Film General : 'A Cure for Wellness' & my final new release discussion thread

I wasn't planning on seeing this one so soon, but I mostly just wanted to get in one last thread/discussion about a newer release before end times [], and it was slim pickings this weekend, but I'm ultimately glad I decided to go with this one, which just might be the sickest and most purely insane major studio release I've seen in a very long time.

Despite my own meager expectations and middling initial reviews, I once again proved that my instincts and knowledge of my own tastes are often the best indicators of a worthwhile trip to the theater, because I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. From a purely technical standpoint (cinematography, art direction, editing, score, etc) this is a top-notch production all around, and the whole atmosphere of the film is just deliciously slick and unpleasant. The story and characters aren't afforded as much care admittedly, but it's all enough to keep everything afloat, and the film essentially abandons the main plot during the second act anyway, in favor of lots of inspired surrealism and deliberate artifice, which I was totally fine with - not to mention some gnarly and gruesome body horror elements as well.

Overall, I'd put this in the same camp as the likes of Crimson Peak and The Neon Demon (i.e. plot and characterizations are painted in broad strokes but the aesthetics and mood are what really drive the film) and recommend seeing this if those two were right up your alley, as they were for me. As much as I enjoy understated, character driven horror films like It Follows, The Witch, Split, etc., sometimes a big, bold, and brassy piece of genre fluff can be just as enjoyable, and for my money, this was certainly a real trip.

Welcome home, Mr. Bailey

Thanks for the review. It looked like a great piece of semi-horror pulp, but the reviews had me on the fence too. Probably give it a watch, now.

I can promise you a day of reckoning that you will not live long enough to never forget.

Wonderful review. I've been on the fence and I'll probably check it out now.

Thanks. This does help make it a bit more interesting, but I'm guessing I won't end up being able to catch it on the big screen unless it's a LOT more popular than I expect it to be; won't have time for it in the next 2-3 weeks and I'd presume it will fade quickly. Anyway if I have more time than I think I will, it could go on the list.


Here's to the fools who dream

Glad you're taking this into consideration, but I'll offer a few caveats: since you're not huge on Gore Verbinski I'm unsure if this will be enough to convert you, but I'll point out that it's nowhere near as dumb or over the top as his Disney/Bruckheimer stuff, although the 2.5 hour running time does resemble the excess of his other recent work. The closest comparison for his work I can make is The Ring (slow and atmospheric with occasional bursts of bombast and harsh violence), but slightly more bloated and drawn out.

Welcome home, Mr. Bailey

It looks pretty incredible but I am slightly skeptical. Thanks for the review!

It looks pretty cool. I did like "The Neon Demon".

"Let be be finale of seem/ The only emperor is the Emperor of Ice Cream"