Infinity Pool (2023) MOVIE REVIEW

Infinity Pool is a 2023 film directed by Brandon Cronenberg and starring Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman, and Thomas Kretschmann. The story follows James and Em Foster, who are on vacation in the fictional island of La Tolqa when they discover a sinister subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence, and surreal horrors. While the film shares DNA with Cronenberg's earlier film Possessor, it manages to carve out its own identity with a strong emphasis on satire and dark humor.

The film opens with novelist James Foster and his wife, Em, arriving at an all-inclusive holiday resort in Li Tolqa in the hopes of remedying James's writer's block. They soon meet Gabby, a superfan of James's work, and her partner, Alban, who invite them for dinner and drinks. The setup is delirious, and the opening line sets the bewildering tone perfectly.

The film takes a little while to build momentum, and while it establishes the concept, it isn't until the second act that it truly settles into a darkly humorous groove. The script bluntly thumbs its nose at cash-splashing tourists who believe that wealth gives them immunity and unlimited hospitality, while confessing the dehumanizing nature of hedonism. The allure of a foreign place can take you outside of yourself, and in the case of Li Tolqa, in more literal ways than you'd otherwise expect.

True to the Cronenberg family's form, Infinity Pool is violent and hypnotically surreal. It features close-ups of cumshots and a gooey mess that would have earned it an NC-17 rating had it not been cut down to an R. However, the film doesn't touch the genuine visceral discomfort of Cronenberg's previous work.

Alexander Skarsgård is a hoot as the loser protagonist, and Mia Goth is having the time of her life as the disarmingly odd, intimidating-yet-sexy seductress Gabi. Thomas Kretschmann is also notable for his amusingly severe role as a police officer.

The film is ultra-atmospheric, stylish, and handsomely mounted. The hallucinogenic neon abounds numerous times throughout, and Tim Hecker's intense, booming electronic musical score serves as canny accompaniment. However, it becomes a bit tiring towards the end, and another editorial pass that removed 15-or-so minutes would have helped. Despite this, fans of Cronenberg's work will appreciate this new addition to his repertoire.

ABOUT MOVIE SHORT REVIEW

The movie you are referring to is called "Infinity Pool" directed by Brandon Cronenberg and starring Alexander Skarsgård, Cleopatra Coleman, and Mia Goth. It is a horror, mystery & thriller, and sci-fi movie about a couple who venture outside their isolated island resort and discover a culture of violence and hedonism, which leads to a tragic accident and a zero-tolerance policy for crime. The movie was produced by Andrew Cividino, Rob Cotterill, Jonathan Halperyn, Karen Harnisch, Anita Juka, Daniel Kresmery, Christina Piovesan, and Noah Segal, and distributed by NEON. It was released in theaters on January 27, 2023, and grossed $4.9M in the USA. The runtime of the movie is 1h 57m.

Wow, "Infinity Pool" sounds like a really intense and thought-provoking movie. The concept of a country with a zero tolerance policy for crime and a cloning process for the wealthy is definitely a unique and intriguing premise. It's also interesting to see Alexander Skarsgard and Cleopatra Coleman in these roles, and Mia Goth has been impressing me with her recent performances as well. I'm definitely curious to see how this all plays out on the big screen.

It sounds like "Infinity Pool" explores some deeply philosophical and psychological themes, such as the nature of morality and the consequences of living without consequences. The cloning process for the wealthy adds an intriguing twist to the story, as it questions what it means to be human and how we define our own identity. The use of masks also highlights the idea of anonymity and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy. It seems like the film is not only a horror story, but also a thought-provoking examination of human behavior and ethics.]