A Cure for Wellness

Visually, this film is a masterpiece and the shots are breathtaking. The castle where most of the movie takes place is a great setting, it's a real place in Germany called Castle Hohenzollern. Every shot is a piece of art, framed and filmed with the utmost respect for the craft. The story is an interesting one, you'll be thinking to yourself for most of the movie, what is the cure for wellness? They do give an answer to it later in the movie. The plot has a man working for a big finance company out to retrieve the CEO of the company from a wellness center in the Swiss Alps. Along the way, he meets some interesting characters and tries to figure out what exactly they're trying to cure up there on the mountain. The only thing I thought the film could have done better was with the twist, it could be seen from a mile away if you were watching the previous part of the movie with even a little bit of concentrated focus. My suggestion: See it! this film is the reason people go to the movies, to be entertained to the extent of leaving a lasting impression.

A Cure for Wellness promised so much. It had an intriguing trailer and an intriguing first half. It promised to go down a similar lane to Shutter Island, where a mystery would be unfurled and explain the mysterious moments sprinkled throughout the film. However, as it becomes more absurd and more mysterious as the movie moves on, there comes a moment when realisation sinks in. Realisaiton that the story was not thought out, and it had come to an absurd turn that explains little, and attempts a feeble attempt at incestuous and immortal depth. Instead, it is a farce, riddled with silliness and questionable motives. Dane DeHaan shows poor talent in A Cure For Wellness and the character could have been more fleshed by any other actor. Jason Isaacs plays a similar role to the villain he is becoming accustomed to in OA, and the Harry Potter Franchise. Whilst he maintains a strong presence, it is becoming an eye-rolling ordeal. Gore Verbinski once made decent films, but he seems to be rolling down-hill with this tragic effort. A Cure for Wellness will leave nothing but a feeling of being cheated and shocked that something could promise so much, and delivery so little.

This film feels like a Black Mirror episode - but one that treads water for almost two and a half hours without ever reaching its main idea. 250% longer, but only a fraction of the satisfaction. I really wanted to immerse myself in its atmosphere and ideas, the idea of a David Lynch/Cronenberg style Shining/Shutter Island film seems great. But the film really tests your patience. The main character is icy and unlikable, the other characters are similarly distant. Stuff happens, a lot of stuff, some of it great looking, but with nothing to tie it together or the any character depth to engage with, it ends up feeling like you're being taken through a film students visual exhibition that doesn't end soon enough. It really doesn't live up to the amazing film that the trailer suggests, a pattern that seems to be more and more common with films these days. Similar to Passengers, I wonder if moments were shot just to make the trailer more powerful in selling the film.

A visual masterpiece that depicts mystery beyond well and rises to glorious fun and adventure with the reveal.

Gore Verbinski has created a visually splendid thriller/horror film, which creates a wonderfully foreboding atmosphere. However, what could have been a great film is marred by a convoluted screenplay that falls to pieces in its final act, and is riddled with plot holes. I waited patiently for all the pieces of the puzzle to fall into place (and with the running time approaching 2 and a half hours, it's quite a wait), yet ultimately I was left somewhat confused and underwhelmed by how it all played out. I still recommend it for the wonderful cinematography and chilling atmosphere. But with some liberal editing and a tighter screenplay we could have had a real classic on our hands. Shame.

watch it

Rrr

A Cure for Wellness-1080P

A Cure for Wellness-720P

A Cure for Wellness-480P