Get ready for the White Lotus on psychedelics. Infinity Pool, disturbing and erotic, is a stylized bloody satire both trippy and mesmerizing. This film, as well as Possessor, has established Brandon Cronenberg as the most exciting young Writer-director in science fiction and horror. I am still digesting what I saw, but Cronenberg has come up with another wholly original movie that leaves you with some lingering questions about respect, cultural appropriation, and personal accountability.
"James and Em Foster are enjoying a beach vacation on the fictional island of La Tolqa when a fatal accident exposes the resort’s perverse subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence, and surreal horrors." (I am trying to minimize spoilers, so I am avoiding some specifics of the plot.)
One of the film’s greatest strengths are the amazing performances of the leads. Mia Goth, hot off X and Pearl, is transcendent as Gabi, the sexy, evil queen in this hedonistic world. She is clearly the best actress in horror right now. I can't imagine anyone else in this role, riding on the hood of a car with a basket of chicken, swigging whiskey. Alexander Skarsgard, despite his imposing physical presence, still telegraphs James' weakness and insecurity. A washed-up writer who married well, James slips from the control of his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) into the dominant presence of Gabi. Much sex, violence, and hilarity ensue, as he runs amok on the island with his new friends.
One thing I didn't expect was how funny the movie could be, at times displaying a dark, twisted sense of humor. The cinematography was trippy and amazing, and the psychedelic sequences are both disturbing and mesmerizing. The unique visual style and terrific score make it hard to look away, even if you want to.
With The Menu and Triangle of Sadness, the entitlement of the wealthy and an "eat the rich" mentality have been hot topics in entertainment recently. Infinity Pool fits right in, an examination of the themes of cultural appropriation and personal accountability. The wealthy guests at the resort exploit the native customs of La Tolqa, an island with a conservative and religious culture. Several discomforting scenes, like the Chinese restaurant and Bollywood play, were tacky experiences solely for the amusement of the rich tourists. The resort guests also abuse a local drug with religious significance and avail themselves of a totally bonkers legal loophole to remove all aspects of personal responsibility as they enjoy their yearly crime spree on the island. Entitled tourists often show a lack of respect while traveling, respect for the traditions of the places they visit, and respect for the possible dangers this can create. If you could commit a crime knowing you would not be personally punished for it, what would you do? Infinity Pool is a wildly better version of the Purge movies, with a wicked twist.
Brandon Cronenberg builds brilliant and intriguing worlds, and Infinity Pool is no exception. Whatever he does next should be at the top of everyone's must-see list.
Patricia Pirillo