There’s Something in the Fucking Water
Volmer: Most of my patients have done extraordinary things. Built vast fortunes, commanded great empires… but at a terrible cost. They have no one who cares from them.
The human condition, that’s often what is referred to. How we, as humans only do, get wrapped up in work, in ourselves, and everything that goes on around us outside, fades away until we lack the emotional capacity to understand it. Often leading down the path to consumed madness to where we loose our humanity entirely to it. This happens all the time in business, and Wall Street is full of walking, talking shells of humans. Cure For Wellness addresses that directly with Lockhart (Dane Dehaan), our protagonist, seeking out the riches of wall street and will do most anything to get himself to the top like the others before him. One of the head honchos at his firm has gone on an extensive “retreat” in the Swiss Alps and has forgone his responsibilities, to which our main man has traveled to fetch (and give a reality check) to the man named Pembrooke. Throughout his time in the foreign grounds, Lockhart is subjected to endless mind games, twists and turns a plenty of the horrific kind, brought to you by the head doctor of the facility, Volmer (Jascon Isaacs), and a story that has been begging to be uncovered for decades that truly speaks on the human condition, how we so easily succumb to our personal evils (or demons if you really want to sound edgy).
Volmer: Do you know what the cure for the human condition is? Disease. Because that’s the only way one could hope for a cure.
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Not so new to the horror scene, Gore Verbinski creates an enthralling visionary of a “things are not always as they seem” tale, making a Cure for Wellness a movie to be reckoned with. Well known for his film, The Ring (2002), follows a similar pattern of outside forces being the evil and fucking with humanity, creating chaos. In all honesty, for 2002 it’s an alright movie, but Verbinski steps up his game with this newest creation. Also a diverse director, has been at the head of movies Rango, The Lone Ranger, and two of the Pirates of the Carribean films in the series (looking like he loves to work with Johnny Depp more than anything). All getting mediocre attention (aside from the Disney franchise sponsored movies), this game changer (Wellness) offers Verbinski an edge going forward into the horror industry if he so chooses.
On his way to the facility and during his time inside the ominously psychiatric looking building, we begin to understand that Lockhart has been through quite a bit but is a strong character because of his struggles. Much like his character, DeHaan has his come up (in this movie) to the big screen industry. Known more as a supporting role in True Blood (television series), this movie has a huge impact on his career moving forward. I mean come on he’s kinda made to look like every scared white boy in horror movies, or the one that to reckless for his own good, much like his role in this film. Pairing DeHaan with his costar, Isaacs, helps no only kick start his career but pulls in some good fans of this veteran actor. I’m a fan of his past works in the Harry Potter series as Lucious Malfoy and his voice acting in Avatar: The Last Airbender as General Zhao but this villian he plays in Wellness gives him more of an edge, diving deeper into the depths of just how much directors can make their characters evil. To any degree, much like DeHaan, Issacs is made to be a villian, although he is most likely a cool guy off set.
Overall, between the dark tones of the set design to the best usage of hard cuts on camera, this movie definitely fits into the horror category. Special effects leave most with the impression of a psychological thriller but jump scares and intense dedication from actors, no matter how ridiculous a cut scene, pushes into both genres for a film’s standard. For those who aren’t necessarily into gore, this is one of the more fierce movies that lack the gore that others like Carrie and Nightmare on Elm Street classics have, without loosing the fear factor. Those who are iffy on Psychological thrillers, they do have the classical fear scenes of tried escapes and captures to fill your cup as well.
For a person who really tends to stay away from horror, this one tickled my fancy and I would highly recommend this film in all of its strange, staisfying glory. Go see with friends especially, then you’ll be able to talk about the truly fucked up 3rd act.
Pembroke: Is that why this came all this way? Ambition? Then you have it worse than any of us.
Lockhart: What’s that?
Pembroke: The sickness. Your father saw the truth long before the rest of us. The pointlessness of the entire endeavor. We’ve all done terrible things. So many terrible things…
