From an early age, I’ve been engrossed by the horror genre. I’ve explored an array of films within the genre that has molded me into the horror connoisseur I am today. One of the directors I became fascinated by was David Cronenberg. His unique style of fear-inducing body horror makes him one of the best.
As his son Brandon stepped into the directing chair, it was hard not to be excited with the possibility of another era of Cronenberg horror mastery. It’s safe to say after his first two films, Antiviral and Possessor, Brandon Cronenberg is a chip off the old block. With his third film, Infinity Pool, the director returns with a star-studded cast, including Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth.
Films like Infinity Pool are the types of films that make me adore the horror genre. It’s a spell-binding achievement that cements Cronenberg as the mad scientist, and cinephiles are the test subjects. A gnarly, psychedelic nightmare fused with hypnotic orgies and an array of executions.
On the surface, Infinity Pool follows James (Skarsgård) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman) when they meet two strangers on vacation. However, while at their resort, the two find themselves engulfed in a world of violence where there is zero tolerance, and the punishment is execution.
While Cronenberg’s screenplay leads to one’s exploration of self, it also dives into the social construct of one’s morality if immoral acts had no consequences. While Cronenberg explores these themes in untraditional facets, it does not take away from the effectiveness of the screenplay.
Aiding the screenplay is Karim Hussain’s zen-like cinematography. Similarly to his previous work with Cronenberg, Hussain establishes an unsettling array of shots that lend to setting an unrelenting horrific atmosphere.
Alexander Skarsgård’s range is on full display. The duality of his performance deserves praise and is unlike anything Skarsgård has done before. Matching Skarsgård is Mia Goth.
It’s impossible to describe Goth’s 2022 to the horror community and cinephiles worldwide. Similarly to Pearl’s desire, Goth has erupted into superstardom, and her performance in the film adds to her impressive resume. Goth’s range is impeccable as her moral compass takes a backseat as her character aims to manipulate all who come her way. Her authoritarian demeanor oozes throughout and will be one of the talking points in the film’s conclusion.
Infinity Pool will only be for some and it will be one of the year’s most challenging and divisive viewing experiences that can only come from the mind of a Cronenberg.
