James is a writer with writer's block (of course. Is there any other writer in the movies?). He and the wife go to some distant resort for an inspirational break. There they meet Gabi and her old husband. Gabi claims to be a fan of his book. They're invited to an escapade outside the resort during which Gabi fondles James. On they way back, the car's headlights don't work well, and James runs over and kills a local peasant. Turns out the tourists aren't allowed outside the resort at all. And the resort happens to be oddly on an island run by a brutal dictator. They agree to tell some story. But they are immediately taken by police and everyone ends up telling the truth which means that James is automatically sentenced to death, a sentence to be a carried out by a relative of the peasant, in this case, a son. The alternative is for the government to create a double of James, who will be executed instead, with James as a witness.
James of course agrees to the double execution. He's left traumatized by the experience. Next he gets together again with Gabi, her husband and some other couple. Gabi offers him some local hallucinogenic drug, and he sees and orgy. They offer him someone from the government to abuse but this person turns out to be another double of James.
Then the gang agrees to break into the house of the dictator to steal a medal. It turns into a blood bath. And all of them go through the sentencing/double execution which afterward they find sort of funny, since there really isn't any consequence for them.
James is sick and tired of his perverted and abusive friends, tries to leave the island but they quickly catch up with him and gun in hand force him back, which isn't hard since he's a total weakling.
Gabi has some more drugs for him and wants to turn him into a man, to bring out his inner alpha chimp. And again they bring someone for him to abuse.
Next day it's as if nothing has happened. Everyone gets ready to leave. James changes his mind the last minute and stays, a very disappointing ending. For a movie that doesn't deliver much one expected at least an ending that made an impact.
Infinity Pool (an irrelevant title) has a promising sci-fi premise, but doesn't manage to do anything with it. At some point of course the group wonders, who was really executed, their true self or the double. But it doesn't matter as the sci-fi aspect isn't further explored, instead we get some dull psycho self-help nonsense imbued with sex and violence to make it semi-interesting, which it isn't. It doesn't help that none of the characters matter nor is worth rooting for.
As always, Mia Goth can act, seems to be attractive but it's hard to tell since she still won't grow any eyebrows or no one can give her an appropriate make-up job.
As with many of Cronenberg's films, this one too is a missed opportunity. There was material here for a good sci-fi flick or sure even the whole become-a-man scenario. But without an interesting script and captivating characters, it was doomed from the start.
James of course agrees to the double execution. He's left traumatized by the experience. Next he gets together again with Gabi, her husband and some other couple. Gabi offers him some local hallucinogenic drug, and he sees and orgy. They offer him someone from the government to abuse but this person turns out to be another double of James.
Then the gang agrees to break into the house of the dictator to steal a medal. It turns into a blood bath. And all of them go through the sentencing/double execution which afterward they find sort of funny, since there really isn't any consequence for them.
James is sick and tired of his perverted and abusive friends, tries to leave the island but they quickly catch up with him and gun in hand force him back, which isn't hard since he's a total weakling.
Gabi has some more drugs for him and wants to turn him into a man, to bring out his inner alpha chimp. And again they bring someone for him to abuse.
Next day it's as if nothing has happened. Everyone gets ready to leave. James changes his mind the last minute and stays, a very disappointing ending. For a movie that doesn't deliver much one expected at least an ending that made an impact.
Infinity Pool (an irrelevant title) has a promising sci-fi premise, but doesn't manage to do anything with it. At some point of course the group wonders, who was really executed, their true self or the double. But it doesn't matter as the sci-fi aspect isn't further explored, instead we get some dull psycho self-help nonsense imbued with sex and violence to make it semi-interesting, which it isn't. It doesn't help that none of the characters matter nor is worth rooting for.
As always, Mia Goth can act, seems to be attractive but it's hard to tell since she still won't grow any eyebrows or no one can give her an appropriate make-up job.
As with many of Cronenberg's films, this one too is a missed opportunity. There was material here for a good sci-fi flick or sure even the whole become-a-man scenario. But without an interesting script and captivating characters, it was doomed from the start.