John Ralston
#INTERVIEW: ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD, BRANDON CRONENBERG, AMANDA BRUGEL AND JOHN RALSTON ON “INFINITY POOL”
Following on the critical acclaim of 2020’s POSSESSOR, Toronto Filmmaker Brandon Cronenberg, son of legendary David Cronenberg, follows-up with INFINITY POOL. The Sci-Fi Horror which he writes and directs just premiered at Sundance to warm reception.
Starring Alexander Skarsgård (who also serves as Executive Producer) as James Foster, who ventures to a resort with his partner Em (Cleopatra Coleman). They then discover a culture of brutality, greed and violence. James is seduced by an unhinged woman named Gabi (Mia Goth) and he is faced with a choice to be executed or watch himself die.
We’ve never seen anything like this. You’ve been warned.
A tremendous privilege getting to chat with Cronenberg, Skarsgård, along with Toronto screen veterans Amanda Brugel (The Handmaid’s Tale) and John Ralston (Ginny & Georgia) as the Red Carpet was rolled-out for the shocker’s Toronto Premiere. Our Amanda Gilmore joined them for a chat.
Amanda Brugel describes her character Jennifer for us.
Brugel: “I play Jennifer, I’m one of the people at the resort who takes full advantage of what it’s like to have a lot of money, doing a lot of bad deeds. I go there with my husband a lot. It’s wealthy people behaving badly and privilege without having respect for anyone else. I usually play people who are a little more grounded, more kind or altruistic. I really wanted to go the other direction and get paid to be a jerk.”.
John Ralston, supported at the Premiere by his family, sheds some light on his Dr. Modan.
Ralston: “My character is Dr. Modan. There’s a group of six of us who move through this Film and provide a great foundation for Mia Goth‘s character, who lures Alexander Skarsgård‘s character James Foster into this group and embarks on this wild introduction to this no-holds-barred, hedonistic journey that this group takes him on. This group comes back year after year and when you watch the Movie, you’ll see why.”.
Brandon Cronenberg takes us through his Sundance experience, where he also premiered Possessor.
Cronenberg: “We went to Sundance, nothing weird happened at all, and then we went to Sundance again! It felt really good to be back at a live festival with people again after the Pandemic. I’m a hermit and don’t like being surrounded by people even, but being around people who love films and presenting it to a warm crowd was pretty exciting.”.
Cronenberg is asked about the first thought that inspired INFINITY POOL.
Cronenberg: “The scene early on that’s kinda an execution scene where someone’s been doubled and the double is standing in for them in this execution. Stop here if you don’t want any Spoilers. That was actually the beginning of it. It was actually a short story I was working on, it was that scene where someone was watching themself. The resort and stuff came after as I was developing it.”.
Alexander Skarsgård just made it into Toronto amidst our snowstorm, from New York, landing on the tarmac and onto the Red Carpet at Scotiabank Theatre. He signed-on to star in and produce the Film while he was working on The Northman. This role is what he calls a perfect follow-up after prepping two years for that Film.
Skarsgård tells us about his magical experience at Sundance.
Skarsgård: “It was an experience I’ll never forget. It was 48 crazy hours, non-stop. We did the Midnight Madness screening, which I hadn’t done before, where you screen it at midnight and do a Q&A at 2:30 in the morning. It was the first time I’d watched the Movie on a big screen with an audience. I couldn’t sleep when I got back. The room was vibrating. It was a very memorable experience.”.
He explains what it is about INFINITY POOL that made him want to sign-on also as an Executive Producer.
Skarsgård: “From the moment I read the Script and met with Brandon, I really believed in the project. And I really love Brandon and wanted to do whatever I could to help promote the project and push it. It’s rare to come across such a unique talent like Brandon and a crazy, wild story. Sometimes there’s such a conformity when you read a Script and it’s derivative. This Film’s so crazy, unique and anarchistic in a fun way.”.
Everybody is talking about Mia Goth‘s spellbinding performance as Gabi. Skarsgård has nothing but raves for the star of the X Trilogy.
Skarsgård: “Mia‘s the best. She’s so lovely and sweet, a real dream to work with and obviously supremely-talented. And a perfect Gabi because she has such a sweet, innocent demeanour. And then the character’s so fucked-up – pardon my French – and goes unhinged in such a crazy direction. That’s really, really interesting in this Movie.”.
A Gallery of Snaps:
See our Chat (11-minute version):
6-minute version:
Elevation Pictures release INFINITY POOL January 27, 2023.
Our Review here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Elevation Pictures)
#SPOTTED: DIEGO BONETA, ALEXANDRA DADDARIO, WADE MARCUS-ALLAIN, JUSTIN CHATWIN + MORE IN TORONTO FILMING “DIE IN A GUNFIGHT”
Nearing a wrap, Collin Schiffli-directed DIE IN A GUNFIGHT continues its last few days of filming in Toronto. The Action-Romance Drama starring Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages) and Alexandra Daddario (True Detective) centers on a couple whose fathers are enemies. The Film stars also Travis Fimmel (Vikings) who we spotted last week, John Ralston (Ready or Not), Wade Marcus-Allain (Insecure), Justin Chatwin (Shameless) and Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage).
The Cast were based out of a church on the east-end of Queen Street filming a wedding scene. Braving frigid weather, we spotted some of the Cast who were amazingly nice to stop in the cold for snaps after a long three days at the location. Boneta donned bruises on his face and we need to understand the circumstances leading to that. But we will have to wait and see!
While the New York-set Film has gone through multiple casting considerations, it finally is being made after appearing on The Blacklist, a shortlist of unproduced Screenplays in 2010. The Script is by Gabriel Ferrari and Andrew Barrer.
See our Snaps. Hover right to navigate album:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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