Infinity Pool

Neon | Release Date: January 27, 2023

5.8	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 86 Ratings

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bertobellamyApr 2, 2023

'Infinity Pool' is not even close to 'Possessor,' but at least it has some ideas about the savagery that inhabits us, toxic masculinity, how consequences shape our world, and the cultural exploitation and appropriation by the rich.

Mia Goth,'Infinity Pool' is not even close to 'Possessor,' but at least it has some ideas about the savagery that inhabits us, toxic masculinity, how consequences shape our world, and the cultural exploitation and appropriation by the rich.

Mia Goth, as always, delivers a chilling performance as a twisted woman completely given to her wildest side. Salute or new horror queen!

I wish we'd known more about the sci-fi concept of the film — the doppelgangers — because it's very intriguing. Unfortunately, Brandon Cronenberg's screenplay gets messier as the story goes by, and the plot gets tedious by the second part. Some thoughts are very in-your-face, and the graphic images are there only for shock value most of the time. But hey, at least the trippy sequences are cool; they reminded me of the Panos Cosmatos 'Cabinet of Curiosities' episode.

Also, the upper-class critique theme is oversaturated by now. We've had no shortage of these films or series in the last couple of years, and lots of them have been notably superficial. 'Infinity Pool' offers a no conventional take on the subject — although the representation of the locals as bloodthirsty individuals in rags is up to debate — but it gets underdeveloped when the writer/director starts to follow another thread, which is another problem the movie has; many ideas feel undercooked. Either way, I hope Cronenberg continues to explore the darkest and sickest corners of the human condition, but more in a 'Possessor' kind of way.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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MarkHReviewsFeb 15, 2023

Alexander Skarsgård is one of the more courageous actors working today. He’s been willing to portray unappealing characters and to take big risks with the roles he’s played. Recently, he’s been an abusive husband in TV’s “Big Little Lies,”Alexander Skarsgård is one of the more courageous actors working today. He’s been willing to portray unappealing characters and to take big risks with the roles he’s played. Recently, he’s been an abusive husband in TV’s “Big Little Lies,” an amoral tech CEO (I know, redundant, right?) on “Succession” and a Viking prince with anger management issues in the film “The Northman.” His role here may be his most challenging to date.

In Writer/Director Brandon Cronenberg’s “Infinity Pool,” James (Skarsgård) and his wife are vacationing at La Tolqa, a fictional beachfront resort. After publishing a single, poorly-received book six years ago, James is seeking inspiration. The couple encounters Gabi (Mia Goth) and Alban, who invite them on a trip outside the compound, even though it’s strictly forbidden. Driving back drunk, James hits and kills a local resident. He’s arrested and taken by the police to a sober, concrete, Soviet-style police station where he’s presented with a choice. He can be executed for his capital crime. Or, for a hefty fee, he can be cloned and have his double die in his place. After that, the movie gets weird.

As with his first film “Possessor,” Cronenberg demonstrates his skill as a provocateur. The opening visual, where the camera rotates 360 degrees, informs us early that what’s to come will be disorienting. People wear grotesque masks. They engage in orgies, although they’re more psychedelic than explicit. This is a film that’s disturbing, bewildering, upsetting and disgusting but also thought-provoking.

What works here is the acting. Skarsgård shows his versatility as James (and one or two of his clones). After starring in this year’s “Pearl” and “X,” Mia Goth uses this project to solidify her status as the latest scream queen. She’s particularly skillful at compellingly portraying unhinged maniacs.

What doesn’t occur is adequate development of the many themes Cronenberg addresses in the film. He clearly disdains the entitlement of rich Western travelers who inflict themselves on some of the world’s poorest but most beautiful countries. But his critique of privilege is neither as well-focused nor as insightful as what we’ve already seen in “Parasite,” “The Menu” or even “Glass Onion.” He swings and misses when given the opportunity to address the nature of humanness in the context of clones. Where he connects most powerfully is when he proposes that humans will sink to their worst instincts and impulses when placed in a world where their actions have no consequences.

In 1996’s “Crash,” Writer/Director David Cronenberg, Brandon’s father, explored a subculture of people physically disfigured in car crashes. In “Infinity Pool,” Brandon Cronenberg is clearly interested in exploring a less obvious disfigurement: events that warp the psyche and damage if not obliterate the soul.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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DarkJakJan 29, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A writer struggling to dive into visceral expression is taken to a high-end island resort by his longtime trust-fund wife with daddy issues (his publisher). However, the writer being lavishly sheltered from common society, finds himself no longer enticed to his creative self. This all changes when a rich, quirky couple (fans of his book) pull him into the hedonistic flavor of life to further break the walls his wife has erected in him for a stable marriage. This is tested when the writer has to resort to choosing between lawful submission, or flight/fight nature (something driven out of him by his happy marriage). This dilemma caused by the antagonizing couple he meets continually badgering him to play into his mortality for higher self expression. However, the writer now finds himself battling his built-up nature to stay safe, but ultimately fails (no thanks to the carnal desires shoveled by the couple's Mia Goth). There really is no catharsis as the writer finds his human shell too weak for the new cult of hedonism he has fallen in line with. But, the vacation finally ends as the members go back to their rich lives in their respective countries, leaving our writer to ponder whether he even go back to that life these savage members opened to him.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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moviemitch96Jan 27, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A couple staying in a vacation resort overseas accidentally commit a crime and are arrested, but are introduced to a rather unorthodox means of a penalty: paying to be cloned and watch their doubles be executed instead. This leads the husband (Alexander Skarsgard) down a dark, obsessive, and dangerously degenerate path as he becomes addicted to and obsessed with committing crimes and watching himself get executed. Written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg (son of famed body horror maestro David Cronenberg, and who previously directed the 2020 gorefest thriller 'Possessor'), this one has a lot of interesting things to say about privilege, wealth, debauchery, etc., And it manages to express it all in the most surreal, explicit and grotesque of ways. While not as overly violent and gore-drenched as 'Possessor'', like that film, rest assured there's still plenty of shocking and graphic imagery to be found here in the form of several grizzly murders, untamed orgies, and pure recklessness. However, it's all rather tasteless and excessive, almost completely overshadowing whatever point or metaphor it's trying to express. When all's said and done, I simply felt a little too icky and like I watched a whole lot of senseless smut and violence that's all style and little substance. There's clear inspiration from media such as 'The White Lotus' and 'The Shining' to be found here, but if there are any true redeeming factors to be found, I'd say that it's mostly in the cast's performances, particularly Skarsgard's scared as sh*t performance, and especially Mia Goth (who's quickly establishing herself as a true scream queen after this, 'X', and 'Pearl'), who gives an absolutely sinister and unhinged performance for the ages. Overall, admittedly solid cast performances, and it's got a lot on its mind about the wealthy and their overindulgent tendencies (depicted in blood-soaked metaphor here of course), but it all rings rather hollow in the end by overindulging in itself and all of its excess, coming up well short of Cronenberg's 'Possessor' from a couple years ago, which I actually quite enjoyed. Wish the same could be said here, but unfortunately, not so much.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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TyyroneMuggaJan 29, 2023

Interest 6/10
Characters 6.5/10
Cinematography/Set 8/10
Story 4.5/10
Acting 6/10

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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AncientAmberMar 19, 2023

Kinda fine overall. Enjoyed the score, the cinematography. I'll be honest, I came for Mia Goth and I got what I wanted. I could take or leave everything else. Minimal emotional impact, but some enjoyable scenes interspersed with overdoneKinda fine overall. Enjoyed the score, the cinematography. I'll be honest, I came for Mia Goth and I got what I wanted. I could take or leave everything else. Minimal emotional impact, but some enjoyable scenes interspersed with overdone hallucinatory sequences (please stop doing this all the time, everyone!) I enjoyed the bus ride and airport scene at the end. It's kind of an obvious choice in retrospect, but it worked for me as a kind of joke.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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JLuis_001Jan 28, 2023

I find it annoying to see that once again one of the most consuming struggles for Brandon Cronenberg is knowing how many people are going to come back again and claim that he's trying to emulate his father.

In the end, it has no bearing onI find it annoying to see that once again one of the most consuming struggles for Brandon Cronenberg is knowing how many people are going to come back again and claim that he's trying to emulate his father.

In the end, it has no bearing on the results of his film, because the one constant I had in my head while watching it was: ''When can it be considered that you're trying too hard?''

What I think is the idea behind Infinity Pool is certainly disconcerting, I find it hard to believe that its effect is intended to do anything else. Unfortunately for its creator, its artifice begins to show its weak spots as the plot progresses.

Once the plot reveals where we are going, the movie gives way to the horrifying nightmare combined with the hedonism of committing atrocities that imply repercussions for its main character that you clearly sense long before him and by the time he does it, it will be too late.

Now, understanding the style of this Cronenberg, we know that what's on display implies that there's going to be nasty, disgusting, and mesmerizing stuff.
However, I think that by approaching all of this in a made-up world, Brandon Cronenberg allows himself to escape delving deeper into his story than the obvious implications make clear.

Part of the idea is to provoke, of course, but some of his narrative moves are already known, and while the ride is well worth taking, it must also be acknowledged that in its precariousness, the more you poke around, the more the cracks begin to appear.
And while Infinity Pool doesn't collapse, it barely makes an impact.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Voodoo123Apr 28, 2023

This moody and sadistic movie attempts to provoke with violent imagery. Sadly the logic of the characters and world is such that I never felt any real connection to the material at all. Overall it felt like very expensive empty space to bareThis moody and sadistic movie attempts to provoke with violent imagery. Sadly the logic of the characters and world is such that I never felt any real connection to the material at all. Overall it felt like very expensive empty space to bare witness to.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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schtoopididiotMay 24, 2023

It isn't a poorly made movie or a bad movie either. It's just... ugh. I don't know. It felt like a feature length headache to me, all the bright lights and loud noises. Also, I was told, "this movie is sooooo **** up bro, careful going intoIt isn't a poorly made movie or a bad movie either. It's just... ugh. I don't know. It felt like a feature length headache to me, all the bright lights and loud noises. Also, I was told, "this movie is sooooo **** up bro, careful going into it!!" and I leave utterly disappointed. Let's just say that this is no Serbian Film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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