Infinity Pool (2023) Review: Hedonism, Clones, and Death

Short summary (non-spoiler)

Welcome back, horror fans. Slip into something comfortable and pour a stiff drink, because today we take a trip to paradise… or at least a deeply twisted, blood-soaked facsimile of it.

Infinity Pool (2023) drops viewers into an isolated island resort where pristine beaches, attentive staff, and endless sunshine disguise a dark nightmare. James Foster and his wife Em think they are embarking on a tranquil tropical getaway to refresh their spirits. Everything shifts when they meet the mysterious Gabi Bauer, who lures them beyond the safe, fenced perimeter of the compound.

Outside the resort walls lies a local culture soaked in unbridled violence and hedonism. Following a tragic accident, James faces a brutal justice system with zero tolerance for crime. Punishment is absolute: death by execution. However, an unnatural loophole exists for wealthy tourists. For a high price, criminals can watch a biological double of themselves executed instead, sparking a gruesome spiral into madness. Watch the trailer via Youtube.

Plot synopsis

Spoilers

The story follows writer James Foster and his partner Em Foster during their stay at an exclusive, heavily guarded island resort. Seeking creative inspiration and relaxation, James finds himself drawn to fellow guest Gabi Bauer and her partner Alban Bauer. Gabi flatters James, coaxing the couple to break strict resort rules by renting a car and driving into the countryside outside the grounds.

Their day of off-grid exploration devolves into chaos when James drives back after dark and causes a fatal hit-and-run accident. Local authorities apprehend James, exposing him to a terrifying law enforcement protocol. The state imposes immediate execution for his crime. Because James possesses financial capital, authorities offer an alternative: creating a biological double of himself to receive the death penalty in his place.

James pays for the cloning procedure. Forced to watch his mirror image brutally executed right before his eyes, James experiences a sickening mixture of horror and bizarre liberation. Rather than fleeing the island immediately with a terrified Em, James becomes intoxicated by his immunity to final death. He falls deeper under the spell of Gabi, Alban, and their twisted circle of wealthy delinquents including Ketch, Jennifer, Dr. Modan, and Charles.

Cast & key crew

Written by Brandon Cronenberg, the screenplay constructs a dark universe where extreme wealth obliterates human ethics. Cronenberg crafts a narrative centered on identity dissolution, biological duplication, and cold technical workarounds for criminal accountability.

Alexander Skarsgård stars as James Foster, capturing the helpless collapse of a struggling writer who morphs into an empty shell of a man. Skarsgård channels physical humiliation, trembling fear, and unsettling surrender as his character submits to his darkest impulses.

Mia Goth turns in an unhinged performance as Gabi Bauer. Goth anchors the horror with manic enthusiasm, transforming from a serene fan into a screeching, tormenting puppeteer. Cleopatra Coleman plays Em Foster, providing the essential moral anchor as she reacts with mounting horror to her husband’s moral decay.

The supporting ensemble reinforces this decadent nightmare. Jalil Lespert plays Alban Bauer, while Adam Boncz portrays Ketch. Amanda Brugel appears as Jennifer, joined by John Ralston as Dr. Modan and Jeff Ricketts as Charles. Behind the camera, the producing team includes Noah Segal, Christina Piovesan, Hengameh Panahi, Andrew Cividino, Rob Cotterill, and Karen Harnisch.

Analysis

Blending sci-fi thriller, horror, mystery, and crime, the narrative cuts straight to the wet, pulsating core of class privilege. The central premise poses a nauseating question: what happens to human empathy when consequences can be bought away? When a man can stand in a dimly lit room, smelling the stench of his own fear as his exact biological clone is butchered for his sins, something inside his psyche breaks permanently.

The visual contrast between the glowing tropical resort and the grime-slicked execution chambers builds sustained dread. Visceral body horror drives the experience. It resides in the slick birth of duplicate bodies, the agonizing crunch of blades, and the dizzying sensation of looking into your own dying eyes. Watching your duplicate executed strips away personhood, leaving behind a husk driven purely by hedonistic madness.

Cronenberg’s script treats crime not as a moral failing to be corrected, but as a luxury experience to be consumed. Gabi and her gang of elite tourists treat severe crimes like top-shelf items on an all-inclusive menu. Skarsgård’s character represents the hollow tourist who willingly surrenders his humanity just to feel powerful, abandoning his wife and sanity in the process.

Notable scenes & Easter eggs

The cornerstone sequence involves James standing in darkness while his cloned counterpart faces the state executioner. The physical tension, paired with the horrific realization that the victim shares his exact nerves, memories, and face, delivers a deeply unsettling gut punch. It showcases body horror at its most existential level.

Another striking sequence occurs when Gabi completely drops her refined facade to mock and torment James. Standing on the hood of a car, screaming hysterically and waving a handgun, Gabi breaks James down like an obedient pet. This moment highlights the raw power dynamic between seasoned predators and their fragile prey.

The initial boundary crossing serves as a crucial narrative turning point. Moving past the resort gates symbolizes stripping away civilized society. Once the characters venture onto foreign roads and trigger the fatal hit-and-run, the shimmering illusion of paradise vanishes, replaced by cold concrete cells and bloody rituals.

Reception & box office

Critical reaction reflected the film’s provocative and polarizing nature. The feature earned a Metascore of 72, indicating generally favorable reviews among professional critics who praised its bold sci-fi horror concepts and committed performances.

Public response landed on more divided ground, holding an IMDb rating of 6.0 out of 10. Audience reactions frequently splintered over the movie’s relentless unpleasantness, dark themes, and uncompromising portrayal of psychological degradation.

Conclusion

Infinity Pool stands as a sharp, bloody needle jabbed directly into the heart of modern privilege. Brandon Cronenberg delivers a dark nightmare where wealth buys absolute escape from justice at the cost of one’s mind and soul. Driven by fearlessly committed performances from Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth, this visceral journey leaves a lingering, greasy stain long after the credits roll.

Where to Buy & Stream

Sources

• The Movie Database (TMDB)
• IMDb