Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård Talk Brandon Cronenberg's 'Infinity Pool'
Moviefone speaks with Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård about 'Infinity Pool.' "The entire experience was just incredibly fulfilling," Goth said.
Opening in theaters on January 27th is the thriller ‘Infinity Pool’ from writer and director Brandon Cronenberg (‘Antiviral’), the son of acclaimed filmmaker David Cronenberg (‘Crimes of the Future’).
The new film stars Alexander Skarsgård (‘The Northman’) and Cleopatra Coleman (‘Dopesick’) as James and Em Foster, a couple enjoying a vacation at a tropical resort. They soon meet the mysterious Gabi (‘Pearl’s Mia Goth) and Alban (‘Tell No One’s Jalil Lespert), who invite them to leave the resort, which is forbidden by the local government.
When a tragic accident leaves them facing a zero tolerance policy for the crime, they discover an expensive loophole that allows them to live as long as they are first cloned, and then watch their clone's execution, which leads James down a path of violence, hedonism and untold horror.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth about their work on ‘Infinity Pool,’ their first reaction to the screenplay, their approach to playing their challenging characters, and working with writer/director Brandon Cronenberg.
(L to R) Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth star in Brandon Cronenberg's 'Infinity Pool.'
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Skarsgård and Goth about ‘Infinity Pool.’
Moviefone: To begin with, Alexander, what was your first reaction to Brandon's screenplay?
Alexander Skarsgård: My first reaction was, "A movie called ‘Infinity Pool’ set at a resort? Yes, I'll do it." Because I read it when I was about five months into ‘The Northman,’ and I was very wet, very cold and bruised on a windy, rainy mountaintop in Ireland. So it sounded like a great idea.
Then when I started reading the script, I was just mesmerized and hooked because it's so out there. It was so wild, and it was so refreshing to read something so unique. I had seen ‘Antiviral’ and ‘Possessor,’ so I was a big fan of Brandon's work. So this was a very exciting opportunity.
MF: What was your approach to playing this character and was it challenging getting inside James’ head?
AS: I wouldn't say challenging, but it was part of the reason I was so attracted to the character, that his journey is extraordinary. To be a character who's confronted with his own mortality, and in this case, literally face-to-face with his own death. He has to watch his clone get executed, and to psychologically try to understand that, what does that do to a human being, and what does that evoke and trigger in James was really exciting.
Alexander Skarsgård as James Foster in Brandon Cronenberg's 'Infinity Pool.'
MF: Mia, can you talk about your approach to playing your character, and why Gabi chooses James? What does she see in him that she's attracted to?
Mia Goth: My approach to the character, it's a process. The prep that's involved, and looking within yourself and turning certain things up and turning other things down, because it's all really you at the end of the day. You have to find the character within yourself, I think, to make it as honest as possible. So that all comes with the prep.
I think when she's at the resort and she meets James, this is something that she's been doing for a very long time, and James is just the latest victim of hers. Actually, I think he's probably one of the easier victims that she's had in her experience. I think she just sees a very insecure man who clearly has issues with his wife, and there's an easy opening there for her to lure him in.
MF: Finally, what was it like working with Brandon Cronenberg, and was there one scene in particular that was really challenging where he gave you some direction that really helped you with that scene?
MG: I've been a fan of Brandon's for a long time. Likewise, I've seen ‘Antiviral’ and ‘Possessor,’ and I was a big fan of his work. So I was very excited to be working with him. I found Brandon gave me a lot of space actually on set, and I really like that kind of direction actually, where there are parameters, but it's pretty wide open. He really just lets you play and discover the character as you like.
I find the directors who micromanage you in such a way, and want you to hit the line at that point and then look in the light when you say that line, it actually just tenses me up. It was just a wonderful experience working with him. I couldn't pinpoint one direction that Brandon gave me. The entire experience was just incredibly fulfilling.
Mia Goth as Gabi in Brandon Cronenberg's 'Infinity Pool.'
Infinity Pool
