Released in 2017, somewhere between The Shining and Shutter Island, this thrilling fantasy film has been unfairly shunned by the public: A Cure For Life. Directed by Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski, the film was a dismal failure at the box office, grossing only $26 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $40 million.
However, the feature film definitely deserves to be rediscovered on Netflix, if only for its oppressive atmosphere, fairy-tale setting, labyrinthine plot, and cast. Dane DeHaan, who we haven’t seen much of lately, gives a haunting performance that’s particularly reminiscent of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in Shutter Island.
In this Martin Scorsese film, the actor also finds himself locked up in a wretched mental hospital as Dane DeHaan, with whom he also bears a rather striking resemblance.
A dark story
The young man plays Lockhart, an ambitious young executive; The latter is on the trail of a missing boss in a mysterious Swiss wellness center. Trapped by the institute and its mysterious medical staff, he gradually discovers the sinister nature of the care offered to patients.
When he is diagnosed with the same illness that afflicts all the residents, Lockhart has no choice but to turn to the strange treatment provided by the center… a cure. With an atmosphere that shines between The Shining and Shutter Island, A Cure For Life is a great fantasy film that will turn your brain!
Along with Dane DeHaan, we meet Mia Gott as the mysterious patient, Hannah. Jason Isaacs is also extremely disturbing in his Dr. Vollmer costume. Note that the film was partially shot in Germany at Hohenzollern Castle, about 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart.
For this occasion, the institution closed its doors to the public. Knowing that this place attracts almost 300,000 visitors every year, it was not easy for the director to requisition it for ten days to film. However, for a spooky and gloomy atmosphere, this place was perfect!
Dane DeHaan, the face of DiCaprio
into oblivion
14 years after making the horror thriller The Circle, Gore Verbinski returns to the genre with A Cure For Life. In the meantime, the filmmaker filmed the first 3 opus of the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, Rango and finally The Lone Ranger. Unfortunately, after the resounding flop of A Cure For Life, he disappeared for almost 10 years and the work was unfairly forgotten.
Gore Verbinski will be back soon with a sci-fi project, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die. The story tells about a man from the future in a restaurant in Los Angeles. His mission is to recruit a specific group of disgruntled users to save the world from the threat of an artificial intelligence that has gone rogue. This is intriguing!
Sam Rockwell and Juno Temple are there, but there is no release date for France at this time. It will be released in US theaters on January 30, 2026.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
