Videodrome (1983)

Running Time: 1hr 27min

Release Date: Feb 4, 1983

Written/Directed by: David Cronenberg

Review by: Stacey

"Long Live The New Flesh!"

There's probably a lot to unpack about Cronenberg's eerily prophetic sci-fi-ish horror flick, Videodrome, when it comes to society and mass media but honestly I feel like I wouldn't be saying anything that hasn't already been waxed over by other sources.  I can, however, attest to the fact that Cronenberg was definitely on to something (whether he thought his ideas would ever actually come to fruition or not) with mass media/technology/reality tv becoming something that almost rules our lives these days.

Max Renn (James Woods) is the president of a tv station that airs mostly softcore porn and violent programming.  In an attempt to bring in a new audience, Max discovers Videodrome, a show that seems to show nothing but extreme violence and torture.  After ordering the show to be aired on his station, his girlfriend Nicki (Debbie Harry), becomes fascinated by the program and leaves to audition for it but never returns.  Max begins to investigate the program and discovers there's some shady and sinister dealings behind it all.

In typical Cronenberg style of that time (I wanna say somewhere between '75-'86), Videodrome didn't shy from the absurd and grotesque (especially not when special makeup effects master Rick Baker is involved).  There's a stomach vagina that acts as a VCR, tvs exploding with gore and guts, weird...fleshy stuff.  I could appreciate the fact that there was a social commentary behind the deranged nature of the movie, as well.

Cast wise, clearly James Woods was the star of it all.  We were right alongside him the whole time when it came to not knowing exactly what was real and what was a hallucination as the movie progressed.  Once he accepted the events that were unfolding, that's when he ran it on home up until the final scenes.  Of course Debbie Harry was a fun addition as the girlfriend/sexual masochist who falls right into Videodrome's trap.  All the other supporting characters did just fine without ever rising above Woods.

I feel like an ass for leaving this one so short and not really explaining much, but that's mostly because this one isn't an easy one to explain in words alone.  I'd much prefer if y'all went and watched it in it's weird glory on your own.

Videodrome will definitely leave you feeling uneasy as the credits roll and seriously contemplating just how much mass media has a control on us, especially with how relevant it seems today.  It was ahead of its time and is now regarded a cult classic among a ton of folks in the horror community (for good reason), which seems reason enough to watch it!

4/5

Check out the trailer!