B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool into the ol’ VCR. 

**Warning: there are some spoilers for the sake of jokes ahead!**

“If you were (are) a pop punk princess like me, you’re familiar with the Fall Out Boy song ‘Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year.’ Fortunately for Brandon Cronenberg, Infinity Pool is a case of the latter” is how I would’ve started this piece, if I hadn’t forgotten this was actually Brandon Cronenberg’s third movie. Whoops. Instead, I’ll say this: three IS the magic number. At least for Brandon Cronenberg. 

I’m not exactly sure how to CW/TW this movie, but I will mention there is a graphic scene of a hit and run, there are flashing lights that could trigger photosensitive viewers, and there are sexually explicit and extremely gory scenes throughout the entire movie. 

I’m going to start with what I didn’t like about Infinity Pool. First and foremost, I’m super pissed at how clear Alexander Skarsgård’s pores are. It’s simply not fair. Secondly, I’m jealous that Mia Goth got to walk Alexander Skarsgård down the red carpet on a leash. True Blood contributed to my sexual awakening, and I have a new item on my bucket list. Outside of these two items, I actually really enjoyed Infinity Pool. 

Please ignore the dims in the bottom right corner. I was scared to use my regular photo cropping source because it’s tied to work email.

Outside of adding another entry to my favorite new genre of Mia Goth screaming and/or crying directly into a camera, Infinity Pool shows us the dangers of a literal tourist trip. It raises the dangerous question of what you would do in a world without consequences. 

Think about it. What would you do if you knew you could commit any crime you wanted, and all you would have to do was pay to have a clone of yourself killed? The follow-up question being one actually posed in the film: If you’re being cloned, how do you know you’re the real you? Is not knowing a fate worse than death?

These are some big existential questions from a movie where you watch cum hit rocks, but you can’t help but think about the answers long after the credits roll. 

Parts of this film are like watching Eyes Wide Shut through a kaleidoscope while others remind you who Brandon Cronenberg’s father is. I also think Brandon Cronenberg is brilliant because the hottest parts of the movie aren’t the sex scenes.

The most sensual and salacious scenes are the simple close up shots of Mia Goth’s eyes and mouth as she talks to Alexander Skarsgård’s. The tension is much more palpable here than when she casually jerks him off in the woods or, *checks notes*, breastfeeds him at the end of the film. 

“That’s my boy!”

– David Cronenberg, probably. 

It goes without saying, but Infinity Pool definitely isn’t for everyone. It doesn’t shy away from gore or sex or intensity. However, it’s visually fascinating, poses some interesting moral questions, and makes The White Lotus look like Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. 

Most importantly, it reminds us of Mia Goth’s real voice.