Infinity Pool movie review & film summary (2023) | Roger Ebert (2024)

Reviews

Infinity Pool movie review & film summary (2023) | Roger Ebert (1)

Now streaming on:

It almost feels like ticket buyers should have to prove that they've seen Brandon Cronenberg's "Possessor" before being allowed admittance to his newest film, "Infinity Pool." That way, they know what they're in for. Once again, the increasingly impressive son of David Cronenberg has made a wildly surreal, unapologetic, violent, and p*rnographic movie about privilege, morality, and things I couldn't possibly begin to explain in a review. Cronenberg takes unbelievably big swings here—maybe even more than his last movie—and he does not bother to hold your hand along the way. He is a fascinating filmmaker, one who I think has not quite yet made his masterpiece, but I'm becoming increasingly convinced he will soon.

Advertisem*nt

In a set-up that's like "The White Lotus" meets body horror, "Infinity Pool" opens at an exclusive resort in a fictional country. Author James Foster (Alexander Skarsgard) is looking for inspiration while his partner Em (Cleopatra Coleman) tries to support the writer's block that has led to no new books in six years. When a beautiful young woman named Gabi (Mia Goth, phenomenal again) approaches James and tells him that she's a fan, he's instantly captivated. He convinces Em to go off the resort grounds with Gabi and her partner Alban (Jalil Lespert), even though that's against the rules. After a night of drinking, James gets into an accident on the way home, which leads to the death of a local man.

All four travelers are taken in by ominous authorities, led by a perfectly refined Thomas Kretschmann as Thresh. He explains to James that the country they're in has a very explicit policy: murder must be avenged by the victim's son. However, this country also has a way out, a cloning process for the extremely wealthy that will create another James to be murdered while the original one watches. It's a fantastic concept, one that comments on how the uber-rich can pay their way out of anything while also asking what it would do to a person if they watched their own murder.

What it does to James and all the other rich people at the resort is to essentially remove any sort of moral compass. If there's no consequence, why not steal, screw, and murder your way through a hedonistic lifestyle? As Em looks on in horror, Gabi basically pulls James into a world of unadulterated pleasure and violence, and Cronenberg seems to be suggesting that it is only our fear of repercussion that keeps us from indulging in every possible pain and pleasure. The travelers wear local masks that look like deformed faces, which allows even more anonymity. And then there's the ultimate question that would nag at a person—what if the clone was actually the original and you're no longer even the first version of yourself? Someone refers to these people as zombies, and they have a similar amorality.

Advertisem*nt

Although no one would mistake this for a traditional zombie flick. Cronenberg gets increasingly surreal as he takes bigger and bigger chances, obviously excited by the potential of his own premise. They don't all work. I wish the film had a sharper POV and came together in the endwith a more coherent message. However, even when "Infinity Pool" is just playfully experimenting with chaos, it's confidently made and compelling. It helps to have committed performers who are all in on Cronenberg's vision, especially a physically demanding performance by Skarsgard and another riveting one from Goth. She has a scene on a car hood that rivals the acclaimed ones she had in Ti West's films last year. She rules.

And I'm starting to think Brandon Cronenberg does too. He keeps developing as a filmmaker by finding new high-concept ways to interrogate what we think we know about human decency. It's got to be a bit frustrating to constantly be compared to his father, but David Cronenberg is one of my favorite filmmakers in the history of the form. And so it's a great compliment to say that "Infinity Pool" works completely divorced from the lineage of the man who made it. Brandon has become his own captivating filmmaker on his own terms. He's no clone.

This review was filed from the Sundance Film Festival. "Infinity Pool" opens on January 27th.

Now playing

Sebastian
Monica Castillo

Lady in the Lake
Kaiya Shunyata

Good One
Sheila O'Malley

Hollywood Black
Robert Daniels

Trap
Brian Tallerico

Detained
Brian Tallerico

Film Credits

Infinity Pool movie review & film summary (2023) | Roger Ebert (9)

Infinity Pool (2023)

118 minutes

Cast

Alexander Skarsgårdas James

Mia Gothas Gabi

Cleopatra Colemanas Em

Thomas Kretschmannas Thresh

Amanda Brugelas Jennifer

John Ralstonas Dr. Modan

Caroline Boultonas Bex

Jeff Rickettsas Charles

Jalil Lespertas Alban

Director

  • Brandon Cronenberg

Screenplay

  • Brandon Cronenberg

Director of Photography

  • Karim Hussain

Original Music Composer

  • Tim Hecker

Latest blog posts

The Most Vital Actress of Her Generation: A Goodbye to Gena Rowlands

about 7 hoursago

Locarno Film Festival 2024: Eight Postcards from Utopia and Sleep #2

about 8 hoursago

A Woman Without Peers: Gena Rowlands (1930-2024)

3 daysago

3 daysago

Advertisem*nt

Comments

Advertisem*nt

Advertisem*nt

Infinity Pool movie review & film summary (2023) | Roger Ebert (2024)
Top Articles
Angela Rayner: The story behind the UK's new deputy prime minister
Angela Rayner: Labour big-hitter who beat the odds
Rosy Boa Snake — Turtle Bay
THE 10 BEST Women's Retreats in Germany for September 2024
Www Craigslist Louisville
Kent And Pelczar Obituaries
Weather In Moon Township 10 Days
Geometry Escape Challenge A Answer Key
Wunderground Huntington Beach
Nonuclub
Turning the System On or Off
Chicken Coop Havelock Nc
2024 Non-Homestead Millage - Clarkston Community Schools
House Party 2023 Showtimes Near Marcus North Shore Cinema
Gon Deer Forum
Craigslist Free Stuff Greensboro Nc
Stardew Expanded Wiki
Noaa Ilx
Our History
VERHUURD: Barentszstraat 12 in 'S-Gravenhage 2518 XG: Woonhuis.
Walgreens Alma School And Dynamite
Scout Shop Massapequa
Wsop Hunters Club
Www.craigslist.com Savannah Ga
Putin advierte que si se permite a Ucrania usar misiles de largo alcance, los países de la OTAN estarán en guerra con Rusia - BBC News Mundo
Rust Belt Revival Auctions
Engineering Beauties Chapter 1
Chicago Based Pizza Chain Familiarly
Bra Size Calculator & Conversion Chart: Measure Bust & Convert Sizes
Black Lion Backpack And Glider Voucher
John Deere 44 Snowblower Parts Manual
3 Ways to Format a Computer - wikiHow
Vadoc Gtlvisitme App
Chattanooga Booking Report
The 38 Best Restaurants in Montreal
Midsouthshooters Supply
Dollar Tree's 1,000 store closure tells the perils of poor acquisitions
Hellgirl000
Is The Nun Based On a True Story?
MSD Animal Health Hub: Nobivac® Rabies Q & A
Doordash Promo Code Generator
Ezpawn Online Payment
Sun Tracker Pontoon Wiring Diagram
Former Employees
Myapps Tesla Ultipro Sign In
10 Bedroom Airbnb Kissimmee Fl
Campaign Blacksmith Bench
Epower Raley's
Minecraft Enchantment Calculator - calculattor.com
Sunset On November 5 2023
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Madonna Wisozk

Last Updated:

Views: 6305

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Madonna Wisozk

Birthday: 2001-02-23

Address: 656 Gerhold Summit, Sidneyberg, FL 78179-2512

Phone: +6742282696652

Job: Customer Banking Liaison

Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making

Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.