Review of the movie “Infinity Ball” [Sundance 2023]: Alexander Skarsgard in The Hallucinogenic Horror Resort
Writer/director Brandon Cronenberg returns to the silver screen with Twisted Screen infinity pool After the stunning and innovative violence Owner. Once again, it mixes horror and sci-fi in a fantasy community with no shortage of increased ferocity with a shift to focus more on the character. infinity pool He has no shortage of style, but it just doesn’t quite measure up to his previous efforts.
“Infinity Pool” finds surreal horrors in an all-inclusive beach resort
Writer James Foster (Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife M (Cleopatra Coleman) have arrived at an all-inclusive beach resort for a vacation on the fictional island of La Tolca. It is a must-see journey in search of inspiration for his next book after an artistic crisis. There, James and Em meet vacationing friends Gabby (Mia Goth) and her husband, Alban (Jalil Lespert).
A couple is involved in a fatal accident that lands them in serious trouble in a cruelly run country. There is a legal loophole that gives them the opportunity to make things right, but the cost ultimately leads to their undoing. The group falls into a sense of hedonism that accentuates their primitive behaviour.
Artistic ego, privilege and sacrifice
infinity pool He sets the scene with La Tolqa, soaking the viewer in the environment. The surroundings are gorgeous and the resort is upscale, but it’s remarkably dangerous outside the barbed wire-fenced walls. The hotel staff introduces some La Tolaqan customs, such as some strange-looking Ekki masks used for “summoning”. Some of the locals seek to scare the tourists, with Gabi pointing out that their intention is to kill and hang the guests as a warning to other tourists to go back to wherever they came from.
La Tolqa’s setting and laws are where the sci-fi influences permeate Cronenberg’s screenplay. However, it is not free from the unequal gender politics of our society. Gabe spoke with James about how some modern women “weaken” men, and it takes some work to reverse the damage. La Tolqa itself carries traditions and laws that emphasize patriarchal control, which directly feeds the male ego of those able to benefit from the system.
Franchise is the main theme throughout infinity pool. The beach resort is for the wealthy, with James, Gabe and company splurging on food and other amenities. They end up causing problems with a lack of interest in local customs and traditions. Meanwhile, James admits that he is a broken writer, but goes swimming with M’s rich father, who owns a publishing house.
The longer James, Gabi, and their partners stay in La Tolga, the more they become lost in its grasp. James and Gabby, in particular, have a chemistry that draws them to each other. However, this connection proves fatal, as this beach resort becomes a place of pure chaos.
“Infinity Pool” is a stylistic nightmare with limited meaning
the infinity pool Marketing rightly puts Skarsgård and Goth front and center. They fully embrace the wild nature of Cronenberg’s style, never holding back from the film’s more outlandish moments. Skarsgård is the visible character we see in this world, and he’s successfully carried that weight on his shoulders. Meanwhile, Guth put in an impressive performance in 2022 Pearl, which is the energy you bring here, too. Together they drive the entire movie, even during the underwhelming moments of the narrative.
Cronenberg returns to some intriguing uses of color, emphasizing the terrifying drug-and-alcohol psychedelia with stunning imagery. Cinematographer James Vandewater compares the beauty of their holiday setting to the disturbing images that come to life at night. These moments pop with neon colors that draw the viewer into James’ journey.
infinity pool It would certainly make some viewers uncomfortable, however it still seems like it could have been more difficult. This isn’t necessarily about the level of sex or violence, but rather how far you’re willing to go down the rabbit hole. Cronenberg raises some compelling thoughts about ego and artistic excellence, but they remain somewhat hollow.
Cronenberg’s third feature film brings to mind a mix between Spring breakers and his father, David Cronenberg, future crimes. The story is stylistically fascinating, but telling it feels like an afterthought. infinity pool is a hallucinogenic playground of sex and violence that’s easy to dive into, but not quite as deep as you’d like.
infinity pool Comes to theaters January 27th.
#Review #movie #Infinity #Ball #Sundance #Alexander #Skarsgard #Hallucinogenic #Horror #Resort