2/5/23 - Infinity Pool (2023) - 4+/5-/10

Natural Born Killers meets The Purge while thinking of the 6th Day and embracing the neo-retro neon weird cinema (ex. Panos Cosmatos [Beyond the Black Rainbow & Mandy] and Cattet/Forzani [The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears/Let The Corpses Tan) while waving at Noe and his father. It’s a lot of things I have seen done elsewhere and better, yet it seems to revel in some kind of new filth/retro degredation it thinks it is providing. Unfortunately, I found it technically skilled but amateurish in its perception & aims. A real regression from his previous Possessor that I liked a great deal. This was monotonous overindulgence, focussing on style over substance.

I think it lacks saying something, choosing an orgy of excess with heavy handedness, shock violence, psychedelic sex and underdeveloped class commentary. The early juxtaposition of the humorous absurdism with the 3rd world post Soviet semi-fascistic setting was enjoyable and bred fascination. But that was short lived and despite its journey onward down its glutinous track, it never found footing in empathic & genuine connection with me. I was left adrift in its empty playground of trivial violence and vacant reflection.

A plus: I did enjoy Mia Goth’s magnetic and maniacal performance.