Movies, movies, movies. I’m addicted and the only way I can keep sane is having a daily dose. I start getting the shakes if I don’t get my fix…
Here’s what I’ve seen recently…
“None of my films are monster movies…It’s your own body that’s the monster.” – David Cronenberg
Videodrome
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: James Woods, Deborah Harry
Year Made: 1983
Way in Which the Movie Entered My Brain: Criterion Blu-ray I purchased; seen on August 22, 2011.
First Time?: No. Second time.
What I Thought: The work of David Cronenberg interests me to no end. Scanners, The Dead Zone, A History of Violence, The Fly; they all explore something deep and dark within the human mind and body. Cronenberg is obsessed with the body and what it can do, physically and mentally. His obsession comes into play in Videodrome.
Now, if you want me to explain what Videodrome is, I’ll have to explain what Videodrome is. Videodrome is a television program that James Woods’ TV station president/programmer Max Renn stumbles upon. In his search for something “tough”, he becomes obsessed with this TV show wherein people are tortured and violated in room made of clay (did I mention this movie is f’d up?).
He begins to find out that Videodrome is something much more than just a violent showcase for sadism and masochism. We then start to see some very disturbing and insane imagery from Renn’s point of view.
The script by Cronenberg is rightfully insane, and the fact that it’s onscreen is a huge accomplishment in cinema. Helping out is Rick Baker , who does some incredible, yet a little dated, effects work here. From sickening, oozing orifices appearing in Renn’s stomach to a man being bloodily ripped apart by tumors; it’s some disturbing stuff.
James Woods is just the type of anti-hero for this movie. He has that natural sliminess that goes hand in hand with the depravity of the S&M themes and gruesome imagery on screen.
One surprising thing about the cast is the central female lead, Deborah Harry. She sinks in to the dark world just fine, as her dangerous eroticism drives the film.
In the final act, Videodrome becomes a chaotic mess. I think there’s some greater message to the movie, one that Cronenberg subtly hints at in the end. Unfortunately, the ambiguity doesn’t intrigue me enough as it should.
Double Feature Companion: Cronenberg’s The Fly is another classic, well-crafted “body horror” thriller.
Rating: Videodrome enters the mind violently like Videodrome itself. Damned if it doesn’t makes 100% complete sense, though. 3 out of 4
One More Thing: The Criterion Blu-ray is something quite phenomenal. I love the bonus feature that has Cronenberg, John Landis, and John Carpenter (who, at the time of the interview, was just about to release his classic movie The Thing to an unsuspecting movie going audience) talking about horror movies and movies in general.
