Cronenberg on Cronenberg - 2013 Interview

Canadian director and favorite of mine, David Cronenberg speaks here in footage on 3sat (a public, advertising-free, television network in Central Europe that broadcasts in German) from 2013. He recounts his life and his progress as a film maker in a great interview that is both extensive in scope but very laid back in questioning, with much time allowed for him to expand on his answers.  

Crimes of the Future (1970) - early David Cronenberg

Crimes of the Future is a David Cronenberg short from 1970. It involves some sort of medical institute or clinic in an odd, uneasy dreamlike world were all the women are dead and a skin disease has ravaged the population; who behave in a less than rational manner. This "creative cancer"/body revolt and evolution is another theme Cronenberg would return to often throughout his later films. The soundtrack is a highlight with bursts of low key yet abrasive, dissonant noise compromising the bulk. Non linear and also perhaps too slow moving for some viewers, this is a curious glimpse into Cronenberg's creative chrysalis of themes and visuals.

Stereo (1969) early David Cronenberg

From David Cronenberg, this skillfully created short from 1969 involves a group of subjects at "the Institute" who receive experimental brain surgery in order to create heightened powers of telepathy or extra sensory perception, are encouraged to also include sexual exploration and the results. Similar themes of medically induced negative side effects would continue and are found in many of his later works such as Shivers, Rabid, The Brood or Scanners.

In Praise of David Cronenberg's Shivers (1975)

In 1975, David Cronenberg's first feature film Shivers (aka They Came From Within or The Parasite Murders) made it's way into unsuspecting cinemas. With a shooting title of Orgy of the Blood Parasites, filming took place over a brisk 15 days. This mix of horror on both a cerebral and visceral level upset more than a few vocal opponents who were angry Canadian government financial assistance had been involved with the production. Some of this was offset by the fact that the film proved to be a more than respectable worldwide success and made a large profit.

The setting for the entire film is a very J.G. Ballard-esque ultra contemporary high rise apartment situated on a small island. We soon discover that within this seemingly perfect new world of multiple modern conveniences, all is not right. The juxtaposition between the ordinary and the horrifying steadily builds towards a frenzy of paranoid and bloody chaotic action. Recommended.



the trailer


segment from the program, "On Screen!" featuring
David Cronenberg's first full length feature Shivers


David Cronenberg speaks about Shivers

In Praise of David Cronenberg's Videodrome (1983)

For my tastes Videodrome stands out as one of the more memorable films of 1983 and a personal favorite among the works of David Cronenberg. A further extension of Cronenbergs "body horror" anti-aesthetic narrative, Videodrome melds its transgressive storyline with a suitably manic James Wood performance in concert with then cutting edge special effects from ace Rick Baker.

Curious that Cronenberg includes a character he modeled after fellow Canadian Marshall McLuhan. In the world of Videodrome, as in McLuhan's oft quoted line regarding communication theory the medium is the message.


Collected below: a trailer for the film, Cronenberg briefly addressing a 2009 showing and also a deleted scene that may peek too far behind the curtain and explain a little too much of Videodrome's mystique and background.









David Cronenberg Introduces Videodrome
Toronto - 22 October 2009



spoiler alert
deleted scene: image accumulator

David Cronenberg – Long Live the New Flesh (1986) documentary

David Cronenberg talks about his first film SHIVERS.



David Cronenberg and the cinema of the extreme – BBC documentary (Part 1 of 4)



(Part 2 of 4)



(Part 3 of 4)



(Part 4 of 4)