Mia Goth is no stranger to slaying in controversial and highly graphic movies. Judging from a new trailer for Infinity Pool — a sci-fi thriller written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg, son of body horror master David Cronenberg — it looks like she’s about to do it again! Starring alongside Alexander Skarsgård the movie is about a rich couple who go on an all-inclusive luxury resort holiday where, unbeknownst to them, fucked-up tech-y secrets lie behind the pristine hotel gates. We really do love to see it. (The suffering of rich people and influencers in movies, that is.)
The Movie Picture Association have seen the film and slapped the dreaded NC-17 rating on it due to it containing “some graphic violence and sexual content”. NC-17 is a harsher rating than an R, and Brandon and distributor NEON are reportedly looking to appeal to the Classifications and Rating Administration Appeals Board. Another movie receiving this rating was Netflix’s Marilyn Monroe movie Blonde, which divided critics for being — according to who you believe — either gloriously unhinged or deeply offensive.
The fact Infinity Pool is so graphic isn’t surprising though. Not only is Brandon the son of a director famed for his genius yet disturbingly gross-out horror movies (such as the recent Crimes of the Future), he’s also made a few controversial sci-fi thrillers of his own, including grotesque pandemic horror Antiviral (2012) and the blood-soaked Possessor (2020). Of course, Mia Goth first caught everyone’s attention in Lars Von Trier’s uber-erotic Nymphomaniac (2013) and stunned in A24’s recent horny slasher X, its sequel Pearl – some are calling for the star to be Oscar-nominated for her nine minute monologue in the latter – and its upcoming final chapter Maxxxine.
So with all this in mind, Infinity Pool is shaping up to be another iconic offering in both Mia and Brandon’s filmographies that will have us either deeply disturbed or kind of turned on – maybe even both? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the plot of Infinity Pool?
Cleopatra Coleman (Dopesick) and Alexander Skarsgård play Em and James Foster, a couple who are “young, rich, in love, and on vacation” on the island of La Tolqa, the movie’s description reveals. They’re not the only holidayers though, one of whom is Gabi (The Alison Dilaurentis-ification of Mia Goth in a blonde wig and cutting, demented stare). “Their all-inclusive resort boasts island tours and gleaming beaches. But outside of the hotel gates waits something much more dangerous and seductive, beyond the edge of paradise.” As long as the danger is not another beach that makes you old, consider us intrigued!
Who else is in the cast for Infinity Pool?
Alongside Mia, Cleopatra and Alexander in the main cast is the MCU’s Thomas Kretschmann as Thresh, Jalil Lespert as Alban and Amanda Brugel (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Jennifer, although their character’s roles in the plot are not yet clear.
When was Infinity Pool filmed?
Although originally intended to film in 2020, production (at the Amadria Park resort in Šibenik, Croatia) was pushed back to September 2021, due to the you-know-what and concluded in Hungary.
Is there a trailer or any first-look imagery for Infinity Pool?
After we got one gross (yet also chic) image from the movie of a couple with shredded, mangled yet dolled-up faces, sitting in the back of an open-roof car giving severe “we saw you across the bar and really liked your vibe” energy (the most disturbing part of the image is the man’s hairline, though), the full trailer dropped the next day. It gives us more clues to the dark and futuristic mysteries behind the hotel, as well as more clips of Mia being unhinged — you can all finally stop sharing that one still of her in Pearl now — as well as Alexander on a leash. Is it meant to be sexy? Scary? Knowing the Cronenberg family, probably both.
Now, for the new year, we have a fresh cut of the trailer courtesy of NEON. The short clip features a number of the same beats as the full trailer, but alongside some fresh violence gives us a good look at a younger, previously unseen character wielding a knife and making a beeline for Alexander S. Uh oh.
Is there a release date for Infinity Pool?
Infinity Pool is set to premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, on January 22. Neither US distributor NEON or Canadian distributor Elevation Pictures have shared a wider release date yet but with production complete, here’s hoping we’ll be able to watch every shocking, sexy and squeamish moment very, very soon.
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