A Cure for Wellness [DVD] [2017]

If your interested in 2 hours of weird then this movie is for you. From eels to fires this movie is one that you'll say "What the F***" numerous times.

Written by Just Haythe, who previously only adapted Revolutionary Road for the screen and served as one third of the team that composed Lone Ranger among a few other jobs, A Cure for Wellness is a movie unlike those we typically get a chance to see in cinemas these days. This meaning Haythe has crafted a horror film of epic proportions that was somehow granted a budget of $40 million and placed in the hands of Lone Ranger director Gore Verbinski who, despite the reputation the likes of The Lone Ranger and The Pirates of the Caribbean films may garner him, is one of the best and most underappreciated auteur's working today. That the film also got a major theatrical release without having the added bonus of a rather recognizable star is just another surprising facet in the fact this thing was able to be made as it has been. That said, Verbinski, for one reason or another seems to carry a lot of clout in Hollywood and if he can use it to continue getting high-concept original material made at budgets not normally given to properties without source material or brand recognition-more power to him. Outside of his blockbuster endeavors, Verbinski has made inspiring films such as Rango and The Weather Man, but what is most critical to understanding why he was the perfect fit for something like A Cure for Wellness is the mention of his 2002 hit, The Ring. It could very well be that my experience with seeing The Ring for the first time in theaters at a nine o'clock show at the age of fifteen was one of the most terrifying if not the defining theatrical experience of my life when it comes to horror movies, but Verbinski (just listen to that name, even his name sounds like he was made to make scary movies) will always hold a special place in my petrified heart. And so, when it was announced the filmmaker would be directing his first horror flick in fifteen years you can bet it shot straight to the top of my most anticipated list. As with all movie-going experiences, expectations play a certain role and mine couldn't have been higher for A Cure for Wellness which may or may not be why the finished film simultaneously floored and confounded me. To be clear, this is a staggering piece of work-a masterful examination of purpose and other existential qualms that drive us to achieve material success that translates to a superiority over our fellow man that is never fully qualified as such in this life. Yet, while the film begins with such ideas and ambitions ripe for the taking it eventually succumbs to the mystery the film layers in early on that will seemingly intertwine with its thesis, but rather the two never mesh leaving Haythe's final draft one we wished he'd revised just a few more times given he might have then had his hands on a masterpiece in several genres and not just a satisfactory psychological thriller.

Director and writer Gore Verbinski ("Pirates of the Caribbean") created a haunting, beautifully shot film in "A Cure for Wellness." A psychological horror film, it draws you in from the very first image and then traps you for the remainder of the 2 hour 26 minute run time. Fans of the Batman: Arkham games will find a lot to enjoy about this film as it breeds a similar feeling of terror set amidst a mystery explored in a nightmarish background. The acting in this film is decent, with Dane DeHaan treading a fine line between hard-to-like Wall Street fraud and terror-struck protagonist; the plot is a little predictable, but the overall feel created is worth staying around for the entire film...as if you have a choice. Muahahaha. What this release could have used was more extras. Yes, there are some: a few very short deleted scenes, a vignette about the musical score, and some appropriately creepy meditation shorts. But there is so much more they could have included. A documentary on the shooting locations would have been ideal. The number of articles out there talking about just that aspect of the film is a pretty decent indication of how important a role the settings play in the film. It definitely feels like a huge missed opportunity for an informative, worthwhile extra.

Kudos to Fox for putting a ton of money into this completely bizarre, non-mainstream horror movie. It's absolutely beautiful to look at and is filled with nightmarish imagery. It blows my mind this was a studio film in 2017. Don't let the run time scare you off; I found myself wrapped up in the story and before I knew it over two hours had gone by. Its box office performance tells me we're not going to see one like this again for a long time, and that's a shame.

I found this movie to be good, odd, and little bit too long. Nonetheless, it has an interesting cast of strange characters who populate the castle. The movie is a gothic, a mystery, a suspense, and a horror film. The scary portions of the film, whether by drowning, burning, parasitism, or being in the dark will keep you on the edge of your seat. The Special Features are weak and offer little in the making of the film.

Valerian goes to Shutter Island and gets sent back in time to Shape of Water. Weird and beautiful is the most accurate description of this. The set pieces could not be more perfect and helps make up for the non-attractive plot structure. Must admit I am leaving confused, but maybe I am unwell and need to spend another treatment looking for the cure. Recommended. Is it just me or does Mia Goth look exactly like the girl from Au Hasard Balthazar?

Before buying this I read just about every review on this film on Vudu before listening to my gut and purchasing it. Yes the last 15 mins are a little loopy but that's ok I was expecting it and overall I enjoyed it. It was like a less captivating Shutter Island

This is a deeply weird movie and not going to be something for everyone. It's not the sort of thing I'd recommend buying without watching first. While it's not always good, it's pretty consistently fascinating and the look of the movie is terrific. If only it had gotten a 4K release...