Even the worst vacation you’ve ever had — screaming kids, delayed flights, cruise ship food poisoning — has nothing on Infinity Pool, the latest from director Brandon Cronenberg (son of body horror master David Cronenberg). What starts as an escape to a picturesque resort swiftly turns into a bizarre and gruesome game of violence and brutality, with a little existential horror thrown in for good measure. Infinity Pool doesn’t fully explore the elements that kick off its high-concept premise, but it’s worth it to watch two talented actors absolutely lose their sh*t.
The film takes place in the fictional country of Li Tolqa, where James (Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are taking an all-inclusive vacation at a peaceful resort. James is in search of inspiration: his debut book came out six years ago, promptly flopped, and he’s struggling with the follow-up, only able to survive because Em’s family owns a sprawling publishing empire. Eventually, the couple meets Gabi (Mia Goth), one of the book’s rare and elusive fans, and her partner, Alban (Jalil Lespert), and start hanging out.
Central to the story is the country itself. While wealthy Western tourists hang out on fancy expensive beaches, the rest of Li Tolqa is a poor, superstitious, and extremely conservative country. Tourists aren’t even supposed to leave the resort, which is surrounded by an intimidating fence complete with armed guards. So when the two couples sneak out to go to a local beach for a picnic, things ultimately turn bad following a car accident.
James finds himself convicted of a crime in a country where the penalty is execution — but with a twist for the very rich. Criminals are able to pay an exorbitant amount of cash to be cloned and then forced to witness their double being executed instead of them. It’s kind of like a Get Out of Jail Free card, except your poor clone still has all of your memories when they’re being stabbed to death. You even get to keep their ashes. Rather than a punishment, though, for some people, this process of seeing themselves die awakens something dark deep inside of them. James finds himself pulled into a group of these sickos, led by Gabi, who treat Li Tolqa like a hedonistic getaway, where they are essentially invincible and able to do whatever they want because they can pay their way out of it.
Infinity Pool raises some interesting questions about existence, as James and his cohort briefly contemplate what it means to have a clone with all of the same memories. But that doesn’t last long. Mostly, they use the legal loophole as an excuse to do whatever they want, coming up with twisted “games” full of brutal violence to make their vacation more exciting. They get caught, watch themselves die, and do it all over again. (It’s a kind of death loop, if you will.) The film is primarily a chronicle of James’ descent into madness through surreal montages of orgies and murder.
Ultimately, there isn’t much to the existential side of the story, and the film also breezes past its thread of wealthy, mostly white tourists turning a foreign country into a hedonistic playground. These elements are part of the initial setup and are quickly forgotten, so don’t go in expecting something like a horror version of The White Lotus that explores colonial tourism. But Infinity Pool still works as a strange and unsettling exploration of the depths of depravity the tourists sink to, thanks to a combination of Cronenberg’s shocking imagery — this is definitely not for the squeamish, with lots of close-ups of brutal violence and, uh, morphing genitals — and the performances of Skarsgård and Goth.
Skarsgård really embodies the premise. He starts out as clean-cut and clearheaded, but the seduction of power and violence turns him into something completely different by the end. At times, he’s a hulking brute fueled by a local drug, and other times he’s a drooling mess led around like a horrible puppy. Goth, meanwhile, continues to be one of the preeminent faces of modern horror, following up her turn in Pearl with another stunner — controlling events with a calm sort of charm that’s almost mesmerizing. When she does finally let loose, it is absolutely terrifying.
As an intellectual exercise, Infinity Pool is disappointing — but as a strange and uncomfortable ride through (an all-inclusive) hell, it definitely works. And it will make your next hotel breakfast buffet seem not so bad after all.
This review is based on a screening at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Infinity Pool is in theaters on January 27th.
FAQs
The film is primarily a chronicle of James' descent into madness through surreal montages of orgies and murder. Ultimately, there isn't much to the existential side of the story, and the film also breezes past its thread of wealthy, mostly white tourists turning a foreign country into a hedonistic playground.
What does the Infinity Pool symbolize? ›
Summary. Infinity Pool explores the concept of identity and the loss of humanity when there are no consequences for committing crimes. The film delves into themes of hedonism and affluence, highlighting how wealth can lead to extreme and immoral desires.
What is the philosophy of the Infinity Pool? ›
The satirical humor utilized throughout “Infinity Pool” is excellent because it accentuates the story's viciousness. Through this blend of horror and humor, Cronenberg takes direct aim at the protection that comes from being rich. It is easy for those with financial power to be comfortable with cruelty.
What's the point of infinity pools? ›
What is an infinity pool? Also known as zero-edge pools or rimless pools, infinity pools are designed to give the illusion of a missing edge. The water appears to flow beyond the edge and into, well, infinity. These pools are often built with beautiful horizons beyond the 'missing edge'.
Why did James hide his passport in the Infinity Pool? ›
While some might expect that Em would decide to stay with her husband, the opposite happens as she decides to leave the place on her own. We later realize that James was lying, and that he hid his passport because he wanted to stay.
What is the premise of the Infinity Pool? ›
“Infinity Pool” (2023) starring Alexander Skarsgaard, Mia Goth and Cleopatra Coleman is a horror/sci-fi film about a couple vacationing to a fictional island, in which they discover the country's perverse, hedonistic culture lying below the surface.
Is La Tolqa a real place? ›
' It turns out they're in an exclusive resort, located somewhere called La Tolqa – a fictional somewhere and nowhere, albeit a place with its own alphabet and a curious, complex legal and jurisdictive culture (more anon).
What is the hidden meaning of the infinity symbol? ›
The infinity symbol represents endlessness and limitlessness. Many people use the symbol to express concepts like eternal love, never-ending commitment, continuous spiritual growth, and unlimited potential.
What is the message of the infinity symbol? ›
Love and Unity: The infinity symbol is often associated with love and unity. By incorporating your initials within the symbol, it could represent a deep and everlasting love or a bond with someone special.
What is the disadvantage of an infinity pool? ›
Once it's built, an infinity edge pool costs more in water (they can't be covered, so more evaporates) and energy (the massive pumps from the catch basin run constantly) than an Endless Pool. Infinity edge pools are all custom-built; the larger, more elaborate ones can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Key Features of Infinity Pools
The defining feature of an infinity pool is the vanishing edge, which is an open side of the pool that appears to overflow into an endless horizon. This is achieved through a catch basin below the edge that recycles water back into the pool.
What are the benefits of an infinity pool? ›
Amazing Views: One of the unique benefits of an infinity pool is its unique view as you watch the beautiful landscape from the comfort of your pool. Easier to Maintain: Infinity pools use filtration system that constantly circulates water, which cuts down on algae growth. This means less maintenance for you.
Why is Infinity Pool controversial? ›
Another key part of the plot is a slew of slayings — in the form of bloody executions. Doubling down on the gore, the film's tagline is “Only through blood can you release your past.” And there are demented, hallucinogenic, graphic orgies.
Was James a clone in Infinity Pool? ›
In a twist that makes Infinity Pool an early contender as one of the best sci-fi movies of 2023, James has himself cloned multiple times throughout the movie, beginning with the clone who must atone for running over the man, something which influences his wife's decision to return home.
Is Infinity Pool inappropriate? ›
Parents need to know that Infinity Pool is a surreal thriller with explicit, sometimes disturbing sexual imagery and graphic violence. Through wealthy, privileged main character James Foster (Alexander Skarsgard), writer-director Brandon Cronenberg explores issues of masculinity, ego, and entitlement.
What did the ending of infinity pool mean? ›
Infinity Pool's Ending Is Twisted and Unsettling
As James watches his double get executed, he becomes not disturbed but fascinated by it. He realizes that he can do what he wants without suffering the consequences. The societal boundaries he has always been bound by no longer apply to him, and he's excited about it.
What country is the infinity pool based in? ›
Infinity Pool is set in the fictional country of Li Tolqa, about which the audience learns very little; we know only that it is beautiful and that the resort where James Foster (played by Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife, Em (Cleopatra Coleman), are staying is the kind that few people can afford.
Is the infinity pool gory? ›
Disturbing and bloody. Not pervasive or frequent but very graphic, brutal, and bloody violence and gore including vicious stabbings, executions, bloody shootouts, throat slitting's, body horror, bludgeoning's, and grisly injury detail with aftermath.
Where is the resort in the Infinity Pool movie? ›
Much of the cast joined the project that year and filming took place primarily in Šibenik, Croatia. Infinity Pool premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2023.
Why is it called an Infinity Pool? ›
Why are infinity pools called infinity pools? The name comes, unsurprisingly, from the way the pool looks. The lack of a traditional pool border on one side means that the water flows over the edge, creating a sense of endless water to swim in.
Sick, Twisted, and Fun! Infinity Pool is a good horror film filled with good acting, murders, and the story. The story with it being that a rich couple named James (Alexander Skarsgard) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are vacationing in a resort, but in a foreign country.
What is the meaning of infinity edge pool? ›
An infinity pool, also called infinity edge pool, zero edge pool, overflow pool or spillover pool, is a reflecting pool or swimming pool where the water flows over one or more edges, producing a visual effect of water with no boundary.
What does a swimming pool symbolize? ›
It symbolizes a desire for leisure and escape from the stresses of daily life. The calmness of the water represents tranquility and a need for emotional rejuvenation. This dream may also signify a need for social interaction and connection with others.
What are the symbols of infinity in mythology? ›
In modern mysticism, the infinity symbol has become identified with a variation of the ouroboros, an ancient image of a snake eating its own tail that has also come to symbolize the infinite, and the ouroboros is sometimes drawn in figure-eight form to reflect this identification—rather than in its more traditional ...
What does the infinity statue mean? ›
Named for the endless line of the infinity symbol, which has a long history and powerful meaning, Infinity represents infinite possibilities, eternity, empowerment, and everlasting love, in support of the balanced and healthy lifestyle that the Stanly Ranch Resort endorses.
