A Cure For Wellness (2017)

Director Gore Verbinski has never been a film maker of great depth. His first film, Mouse Hunt, is a poor man's Tim Burton film, light on meaning and hyped up on visuals. From there he went into making spectacle tent pole films like the Pirates of the Caribbean films and the ill fated Lone Ranger remake. All his films have a signature combo of over the top camera angles and limited literary depth.

His ambitious A Cure For Wellness seemed to be a break in that pattern. Moving on from poor man's Tim Burton to poor man's David Lynch, Verbinski seemed to be reaching for new heights (or depths) with his creepy, stylized thriller. About half way through the very long running time of Wellness you begin to see that Verbinski is still Verbinski and Wellness, like his other films, is mostly gloss with little substance.

There are hints are interesting themes throughout, the suggestion of dream imagery is bread crumbed throughout the first act, preparing us, or anyone who has seen a Shyamalan movie, to not trust what it is we are seeing. But Verbinski pulls back. This isn't Shutter Island, there isn't a twist on that level. The twist that does come is telegraphed fairly obviously along the way and ends up being an explanation more than a surprise. Wellness remains completely straight forward in its narrative structure. The story plays out quite literally. And the exploration of its theme (dissatisfaction with modernity) is mostly surface level only.  It appears Verbinski hasn't been holding in his masterpiece while churning out Hollywood blockbusters, he's just a good fit for straight up light entertainment after all.

Does this mean I didn't enjoy A Cure for Wellness? Not at all. What Verbinski does well is on display here. His visual construction of his story is fascinating even if the story ends up being second rate. The gothic horror pastiche is engrossing and he manages a few chills. I actually found the most chilling moments to be the claustrophobic suggestions more than the fascination with eels and worms the film has. The film may never quite find a disturbing groove but it approximates it enough to be enjoyable

Despite the film's long running time and light story I wasn't bored. I enjoyed the ride for what it was. There may have been a few moments where Verbinski seems to be drawing out moments (like walking down a hall) but it always felt consistent with the genre's vibe and was forgivable. I don't think Wellness fails so much as just doesn't deliver on what I had hoped it would be. If I accept it for what it is, I find I can enjoy it.

And lead Dane DeHaan is perfect here. He is an actor who, after his strong debut in Chronicle, hasn't found roles worthy of his talents. He is on showcase here and watching his performance is worth the ticket price. 

So the biggest let down of A Cure For Wellness is the fact it doesn't deliver on the promise which was imposed on it. It isn't the movie it's being sold as. For what it is, a mildly creepy thriller and tribute to a lost genre, it works. Something to puzzle over it is not.

A Cure For Wellness
Starring: Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs, Mia Goth
Writer/Director: Gore Verbinski