Videodrome
(1983)
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| Directed by: |
David
Cronenberg
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| Starring: |
James
Woods/Max |
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Debbie
Harry/Nicki |
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| RATING
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PLOT-CRUNCH:
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Unscrupulous TV programmer Max (Woods)
loves kinky sex and violence, especially on his TV channel. It sells. He’s
looking for the next big thing, something hard, cruel, something no other
station has. He comes across a show called "Videodrome", a snuff
show where people are raped and killed live. Once exposed to the show, he
begins to have bloody, sexy hallucinations and the fine line between
reality and fantasy is severed. What the hell is going on???
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THE
LOWDOWN: |
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This movie reinforces my theory that Mr. Cronenberg must drop acid now and
then. This movie is an intense trip, filled with "tour the
force" visual effects, cringing sex (the ear scene) and some old
fashion killings. It also has a strong message about television, the place
it holds in our lives, our fascination with violence and our obsession
with sex. Cronenberg is an original (like Lynch or Barker) the way he
interprets our reality, a mix of mechanical and flesh is always
fascinating. This is pre commercial Cronenberg (before The Fly and Dead
Zone) and one engrossing piece of cinema. Pass the fleshy remote…
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| ACTING: |
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James Woods (Max) gives another strong performance and is more contained
than in his recent efforts, he keeps the "junk yard dog" shtick
to a minimal. Debbie Harry (lead singer of that hip 70’s band BLONDIE)
is one sexy girl, with smoldering eyes and plum lips…she doesn’t need
to act.
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| GORE: |
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Loads of it: Pulsing flesh like video tapes, an external combustion
(messy) but my favorite has to be the vagina like opening Woods has on his
belly (people insert video tapes in it) and who can forget the gun scene.
(it becomes his hand) This movie is filled with gooey fun. Hope you have a
strong stomach.
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| T
& A: |
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Debbie Harry’s breasts make an appearance. I know her body is a bit
chunky but god she’s sexy.
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| DIRECTING: |
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Cronenberg keeps it going at a decent pace, the lighting is exquisite and
for a movie filled with so many hallucinatory images it feels very
grounded.
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| SOUNDTRACK: |
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I was too busy trying to figure out what was going on to notice. Sorry
guys.
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| BOTTOM LINE: |
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A twisted, hypnotic, sickening, trippy ride, you will be
gazing at the screen wondering : "How the hell does Cronenberg come
up with this stuff"? If he was dropped on his head as a child I want
to thank whoever did it…cause because of that unfortunate event we are
now blessed with an original, daring and unconventional filmmaker.
Videodrome is definitely a must see for all serious genre film fans. Trust
me, you’ve never seen anything like it.
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| BULL'S EYE: |
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Am I the only one that loved the "Blondie" comeback??? Yes, David
Cronenberg is Canadian and the film was shot in Toronto.
Discuss
this movie on The Arrow's HORROR BOARD
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