Infinity Pool (2023)
By Liselotte Vanophem
Electrifying, Anxiety-inducing, Stunningly Performed Film
We’re only four months into 2023, and we can already say this year has been one of the bloodiest ones yet, cinema-wise, though (luckily!). We had Ghostface killing off half of New York in “Scream VI”, Pearl going onto a rampage in the same-named film, and we can expect the blood-filled “Evil Dead Rise” hitting U.K. cinemas soon. For those of you who can’t get enough of the gore, intrigues and blood, we have even more good news: Writer/director Brandon Cronenberg now released his brand-new film “Infinity Pool” and just like his “Possessor”, it’s a dark, sinister and bloody film that will make your head spin.
“The White Lotus” meets gore. That’s how you can describe “Infinity Pool” in one sentence. Cronenberg takes you to a fictional island where only the rich and famous reside. James Foster (Alexander Skarsgård) is one of those people. He came to the island to find inspiration and to fix his writer’s block. His wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) is beside him for support and a well-deserved break. When James meets a beautiful young woman named Gabi (Mia Goth), who claims to be a fan of his work, he’s instantly captivated by her. Not only because she’s one of the few people who has read his book but also because she has a mysterious aura around her.
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Gabi invites James and Em on a double date with her partner Alban (Jalil Lespert). The couples decide to go off the resort, which is usually forbidden, to have a great night. However, when James causes a fatal traffic accident, the night becomes extremely dark. The four are taken in by the local authorities, led by Tresh (Thomas Kretschmann). He explains that the victim’s son must avenge the murder by killing the murderer. That’s the rule of the island. James can buy his way out by investing in a cloning program. During the process, he will be cloned, and the clone will then be the one that is being killed. But what does watching your murder do with you? Well, it messes you up completely!
This Cronenberg movie again plays on the idea of murder-suicide, resulting in many bloody, gory moments and head-turning situations. However, there’s something much deeper going on than just killing yourself repeatedly. “Infinity Pool” also reminds us again that rich people can do whatever they want because they have money. Money can buy you a way out, and when there’re no repercussions to doing dark deeds, why not do them and literally pay the price for them? Money can also buy you anonymity, and that aspect is coming through beautifully or, better said, creepy by the local masks everyone is wearing.
While the premisses and creativity are certainly there, the movie doesn’t fully come alive because of the incoherent storyline. Sometimes the message feels too buried underneath all the gore, sex parties and psychedelic scenes, but then again, what did we expect from Cronenberg, who always uses the bigger, better, bolder approach?
That approach comes through in the stunning lead performances. Both Goth and Skargard have already proven that they can carry a horror film in respectively “Pearl” and “The Northman”; if you put them together in the same movie, you undoubtedly get dark fireworks. They’re willing to push their boundaries and aren’t afraid to show us their most vulnerable side, emotionally and physically.
While Goth’s performance is exceptional throughout the movie, she really excels during that last car scene! Her “Jaaaaaames” will undoubtedly stick with you for a long time, even more so if you have a friend called James.
Yes, “Infinity Pool” could have been tightened up a bit more, but would it then still be a Cronenberg film? Properly not. This disturbing movie is an electrifying, anxiety-inducing and stunningly performed one. It might not be for everyone, but it is undoubtedly the kind of feature only a Cronenberg can make.
