A Cure for Wellness
Performance & Direction: A Cure for Wellness Review
Last updated: February 20, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is A Cure for Wellness (2017) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Horror.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and A Cure for Wellness features a noteworthy lineup led by Dane DeHaan . Supported by the likes of Jason Isaacs and Mia Goth , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: A Cure for Wellness
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2017, A Cure for Wellness is a Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction film directed by Gore Verbinski. The narrative crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Dane DeHaan.
Story Breakdown
The horror unfolds through carefully crafted atmosphere and escalating dread. An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company's CEO from an idyllic but mysterious "wellness center" at a remote location in the Swiss Alps but soon suspects that the spa's miraculous treatments are not what they seem. Director Gore Verbinski uses both psychological terror and visceral scares, building tension through what's unseen as much as what's shown. The pacing allows for breathing room between scares, making each frightening moment more effective.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: An unsettling prologue sets the ominous tone, hinting at the terror to come while establishing the rules of this world.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Dane DeHaan's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The final act escalates the terror to its peak, forcing characters to confront the source of horror directly.
Ending Explained: A Cure for Wellness
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Gore Verbinski, A Cure for Wellness concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to horror resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes involving Dane DeHaan, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the horror themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of A Cure for Wellness reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch A Cure for Wellness?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Horror films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Dane DeHaan or the director
- Want a few scares and creepy atmosphere
Box Office Collection: A Cure for Wellness
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $40.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $26.6M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
A Cure for Wellness Budget
The estimated production budget for A Cure for Wellness is $40.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: A Cure for Wellness
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Where to Watch A Cure for Wellness Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Netflix
JioHotstarA Cure for Wellness Parents Guide & Age Rating
2017 AdvisoryWondering about A Cure for Wellness age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of A Cure for Wellness is 146 minutes (2h 26m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.4/10, and global performance metrics, A Cure for Wellness is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2017 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Cure for Wellness worth watching?
A Cure for Wellness is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Horror movies. It has a verified rating of 6.4/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find A Cure for Wellness parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for A Cure for Wellness identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of A Cure for Wellness?
The total duration of A Cure for Wellness is 146 minutes, which is approximately 2h 26m long.
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Critic Reviews for A Cure for Wellness
The movie did a great job with atmosphere and mood for sure but the hollow plot devices, shaky motives, nonsensical 'science' and the burden set upon me to suspend disbelief against all odds makes it one that I cannot recommend. It is unfortunate that they did not have a more experienced or capable writer to consult before moving ahead. I think the right person may have been able to untangle this knot of a script. All other elements were well done and I could feel the tension and sense of isolation grow throughout the film. They did so much right that it is a terrible shame that, ultimately, it went so wrong.
My goodness! Two and a half hours of absolute drivel. The worst movie I have seen in a long time. The list of things that are wrong with this movie are almost too many to list. First the good: the makers of this movie have obviously paid a lot of attention and have gone to a lot of trouble in the design of the movie. The location and the settings are stunning. The 'spa' where the story takes place is suitably unsettling and creepy. The music also is a highlight. That's where the good ends, unfortunately. The plot of this movie is an absolute mess. It seems the producers weren't sure what they were going for: Gothic horror? Dark and quirky? Straight out frightening? As a result, the finished product is none of these things. The movie swings from one improbable scenario to another. New plot elements are introduced with no relation to what has gone before. Several times the movie arrives at what seems to be a conclusion before picking itself up, introducing a hitherto unreferenced, unrelated, unnecessary and unlikely plot 'twist' and then lurching on its demented way. It's almost as if the makers finished the movie and then someone thought of something else to include - often borrowed from another, better movie - and they tacked it on the end. The movie seems interminable. Its two and a half hour run time could have been shortened by an hour and resulted in a somewhat enjoyable story. It also doesn't help that the denouement is pretty obvious quite early in the piece or that certain of the plot elements are not really explained properly or that none of the characters are likeable or worthy of the viewer's sympathy or that most of the tension is provided by the music, not by the story or acting. In short, if you're looking for a good evening's entertainment look elsewhere. This ain't it.
_A Cure for Wellness_ is most certainly not going to be for everyone. It's spectacularly, deliberately, uncomfortably ugly (albeit, in a bizarrely beautiful way). It's story is flawed, it's long (two and a half hours all told), it's slow, some of its setups don't evolve into payoffs, it's not half as mysterious or clever as it might think it is, and it can't even hold to its own mythology 100%. But I loved it. _Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._
**The mysteries behind a misty mountain fortress!** Seems the films of this director won't survive without Johnny Depp in the lead. Just one good film would change that conception. Is this the one! No, but was very close. After seeing the film I thought it could be based on the novel, but isn't. The writers must be good to create such atmosphere, outside the novel. I was very impressed with the film, though the screenplay lagged the pace. And a few things need to be explained where the narration failed to do so, keeping in mind the average intelligent people. Other than that it is a decent mystery-drama associated with fantasy and sci-fi. Due to a financial crisis in the firm, a young New Yorker goes to the Swiss Alps looking for his boss. At first he struggles to make a contact with him as the staffers are not friendly. After an unexpected incident, he has to stay a bit longer. In those periods, he comes to realise there's something wrong with the place, hence decides to uncover. Does he really do it! His struggles in the attempt and everything else were told in the remaining part. Somewhat it reminded me 'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer'. Not until you finish watching it or figure it out the puzzle. Then the BG score was too cliché for such concept, but nothing can be replaced it. The film had a good opening. Even the mid part. But dragged in the latter section. The overall length of the film was another drawback for the narration. There were no empty scenes, everything's were filled with something, but the end twist was not as phenomenal as promised in the earlier developments. Especially if you had seen a handful of similar masterpieces. It was kind of an old concept, like the pre 80s or something. Yet acceptable at present for being rare. Thus, it depends how well it was made. An above average film, but for those who haven't seen many films in their lives, this will be a great one. _6/10_
First of all, it's not for everyone. It might seem repetitive, too long or stupid at times. However, it's worth a shot merely because of it's visuals and the constant intrigue whether the protagonist is to believed or not. The so-called 'plot holes' in the movie are open to interpretation and thought and never bothered me. The ending could have been cut short, but it's a reminder that perhaps there are no good guys here. Seems to be a product of another era, perhaps too ambitious for its own good.
I got sucked into this movie and i liked it. It was different. I started this movie cause i couldnt find the remote so i watched this and it was good. Even had Lizard ppl. I'll give it a 7 out of 10.
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