Infinity Pool: Film Review
Brandon Cronenberg’s latest sci-fi horror Infinity Pool was the talk of Twitter following the Sundance Film Festival so naturally, I had to see what the hype was about. I loved the concept and the performances but found the plot unsatisfying.
Struggling writer James Foster (Alexander Skarsgard) and his rich wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are enjoying a holiday on an all-inclusive resort on the fictional island of La Tolqa when they encounter Gabi (Mia Goth), a fan of Foster’s only book, and her husband Alban (Jalil Lespert). After a group trip to the beach, they are involved in a fatal accident which exposes Foster to a dark world of hedonistic tourism and mindless violence.
I really liked the concept of Infinity Pool but I thought it could have been used for a far more satisfying story. The main idea (which I won’t spoil) is rich with potential and Cronenberg could have taken it in so many different directions and the storyline he chose didn’t really do it for me. I’m sure there are many layers and deeper meanings to unpack, and perhaps you’ll get more out of it on a second watch, but from a pure enjoyment standpoint, I came away underwhelmed. Watching people carry out sadistic, depraved acts for fun is not my thing.
Cronenberg really takes after his father David Cronenberg in terms of body horror, graphic violence and sex/nudity. It is a very adult film and not for the faint-hearted. I was prepared for the brutal violence and gross body horror imagery, having seen his 2020 movie Possessor, but I was not ready for the sexual content and full-frontal nudity. Judging by the BBFC classification, UK audiences are getting the uncut version (which I saw) while Americans had to get a tamer version with fewer of the most shocking sexual moments. Consider yourselves warned.
There are elements I liked about it though – the unsettling atmosphere Cronenberg creates on the resort and the moments of humour peppered throughout his script. The film’s biggest draw is Goth, who continues to solidify her scream queen status. Gabi is captivating and mysterious and you know deep down that she can’t be trusted. My favourite scene is where Gabi rides on the bonnet of a moving car with a bottle of wine and a bucket of fried chicken. I won’t forget that in a hurry.
Infinity Pool will probably divide audiences but hopefully, we can all agree that Goth is a scene-stealing star.
In cinemas from Friday 24th March