Quantcast
CultureMass
  • Home
  • Impact
  • Are You Entertained?
  • Life Unfiltered
  • Opinion
  • Best Of the Net
No Result
View All Result
CultureMass

A Cure For Wellness is one of those films that trickles into your brain

On the surface, it’s a psychological thriller about a young man who is tasked with finding a work associate in order to get him to sign a business deal.

Frankie Reed by Frankie Reed
|
June 25, 2018
in Film
A Cure For Wellness is one of those films that trickles into your brain
125
SHARES
267
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A Cure For Wellness is one of those films that trickles into your brain a drop or two at a time until, at the end, you realize you are filled to the brim with the story and that it will be staying with you for a long, long while. It’s mesmerizing, completely absorbing, yet utterly disturbing. You can’t look away. And you don’t really want to.

On the surface, it’s a psychological thriller about a young man who is tasked with finding a work associate in order to get him to sign a business deal. Under the surface, however, it’s a fable, part gothic horror and part Greek myth, about extreme opposites, purity, and the search for a cure.

The tale begins with materialistic businessmen in a large city, intent on filling their pockets with money by any means necessary. Extreme measures are taken to ensure that they will continue to do so, no matter who gets in the way. In another part of the world, a spa for the wealthy advertises water so pure it can cure whatever ails you. It is a pristine, silent place, cut off from the rest of the world.

When Lockhart, the young man (played by Dane Dehaan), arrives at the spa, he is offered some of the water, which reminded me of several fairytales in which it is unwise to eat or drink anything offered you by residents of the other world. The story also reminded me of a common arc in myths, with humans undergoing a journey to the Underworld in order to gain something (wisdom, rescuing a loved one, etc.) — if they are able to make it out alive.

Dane Dehaan

Lockhart’s journey is fraught with dangers, both internal and external, physical, mental, and emotional, driven from one extreme to the other as he searches for a way out. What he eventually learns is something that enlightened beings have tried telling us for years. There is a middle way, a balance that must be kept if we are to avoid the pitfalls set for us by pursuing extremes.

Of course, learning how to balance is not without repercussions. Most people tend toward extremes and there will always be pushback for those of us who attempt to trod the middle of the road. But A Cure For Wellness also shows the horror of what happens when people run to the extreme in order to solve their problems: we become less human.

People who try to solve all their problems with materialism become greedy monsters who will take what they can from everyone they meet. People who choose to combat their issues with pure science or spirituality remove themselves from the world and become detached and dehumanize those around them, sometimes even using them as fodder for experiments (history and literature bear this out – think of Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or real-life examples like Nazi Germany).

Humanity itself has tried to solve its own problems by going from one extreme to the other since the beginning of time. We are looking for a way to cure ourselves of a supposed sickness. We want to be rid of our impurities. But maybe by doing that we are eradicating what makes us human. A Cure For Wellness asks, what is the cure for wellness? And do we need it?

Tags: A Cure For WellnessDane Dehaan
Previous Post

Catharsis: Watching American Horror Story: Coven, For The Very First Time

Next Post

Which Talk Show Host Has Captured Trump's Voice Best?

Frankie Reed

Frankie Reed

Frankie Reed has been writing about culture and entertainment since 2012. A degree in Communications and diploma in Acting have only furthered Frankie's passion for clear, concise discourse, integrity, and a kind spirit. If you need a safe space in which to tell your story, CultureMass and Frankie are here to listen.

Next Post
Which Talk Show Host Has Captured Trump’s Voice Best?

Which Talk Show Host Has Captured Trump's Voice Best?

Discussion about this post

Recommended.

‘GET OUT’ IS THE WAKE UP CALL AMERICA NEEDED

‘GET OUT’ IS THE WAKE UP CALL AMERICA NEEDED

April 10, 2017

Borat’s Subsequent Moviefilm Showcases Trump’s America

November 2, 2020
ADVERTISEMENT

Trending.

Is the New ‘Mulan’ A Girl Worth Fighting For?

Is the New ‘Mulan’ A Girl Worth Fighting For?

September 11, 2020
Marines Move to Tackle Racial Extremists in the Corps

Marines Move to Tackle Racial Extremists in the Corps

October 1, 2018
Inside Meghan Duggan and Gillian Apps Storybook Love

Inside Meghan Duggan and Gillian Apps Storybook Love

September 27, 2018
Knives Out Kills With Kindness

Knives Out Kills With Kindness

August 20, 2020
Malea Tjandrawidjaja Stole The Show And Our Hearts

Malea Tjandrawidjaja Stole The Show And Our Hearts

September 27, 2018

From Our Partner

CultureMass

We are independent thinkers fueled by the different cultures we encounter and the conversations of the people that inspire us.

CultureMass is part of CultureMass Media, LLC. © 2020 All rights reserved.

AdChoices
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Send us a tip
  • Contact Us
  • AdChoices

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

Newsletter

Enter your email to receive our official newsletter. The newsletter is completely free, we won’t send spam, we won’t share your personal information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Impact
  • Are You Entertained?
  • Life Unfiltered
  • Opinion
  • Best Of the Net

© 2020 CultureMass is part of CultureMass Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

  • Login
  • Register
Lost Your password?
You don't have permission to register
LOGIN