Disturbing Horror With Shutter Island Is The Most Underrated Mia Goth Movie
A look at an earlier Mia Goth performance that paved her way into the horror genre. This psychological thriller is a must-watch for anyone who loves their scares with a good story.
We bet you can recognize Mia Goth from her brilliant performance in Ti West's X horror trilogy, where she's delivered some of the most memorable and unsettling acting in recent genre history.
Yet before she became the face of this A24's slasher, Goth made her horror debut in a severely underappreciated nightmare that deserves far more recognition than it received.
Today, we're hoping to shine some light on this forgotten gem.
A Cure for Wellness: The Gothic Thriller You Missed
Gore Verbinski (THE man behind The Ring) takes his viewers to a secluded wellness center nestled in the Swiss Alps. The film follows Lockhart (Dane DeHaan), a young executive dispatched to retrieve his company's CEO from this seemingly perfect place.
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This straightforward assignment quickly transforms into a nightmare as Lockhart discovers the spa's “treatments” hide some sinister secrets.
Mia Goth plays Hannah, a mysterious patient, who immediately catches Lockhart's eye. At first Lockhart sees Hannah as a beautiful woman that she is, but as things begin to unfold, he views her as salvation and hope.
The atmosphere feels clinically cold and dreamlike, thanks to the great cinematography of Bojan Bazelli.
“I'll never forget the train shot (5) in the trailer just blowing me away,” Redditor DonnieDarkoRabbit wrote.
The movie is visually stunning and drenched in a gothic atmosphere (pun intended).
This Underrated Horror Deserves Your Immediate Attention
That's why it's genuinely baffling that A Cure for Wellness holds just a 42% score on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences. The criminally low rating fails to recognize the film's breathtaking cinematography, immersive atmosphere, and genuinely original storyline. The latter is becoming rarer every day now.
Verbinski delivered a bold, original horror vision that dares to be different. It's such a shame that it's hidden behind low ratings.
And we're not alone in recognizing the film's brilliance. Some viewers even have noted its connection to Martin Scorsese 's Shutter Island. As Redditor No-Cardiologist-7636 pointed out:
“The film reminded me of “Shutter Island” from the start. The main character "Lockhart" had amazing similarities to di Caprio in the role. in the end scene I just thought… is this the birth of Joker and Harlequin in another DC universe? Great film that really makes you think.”
And we can see it. Both films blend psychological horror with unreliable narration and create an atmosphere where viewers question what's real until the shocking final moments.
A Cure for Wellness is currently available to stream on Fandango at Home, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV+. Dim the lights and prepare for a visually stunning and deeply unsettling journey into the Swiss Alps.