After directing 2002’sThe Ring, Gore Verbinski directed the underappreciated and fascinating 2016 horror movieA Cure For Wellness. Verbinski and Justin Haythe thought of the idea together and Haythe then wrote the script. While it isn’t an adaptation of the 1924 bookThe Magic Mountainby Thomas Mann, the movie does share some themes with that novel.
The main premise ofA Cure For Wellnessis definitely intriguing: Roland Pembroke (Harry Groener) is the CEO of a financial company and he has been spending time at a Swiss Alps wellness center. Lockhart (Dane DeHaan) is supposed to take him back home, but of course, that isn’t what happens. Why is Gore Verbinski’sA Cure For Wellnessso underrated? And what happens at the end of the movie?
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What Is A Cure For Wellness About?
A Cure For Wellnessopens with Lockhart realizing that his task of bringing Pembroke home won’t be easy. When Lockhart tries to escape, he gets into a car accident and wakes up at the wellness center. He realizes that he is still alive, which is the first indication that something is wrong since it was a bad accident. He does have a cast on his leg, though.A Cure For Wellnessis a great example of thepsychological horror movie genreand Lockhart dives deeper into the mystery.
Right away, Gore Verbinski’s movie has an eerie tone. Lockhart is introduced to Hannah Von Reichmerl (Mia Goth) and sees her taking a blue bottle and throwing liquid on herself. Everyone seems to be doing this here, and Lockhart has no idea why. Lockhart realizes why people are at this spa: to drink the “cure” which is supposed to ensure that they live a long time. Thepacing and tension of the horror movieA Cure For Wellnesscouldn’t be better and audiences are engaged right away.
Whether playing a controversial figure like Gabi Bauer inBrandon Croenenberg’sInfinity Poolorstarring in theXprequelPearl,Mia Goth steals whatever movie she is in. She has gravitated toward horror films in recent years and that was a great decision. Goth shows her dramatic range with the role of Hannah inA Cure For Wellness. She is sweet, naive and innocent, and it’s clear that she has been brainwashed to stay at this spa and believe in the cure.
What Other Movies Has Gore Verbinski Directed?
Gore Verbinski has had a long directing career that has included some horror movies and some other types of films. In 1996, he directed the short filmThe Ritualand then the 1997 black comedyMouse Hunt. In 2001, he directed the crime dramaThe Mexicanstarring Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. In 2002, Verbinski directed the popular horror movie The Ring.Samara Morgan’s terrifying powersand appearance are just one reason why the film is still beloved.
The director worked on threePirates of the Caribbeanmovies: 2003’sPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, 2006’sPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chestand 2007’sPirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. He switched genres in 2003 with one of themost well-known Nicolas Cage moviesThe Weather Man. Then, in 2011, he directed the computer-animated comedyRango. And in 2013, he directed the action/Western filmThe Lone Rangerstarring Johnny Depp.
Gore Verbinski has definitely shown his range. It’s fair to say thatThe RingandA Cure For Wellnessare two of his most interesting movies. The former gave horror fans one of the most terrifying villains and the latter gave audiences a lot to think about.
How Does A Cure For Wellness End?
Lockhart learns the harsh, dark truth about Dr. Heinreich Volmer (Jason Isaacs): he is Hannah’s father. This is incredibly disturbing since he has just married her and then assaulted her. Lockhart finds out that Volmer and Hannah have been living a long time due to the cure they took. Volmer and Lockhart battle each other, and Hannah murders Volmer so she can protect Lockhart. Eels in the aquifer eat Volmer when he ends up in there. The ending ofA Cure For Wellnessis as memorable as the final scenes of Gore Verbinski’sThe Ring,which is one of thebest 2000s horror movies.
While Hannah and Lockhart attempt to get on her bike and drive away, the wellness center is lit on fire. When Hannah and Lockhart bump into Lockhart’s staff who are trying to bring him and Pembroke home, Lockhart says Pembroke passed away. Hannah and Lockhart smile as they continue on their bike ride.
The ending ofA Cure For Wellnessproves why it’s athought-provoking psychological horror movie. Lockhart and Hannah bond and want to protect each other, and they are both horrified and sickened by what happens at the spa. The movie may show a darker and more exaggerated version of wellness centers and spas, but the story shows what can happen when people take things too far. It would be impossible to come away fromA Cure For Wellnessthinking that searching for this type of cure is a terrible idea.
