2023 Sundance Film Festival: Infinity Pool movie review
By Ricky Valero
The films featured at the Sundance Film Festival don’t usually premiere in theaters until later in the year, but Infinity Pool will drop in theaters this Friday, Jan. 27. Is it worth watching? I share my thoughts on the film.
Infinity Pool follows the story of a couple on vacation who are having a great time until a crazy turn of events finds them behind bars. The film was written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg and stars Alexanders Skarsgard and Mia Goth.
We meet James (Skarsgard), who sees a person going kind of mad on the beach. Moments later, we see Gabi (Goth) inform him of what is happening, followed by complimenting him on his book. She knew he was author James Foster, and he was a bit shocked as he said not many people read his book. After a little back and forth, we meet her man, and they invite him out for dinner that night.
During dinner, we see Gabi and Thresh and James and Em chatting it up and getting to know each other. Gabi asks about James’s new book, but it’s a sore subject for James as he is looking for some inspiration. The following day, Em questions why they are leaving the resort area, but James says it’ll be fun to mix things up a bit. One thing leads to another, and we see Gabi come over and pleasure James away from everyone else. Finally, as they head back to the resort, James is driving, and you can tell he begins to feel quite guilty, but while trying to get the lights to work, he manages to hit someone with the car.
Of course, everyone is freaking out, and James wants to call the police, but Gabi explains that they need to get in the car and leave and that this isn’t a country where they want to go to jail. Unsure of what to do next, James and Em get back in the car and head back to the resort. Unfortunately, James starts to feel sick when they return to the resort because of what went down. Upon waking up the next day, James and Em are escorted to the police station.
Infinity Pool takes audiences on a twisted, weird, disturbing ride
If you follow Brandon Cronenberg’s work, like 2020’s Possessor, you know you are in for some twisted, weird, disturbing ride. The film starts off somewhat normal, but after we see James and Em get taken to jail, all things fly off the wall. One thing I do love that he does is blur the lines of reality because you are often wondering what is real and what is not. Several sequences had you questioning things happening because they felt real, but then they didn’t.
Caught up in this web of weirdness, you have two actors consistently proving they are the best of the best. First, Alexander Skarsgård, who has some of the best range of any actor in all of Hollywood. From his turn as a successful businessman in Succession to his powerhouse action-packed performance in The Northman, and now with his subtle approach to James, there isn’t much he can’t do. Then, Mia Goth, who stormed into everyone’s hearts as the next Horror Queen in X and Pearl. Her dialogue at the end of Pearl was award-worthy all by itself. In Infinity Pool, she’s a little more restrained, but as Gabi, she is stunningly shot by Cronenberg, which highlights how much of a movie star she truly is. Goth will be a name you hear quite a bit for generations to come.
Overall, the biggest thing I realized watching this was how incredible Cronenberg is at shooting his stars. Goth and Skarsgård elevate this twisted, crazy, weird ride that I liked quite a bit. That said, unless you are familiar with Cronenberg’s work and how strange it can be, I don’t think this movie will be for you. But if you are willing to take a risk, why not drop into theaters and check it out.
Infinity Pool hits theaters on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.