Overview
All of us are human. None of us are immune.
An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from an idyllic but mysterious “wellness center” at a remote location in the Swiss Alps but soon suspects that the spa’s miraculous treatments are not what they seem.
Review
This movie was added to my watchlist on the count of Mia Goth. She has such a beautifully odd and exotic screen presence and positively alters many of the movies she’s in. This one was no exception.
As someone who loves a good psychological thriller, A Cure For Wellness intrigued me from the start. Directed by Gore Verbinski, better known for his work on the Pirates of the Caribbean series, this film promised a unique blend of mystery, horror, and suspense. And let me tell you, it delivers on those promises—but with a few caveats.
From the very beginning, the film sets a chilling tone. The cinematography is breathtaking, with lush landscapes and eerie settings that draw you into the story. The premise is intriguing: a young executive named Lockhart (played convincingly by Dane DeHaan) is sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from a mysterious wellness center in the Swiss Alps. But as Lockhart delves deeper into the center’s secrets, he finds himself trapped in a nightmarish web of deception and madness.
Mia Goth plays a lifelong patient of the wellness center. She is childlike and mysterious and the crux of the film’s ending gives her ample screen time to work her magic. But all of the cast especially DeHaan and Jason Isaacs (who plays the head figure of the wellness center) are great and work very well off one other.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its atmosphere. Verbinski masterfully builds tension through every frame, keeping you on the edge of your seat as the mystery unfolds. However, the film does have its flaws. At nearly two and a half hours long, it does feel a bit bloated at times. Some scenes drag on longer than necessary, and the pacing can be uneven. Additionally (and most notably), the plot takes some rather unbelievable, bizarre turns towards the end, which may leave some viewers scratching their heads.
Rating: ★★★½ (out of 5)
