Writer-director Brandon Cronenberg returns to the big screen with Twisted infinity pool after the surprisingly violent and groundbreaking Holder. He once again mixes horror and science fiction in a fictional society with no shortage of increased ferocity with a shift towards a slightly more personal focus. infinity pool It’s not lacking in style, but it falls short of his previous efforts.
‘Infinity Pool’ finds surreal horrors at an all-inclusive beach resort
Writer James Foster (Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife, Em (Cleopatra Coleman), arrive at an all-inclusive beach resort for a vacation on the fictional island of La Tolqa. It’s a must-see trip for inspiration for your next book after an artistic crisis. There, James and Em meet friends on vacation in Gabi (Mia Goth) and her husband, Alban (Jalil Lespert).
The two couples are involved in a fatal accident that gets them into serious trouble in a poorly run country. There is a legal loophole that gives them a chance to put things right, but the cost ultimately results in their undoing. The group falls into a hedonistic sense of tourism that brings out their most primal behaviors.
Artistic ego, privilege and sacrifice
infinity pool sets the scene with La Tolqa, drenching the viewer in the environment. The surroundings are beautiful and the complex is high end, but it is remarkably dangerous outside the barbed wire fenced walls. The hotel staff present some La Tolaqan customs, like some creepy looking Ekki masks used in “the summoning”. Some locals seek to scare off the tourists, as Gabi suggests that their intention is to kill the guests and hang them as a warning for other tourists to return to wherever they came from.
The setting and laws of La Tolqa are where sci-fi influences seep into Cronenberg’s script. However, it is not empty of the unequal gender politics of our society. Gabi talks to James about how some modern women “undercut” men and some work is needed to reverse the damage. The Tolqa itself has traditions and laws that emphasize patriarchal control, which directly feeds the male ego of those who can take advantage of the system.
Privilege is a key motive in everything infinity pool. The beach resort is for the rich as James, Gabi and their partners splurge on food and other amenities. Ultimately they cause trouble without worrying about local customs. Meanwhile, James admits that he is a broke writer, but is swayed by Em’s wealthy father, who owns a publishing company.
The more time James, Gabi and their associates spend in La Tulqa, the more they lose themselves in its clutches. James and Gabi, in particular, have a chemistry that draws them to each other. However, this connection turns out to be deadly, as this spa becomes a scene of pure chaos.
‘Infinity Pool’ is a stylistic nightmare with limited meaning
He infinity pool The marketing rightfully puts Skarsgård and Goth front and center. They fully embrace the wild nature of Cronenberg’s style, never backing down from the film’s wackier moments. Skarsgård is the perspective character from which we view this world, and he successfully carries that weight on his shoulders. Meanwhile, Goth delivered a brilliant performance in 2022 Pearl, which is an energy that she also brings here. Together, they drive the entire movie forward, even through the underwhelming moments of the narrative.
Cronenberg returns to some intriguing uses of color, emphasizing nightmarish drug and alcohol dealers with dizzying imagery. Cinematographer James Vandewater contrasts the beauty of his vacation surroundings with the haunting images that come to life at night. These moments are highlighted with neon colors that take the viewer on James’ journey.
infinity pool It’s sure to make some viewers uncomfortable, but it still feels like it could have been more difficult. It’s not necessarily about the level of sex or violence, but about how far you’re willing to go down the rabbit hole. Cronenberg makes some compelling ideas about the artistic ego and privilege, but they remain pretty hollow.
Cronenberg’s third feature recalls a combination Between spring breakers and his father, by David Cronenberg, crimes of the future. The story is stylistically fascinating, but its narrative feels more like an afterthought. infinity pool it’s a hallucinogenic playground of sex and violence that’s easy to dive into, but not as deep as it wants to be.
infinity pool hits theaters on January 27.
