“Infinity Pool” Takes Psych Horror Genre By Storm: Not a Film for Mom

  Recently released film “Infinity Pool” adds a strong contender to the psychological horror film genre through satirical commentary on class, a conversation of morality and an abundance of urns. 

  Directed by Brandon Cronenberg, son of the infamous body-horror icon David Cronenberg (Director of The Fly), the movie continues Brandon’s filmography career as he follows the horror film legacy his father created. 

  Starring Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård, the film follows washed-up and at times, insufferable novelist, James Foster (Skarsgård) and his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman). The story shows the Fosters’ journey to finding inspiration for James’ new novel after a six-year hiatus from his previous, and only novel, at a resort in a fictional under-developed country, Li Tolqa.

  The film begins with cinematography that physically flips and turns, depicting the uneasiness that the viewer is almost forced to feel. James is portrayed as a money-following author who uses his wife’s family finances as his own. 

  There is a tension that follows the couple that makes the viewer feel physically uncomfortable. A monologue begins, where Foster starts discussing how his life doesn’t feel real and how he feels as though he is in a dream, which is a foreshadowing of the horrors experienced later. 

  Picture-perfect, wealthy couple Gabi (Goth) and Alban (Jalil Lespert) are then introduced, who appears to take the Foster couple under their influence.

  From this point on, the couple falls down a path of crime, execution, and an elitist, classist escape from persecution. The film explores the idea of the scientific body doubling as a form of paying their way out of being executed. 

  Execution becomes a form of entertainment for the rich, watching their own body-doubled selves be killed time after time. 

  This group of wealthy individuals exhibit cult-like behavior, led by the aforementioned Gabi, and have no plans of escaping or returning to normal, humane life. 

  Given an 86% by Rotten Tomatoes, the film is described as one of the most gruesome movies of the year. 

  Personally, the movie pushed all boundaries as a viewer and forced a “WTF” mindset, trying to navigate the fever dream that is this horror flick.. 

  With engaging visuals that are reminiscent of the Cronenberg style, and things only seen in the most macabre nightmares, the viewer is almost dared to not look away. 

  After watching this film, I remained in my seat for approximately ten minutes after it had ended trying to grasp what just happened and how I was supposed to feel. The movie’s knack for disorientation felt like a true 70s psychedelic experience with the characters’ use of ceremonial drugs alongside the trademark Cronenberg nightmare-fuel visuals. 

  The film, to those not acquainted with horror movies, can easily be described as “hard to watch” with its sensory bombardment accompanied by the epilepsy warning at the very beginning of the movie.

  Additionally, as a viewer, you cannot just look at the film and expect to understand what is happening. Symbolism is found within every aspect of the plot that forces the viewer to take a deeper understanding of sociological issues such as nepotism, classism, and ethical understanding of morality. 

  Overall, this monstrosity of a horror flick takes a place in one of my top ten movies of this year. As a horror-loving person, I believe this feature contributes a strong in-your-face approach to sophisticated psychological horror. Not only with the satirical dialogue playing a role, but additionally with the visuals that would make anyone uncomfortable. 

  This is definitely not a film you would dare recommend to your mother, but if you are a horror-movie buff, take a watch and make sense of it yourself. 

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