Infinity Pool

I unfortunately missed 2022's surprise hits X and Pearl, so when I saw a new horror film with Mia Goth, I was fairly confident I didn't want to make the same mistake twice. Add that Infinity Pool is helmed by 2020's Possessor director, Brandon Cronenberg, and I was pretty interested in this from the start, having only seen a trailer once beforehand. 

Much like [the far-superior] Possessor, Infinity Pool has a wonderful top-tier-Black-Mirror sci-fi premise to offer once it gets to into the meat of things. That first hour had me hooked, feeling like a more horrific White Lotus adventure with elements that truly spoke to real fears many of us have when travelling internationally (e.g. what if I get in real trouble in a country with questionable justice systems). The tension in this first hour is built slow, but effectively thanks to great filmmaking techniques, a gorgeous European locale, and strong performances by Alexander Skarsgard and Mia Goth. The latter remains true for the entirety of the film, but unfortunately the second hour of the film has some major issues that didn't do much for me at all.

In the second hour, the film feels aimless and lacking any real purpose or drive for existing. Alexander Skarsgard's James becomes involved with the completely-nuts-crew at a resort, ditching his wife, and helps them steal an award medal (of all things), and then dives into a world of drugs and orgies. For a while, the unique premise that was designed in the first half feels like an afterthought, which is honestly what the last hour of this movie felt like. A lot of winning set-up followed by an overabundance of weirdness, nudity, weird nudity, and a lack of direction. 

Branden Cronenberg, much like his father, is very much a niche movie "market" that I'm not well versed in, but I've generally found I do enjoy a good, artsy, "weird" horror film. Unfortunately, Infinity Pool felt not very geared in saying much once it got to its balls-to-the-walls segments leaving me wanting a much different film. 

Rapid Rath's Review Score | 6/10