Infinity Pool, the third film from director Brandon Cronenberg, is NOT for the faint of heart. It features graphic closeups of violence, nudity, death, mutilitation, and other disturbing imagery. And yet, is a truly fantastic example of filmmaking.
James Foster (Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) travel to a ritzy, all-inclusive resort in a fictional country, apparently to help James get over his writer’s block. James published a mediocre novel 6 years ago and has been unable to produce his sophomore effort. Shortly after arriving, the pair meet the alluring Gabi (an amazing Mia Goth), who claims to be a fan of James’ book. Flattered, James and Em accept a dinner invitation from Mia, and her partner Alban (Jalil Lespert). Here, it is made clear that James is living off of his rich wife’s family. Despite some initial red flags, the Fosters agree to join Mia and Alban for a picnic at a forbidden beach spot the next day. Evidently, guests are not allowed to leave the resort.
After sneaking through barbed wire, the foursome have a fun, drunken time at the beach. However, their return to the resort is less fun. This is the point where Infinity Pool starts getting graphic, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. James and Gabi have an uncomfortable(?) encounter. James then drunkenly hits and kills a local farmer with his car. Gabi and Alban convince James and Em to not go to the local authorities, because they are very strict with foreigners. However, the local authorities soon come to them and lay out the strange law of the land. Because James killed someone, that person’s next of kin, in this case a young boy, gets to execute James. Unless that is, James has enough money to pay for a clone of himself to be executed in his place, while James watches.
Well, James does have that kind of money, and agrees to the morbid deal. His clone is created, and retains his old memories. James watches this version of himself be murdered…..and what follows is a nonstop onslaught of debauchery. Cronenberg does not shy away from showing, up close, what immoral and privileged thrill-seekers would do if they felt that they faced no consequences. To say some seriously deviant behavior is featured would be an understatement. However, they can simply clone themselves to avoid capital punishment….so what’s to lose?
However, this leads James to wonder if he is really himself or just one of many replicas. This is only one of many questions that Infinity Pool poses. How would people really act if there were no fear of repercussion? Why do the wealthy get away with so much more than the average person?
Infinity Pool is a fantastic film, despite the fact that it is certainly not for everyone. It is even more disturbing than his last film, Possessor, which is saying quite a bit. The boldness that Cronenberg shows in this film is jaw-dropping. He was unflinching to say the least. He may not had to have gotten as extreme as he did, but it was obvious he, and his cast, were having fun. All the leads were amazing, especially Mia Goth. However, Alexander Skarsgård as James, also deserves major praise. As an actor who plays traditionally alpha-male roles, he embraced the submissive, humiliating role of James with all he had, and it worked.
Infinity Pool, while extremely graphic, is still a masterful film. There were scenes that were so over the top I felt I had no choice but to laugh. But Cronenberg’s psychedelic ride into a world of immorality and chaos is an enjoyable one. I couldn’t tear my head from the screen once, even though I should have wanted to. I cannot wait to see what Cronenberg comes up with next.
Score
Infinity Pool, while extremely graphic, is still a masterful film. There were scenes that were so over the top I felt I had no choice but to laugh. But Cronenberg's psychedelic ride into a world of immorality and chaos is an enjoyable one. I couldn't tear my head from the screen once, even though I should have wanted to. I cannot wait to see what Cronenberg comes up with next.