Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth in 'Infinity Pool'
Brandon Cronenberg's new film "Infinity Pool" is horrifying and dedicated. It is the story of a writer on a downward spiral after hitting somebody with his car while on vacation. Cloning, sex, drugs — it is a beautifully disgusting and bold vision from a budding talent.
During a vacation with his wife in the fictional militarized vacation spot known as Latoka, author James (Alexander Skarsgård) meets a strange woman (Mia Goth). After causing a fatal car accident, James learns that in this country, the zero-tolerance law means he has a choice. He can choose between execution or paying a large sum and watching his clone take his place. This is the set-up for our tale from writer and director Brandon Cronenberg, and while it does not feel like every idea is fully formed, it is hard to deny the experience is delivered with a wonderful presentation.
The coloring of the images in the film creates a dreamlike atmosphere. Cronenberg clearly had a solid idea of how the story should look, even if what would happen to these characters was sometimes an afterthought.
Though, Cronenberg does have a clear vision of how these characters should act. Alexander Skarsgård ("Big Little Lies," "The Northman") and Mia Goth ("Pearl," "X," "Suspiria") are great. They are exaggerated and brutal to the people around them, offset by a surreal connection for one another. Goth, in particular, takes control of Skarsgård and holds him in a masochistic relationship. She is dominant and commands your attention whenever she is on screen.
But an atmosphere is nothing without a rhythm to guide it. Thankfully, the sound and editing help out. The montages are the moments when the style entirely comes into its own. The blocking of characters and the use of shots with lots of headroom makes for a striking look.
The story explores nepotism, narcissism, corruption and exploitation of others for entertainment, all with a heavy load of sex and drugs. The ideas are grounded in reality, but Cronenberg does an excellent job of ensuring that the fictional country of Latoka could be linked to almost any real country. It never feels like a critique of any one country's government.
The film is a collage and a trippy experience. It is deeply engaging and shows how talented Cronenberg has proven himself to be.
Rating: 7/10