The nature of the Videodrome is as Max refers to it as, "It's just murder and torture. No plot. No characters."  It is the cutting edge, no pun intended, of cable TV for Max as it is rougher and more brutal than anything else that he has seen.  Max tapes the show and becomes fixated with the pirated shows.  This also begins to affect Max’s social life as he meets Nicki (Deborah Harry) with whom he initiates a sadistic romance.  Max begins to track the source down for Videodrome, which initially seems to be sent from Malaysia.  However, further investigation leads Max to Pittsburgh, and he realizes that it is connected with a nightmarish cult.

David Cronenberg creates a terrifying atmosphere where reality and delusions begin to blend.  This shadow land draws the audience into a paranoid cinematic experience where the threat is located directly in front of them, the television.  The exceptional special effects are a big part of creating the bizarre atmosphere, which are startling with the breathing video tapes, open stomachs, and a sensually moving television.  Videodrome carries Cronenberg’s distinctive insignia as it is unique, disturbing, and groundbreaking.  As usual with Cronenberg, his films always create room for cerebral participation and reflection as there are always several messages, which can be seen in other films by Cronenberg such as Spider and Naked Lunch.  When Videodrome's end credits roll over the screen the audience will have experienced a truly unique film, which will cause much room for debate and pondering.

DIRECTED BY

David Cronenberg

COUNTRY

Canada / USA

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