Infinity Pool is a horror/thriller about a rich couple, James(Skarsgård) and Em(Coleman), who vacation at a luxury resort/compound but venture out into the forbidden countryside at the urging of a couple they meet, Gabi(Goth) and Alban(Lespert). No surprise, things go wrong, and James becomes seduced by the the couple, their gross friends, and hedonistic verve.
There are some wonderful ideas and concepts but the script is woefully defecent as far as character. None of the characters feel, talk, or behave in a realistic way. They are vessels for the ideas not actual representation of humanity. As such the actors don't have much to do, they recite lines, mark out blocking, but none of it, ultimately, has much of an effect because their is virtually no emotional reality present. Skarsgård commits much to his credit and Mia Goth continues her campaign to carve out a new trope- manic-pixie-nightmare-girl. But their efforts are mostly wasted.
Not to say the film is a total loss. It has ambition, it has visual flair, and the ideas are really intriguing. It just doesn't really come together, because the setting, circumstances, and motivations are kind of vague, because the characters are thinly drawn, when things start happening and getting weird there aren't much actual stakes.
There is a misconception that making a genre piece precludes the necessity of believability. This is wrong and why, sometimes, genre gets unfairly maligned. That mistake is made here. I can buy the idea that in this fictional country tourists can purchase clones to stand in for their crimes. What I can't buy is James would put in jeopardy his financial well being(by alienating his rich wife) and going all-in with a couple(clearly unhinged) who he has just met.
Writer/director Brandon Cronenberg is still green but shows promise. He may need a screenwriting partner.
Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.
Stream It.
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