Psychological thrillers have always captured audience’s
attentions. Director Alfred Hitchcock was a master in conjuring emotional
terror with films such as ‘Rebecca’, ‘North by Northwest’ and ‘Psycho’.
Those films played on our fears of the unknown and whether a character will
suddenly snap for no reason. Whilst not in Hitchcock’s creative league,
‘A Cure for Wellness’ shares several similarities. It proves a
slow-burning thriller can successfully creep up on you by delivering surprises
until a shocking denouncement.
When ambitious executive Lockhart (Dane DeHaan) is asked to
retrieve his company’s CEO from a ‘wellness centre’, little does he know what
he’s in for. A mysterious place nestled within the Swiss Alps, the
centre’s miracle cures are a source of perplexing questions. Lockhart
aims to find answers by talking to its head Doctor, Volmer (Jason Isaacs).
As he begins to question his own sanity, Lockhart’s life unravels in a place
where the cure is usually worse than the disease.
‘A Cure for Wellness’ is a visually striking film directed
with panache by Gore Verbinski. It’s far from perfect and does suffer
from over-length and huge plot holes. When it works it fires on full
cylinders with Verbinski successfully ensuring tension slowly percolates.
It thematically mirrors the Leonardo DiCaprio film ‘Shutter Island’, although
‘A Cure for Wellness’ takes time to delve into its many mysteries.
Although the run-time could have been trimmed, it allows for characters to make
their mark.
The script allows you to decipher its many riddles without
treating you like a child. Not many commercial minded films are like that
now, with ‘A Cure for Wellness’ an enjoyable puzzle to solve. It’s easy
following the clues due to the smart direction and DeHaan’s and Isaacs’ solid
performance. Isaac especially delivers a character of steely menace suitably
conveying the films’ gothic horror trappings. It almost plays like an old
Hammer Horror movie with a multitude of delicious twists and gaudy scenery.
Whilst the plot does deviate from the central theme
occasionally and is a little long, ‘A Cure for Wellness’ makes a refreshing change
from the usual blockbusters. It goes for spooky elements with gusto and the
visuals sure to chill the atmosphere long after the final reel.
Movie Review Rating out of 10: 7
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
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