twaddle).
There's a cool look and feel to the whole project (it's set in a madey uppy country which is actually one of the more believable parts of the film).
And the acting from skarsgaard and Goth is really good (Skarsgard manages to get past his "I'm just ridiculously good looking" handicap to deliver watchable work).
It's a lot better than Glass Onion, because at least it has proper actors doing proper acting.
And it's at least watchable, which Cronenberg Sr's Crimes of the Future certainly wasn't (see: boring pretentious twaddle).
There's a cool look and feel to the whole project (it's set in a madey uppy country which is actually one of the more believable parts of the film).
And the acting from skarsgaard and Goth is really good (Skarsgard manages to get past his "I'm just ridiculously good looking" handicap to deliver watchable work).
Wasted Cast
billcr1216 February 2023
Alexander Skarsgard and Mia Goth are wasted in this mess of a movie. Alex plays a failed writer who is married to a wealthy woman who also happens to be the daughter of a book publisher. They venture to an island somewhere with a police state in charge of things.
The writer and his wife meet another couple and the woman played by Mia Goth has a couple of strange scenes with Skarsgard which are mind numbingly stupid. Twirling scenery and blurring shots for far too long gave me a headache.
The story makes no sense with cloning being the predominant theme. Skarsgard, Goth and the entire cast are wasted with a silly script and story.
The writer and his wife meet another couple and the woman played by Mia Goth has a couple of strange scenes with Skarsgard which are mind numbingly stupid. Twirling scenery and blurring shots for far too long gave me a headache.
The story makes no sense with cloning being the predominant theme. Skarsgard, Goth and the entire cast are wasted with a silly script and story.
Surreal and twisted, it's an interesting thriller.
Sleepin_Dragon8 November 2023
James and Em Foster are holidaying on The Island of La Tolqa, a place with very strict rules and regimes. They break the rules and escape the hotel complex with a couple they meet, after a tragic accident, they learn exactly what happens on the island.
It's definitely unique, I'm not quite sure what category this one would fit into, sci fi, thriller, torture porn, horror, it seems to dip its toe into several of them, but doesn't really stay in one.
I guess I enjoyed it more than many of the reviewers on here did. I liked the bizarre story, strange characters and general sense of unease on that weird island. It's full of tension and suspense, it's very nicely made, great music, and some very interesting camera angles.
I was expecting the wonderful Alexander Skarsgård to steal the show, but I'd argue it's Mia Goth (Pearl) who does, she's wonderful as Gabi.
Don't get me wrong, it's far from perfect, and there are several frustrations. La Tolqa really does feel like a place from a 1960's action thriller series, something like The Champions or The Avengers, the stereotypical banana Republic, with a dictator and no rules.
The ending could have been a whole lot better I thought, but overall, I quite enjoyed it.
7/10.
It's definitely unique, I'm not quite sure what category this one would fit into, sci fi, thriller, torture porn, horror, it seems to dip its toe into several of them, but doesn't really stay in one.
I guess I enjoyed it more than many of the reviewers on here did. I liked the bizarre story, strange characters and general sense of unease on that weird island. It's full of tension and suspense, it's very nicely made, great music, and some very interesting camera angles.
I was expecting the wonderful Alexander Skarsgård to steal the show, but I'd argue it's Mia Goth (Pearl) who does, she's wonderful as Gabi.
Don't get me wrong, it's far from perfect, and there are several frustrations. La Tolqa really does feel like a place from a 1960's action thriller series, something like The Champions or The Avengers, the stereotypical banana Republic, with a dictator and no rules.
The ending could have been a whole lot better I thought, but overall, I quite enjoyed it.
7/10.
Good start but fizzles out towards the end
grantss3 March 2023
Writer James Foster and his wife are holidaying in a beautiful yet corrupt and barbaric country when they befriend another couple. On their way home from a day of picnicking James hits and kills a local farmer with the car. He is arrested and sentenced to be executed by the farmer's son. However, there is a way out of this predicament.
Reading the plot summaries of this it seemed like it was going to be a pretentious arthouse film. When I discovered that it is written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg, son of David Cronenberg, I was convinced that this would be a weird-for-weirdness-sake arthouse flick.
To my surprise, however, the film starts quite interestingly and engagingly and develops quite well. There are some artsy scenes, largely drugged out dream sequences, so we aren't spared that but for the most part the first 60-70% of the film is quite good.
The clone idea, its uses and abuses and its effect on James Foster was fascinating and I figured this would be the thrust of the remainder of the film. I was running over in my mind where the film could go from there and most of the possibilities were quite exciting.
However, instead of going down one of these paths Cronenberg chooses a lesser one, one that lives up to the expectation I had at the beginning of pretentious mindscrewery. Quite disappointing as the film seemed set up for a powerful, thrilling climax.
Reading the plot summaries of this it seemed like it was going to be a pretentious arthouse film. When I discovered that it is written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg, son of David Cronenberg, I was convinced that this would be a weird-for-weirdness-sake arthouse flick.
To my surprise, however, the film starts quite interestingly and engagingly and develops quite well. There are some artsy scenes, largely drugged out dream sequences, so we aren't spared that but for the most part the first 60-70% of the film is quite good.
The clone idea, its uses and abuses and its effect on James Foster was fascinating and I figured this would be the thrust of the remainder of the film. I was running over in my mind where the film could go from there and most of the possibilities were quite exciting.
However, instead of going down one of these paths Cronenberg chooses a lesser one, one that lives up to the expectation I had at the beginning of pretentious mindscrewery. Quite disappointing as the film seemed set up for a powerful, thrilling climax.
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