"Do you know what the cure for the human condition is? Disease. Because that's the only way one could hope for a cure."
-Dr Volmer
Since the dawn of civilization and the practice of quarantining the sick and unstable, there has been a very real fear of going mad. Not just losing your sanity, but a fear of being locked away against your will for God knows how long. We all trust medical professionals to do their job and make us better people, but what if those that wield that power saw fit to use their patients as lab rats instead?
Isolated retreats, a tragic history, centuries old secrets, and a muted color pallet. These are just some of the key ingredients in Gore Verbinski's psychological thriller A Cure for Wellness. The film starts with the board of directors of a major financial company reading a hand written letter from their CEO, sent to them while he is away for a health retreat at a resort in the Swiss Alps. Fearing their leader has lost his mind, the board immediately sends a young and ambitious man maned Lockhart to the resort to bring him back kicking and screaming. What follows is a tale of madness, isolation, and a plethora of dark secrets.
One thing that was interesting about the film is the fact that it takes place currently, in today's modern age. But the resort is so old fashioned stylistically, it feels like a film from the 50's or 60's and definitely ups the creep factor. There are also some parts that physically pain the viewer to watch. The muted colors also give it an odd feeling of dread. Much like Gore's earlier work on The Ring (2002).
As far as acting is concerned, Jason Isaacs stole the show as Doctor Heinreich Volmer. His portrayal of the man of power is charmingly evil, and is a pleasure to watch throughout the film. One might even describe him as a European Jon Hamm. Mia Goth does a great job at playing Hannah, a mysterious patient at the resort who hides a troubled past. The innocence and terror she exudes is palpable and definitely gives life to the film.
That being said, the main problem with this film is that these themes have been explored before. Even though One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) isn't a horror or thriller, it dives deep into the question of what one has to do in order to survive while surrounded by madness of not only the patients, but the staff itself. A Cure for Wellness's general cinematic feel is also felt in its sister movie Shutter Island (2010). Although Shutter arguably has the better plot, Cure rises to the top when it comes to its haunting atmosphere and tone.
There should have been a little more explanation concerning the eels and the life-giving properties of the aquifer. It's skimmed by in the story, but not thoroughly fleshed out. Although that might be a plot device in which the audience isn't supposed to know the full story, much like Lockhart.
Some scenes could have been cut shorter or removed entirely to save on run time. The scene where Lockhart and Hannah escape to the village below could have been a ten minute sequence and worked just as good. The side story with Lockhart's mother could have been shortened as well. The ballerina figurine was a key plot device, but the crematorium scene just added to the confusion of the casual viewer. If those scenes were trimmed, maybe they could have elaborated more on the inner workings of the resort and its dark history. Also, what were the orderly's motives in all this? There are scenes where you see just how evil they are, but did they have a stake in the end goal? Were they kept in the dark about the director's true mission? If they knew the full extent of the facility, how were they coerced into working along side the director? These are the questions one has to ask in order to come up with good henchmen in a story.
With as many flaws as as it has, A Cure for Wellness does indeed deserve a watch. There are some tense scenes in there akin to watching Natalie Portman rip off her own fingernail in Black Swan (2010). Its atmosphere will keep you on the edge of your seat, and even if you guess the plot and secrets behind the curtain you'll find yourself continuing to watch just to satisfy your curiosity.
The ending is fitting, and leaves one with a question regarding sanity. Stephen King once wrote that madness is a flexible bullet. Once fired into the head there's no telling what it will do, or how it will effect the subject at hand.
No matter what happens, the good doctor will always welcome you with one arm outstretched, and the other brandishing a full syringe.
Enjoy your stay.