While staying at an isolated island resort, James and Em are enjoying a perfect vacation of pristine beaches, exceptional staff, and soaking up the sun. But guided by the seductive and mysterious Gabi, they venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism, and untold horror. A tragic accident leaves them facing a zero tolerance policy for crime: either you'll be executed, or, if you’re rich enough to afford it, you can watch yourself die instead.
Acting
Mia Goth's unhinged Gabi is career-defining chaos
Practical Effects
Those masks will haunt your dreams, no CGI needed
Direction
Brandon steps out of dad's shadow with his own nasty vision
Director
Brandon Cronenberg
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Cronenberg shot two versions: an NC-17 cut and the R-rated theatrical. The 'uncut' version adds about five minutes of pure psychological damage.
The film was shot in Croatia during COVID, and the empty resort eerily mirrors the story's artificial paradise — art imitating life imitating death.
CA
