F.A.N. Movie Club: Videodrome (1983)

[nocomments87]

Videodrome

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Written by: David Cronenberg

Music by: Howard Shore

Starring:
James Woods as Max Renn
Debbie Harry as Nikki Brand
Sonja Smits as Bianca O'Blivion
Peter Dvorsky as Harlan
Les Carlson as Barry Convex
Jack Creley as Brian O'Blivion

This is the 30th anniversary of one of the strangest horror movies ever made (well...actually February 4th, but close enough ). There's not a whole lot that can be said about the movie...it's something that needs to be watched and experienced for the first timers. Videodrome bombed in the box office, but home video sales helped make it a cult classic. But, it wasn't quite that way when it initially came out in 1983. In fact, you can see that for yourself:

www.criterion.com/current/posts/2193-notes-from-a-videodrome-test-screening

As if you need just three reasons...but I'll do what Criterion didn't get to do (as they started their "three reasons" videos in 2011, a bit after the Blu-ray release of Videodrome was released):

1. Easily one of David Cronenberg's finest hours...and that's saying a lot, since Cronenberg's work is consistently good. Probably a tie between Videodrome, and Scanners, as far as my favorites by David Cronenberg.

2. The social commentary in the film made some interesting predictions on the world of media...30 years later, we're actually seeing some of these predictions come through, but not in the analog world, but rather, the digital world. One example of this is viral videos. "Videodrome" (the broadcast within the movie) spreads like a virus...pirated from another station, people watch it, they become part of a club...they spread this knowledge to other people, and they become hooked.

3. It is quite unlike anything Hollywood has released. There's so much going on in the 87 minutes the movie lasts (89 on the unrated cut)...yet, at the same time, the story is easy enough to follow. The special effects were enough to make people's stomachs turn. Perhaps people weren't ready for Videodrome at the time...reviews were poor at the time, and they've turned around since then.

Universal plans on doing a remake (to the surprise of no one), but who knows...if they can twist it around and make it about the internet and digital television, they could possibly have a good story for this generation. That, however, might be asking for too much from Hollywood...so we'll just wait and see what happens. For now, we have this great classic to watch.

I don't think you'll have much trouble finding this movie. Search on YouTube...you'll find the full movie there. On DVD, Universal released the theatrical cut in 1998, and The Criterion Collection released the unrated cut in 2004. In 2010, Criterion also released the unrated cut on Blu-ray.

For those who have seen the movie, what do you think of it?

For those who haven't seen it...you're in for quite the experience!

Long live the new flesh!

[bob]

I never heard of Videodrome. I look forward to watching it.

[spec]

Interesting movie, very McLuhan-esque as media becomes a literal extension of the self.

[bob]

I'm having some trouble finding this movie

[The Line]

$3 to view it on Amazon. A couple people have it up in it's entirety on YT, but I am assuming not legally.

[bob]

Well that was incredibly strange. Not only that, I found it thoroughly intriguing and fascinating.

[DSR]

Saw this not too long ago on OnDemand. Solid flick. Very weird, enjoyable. Not sure what else to say.

[Bishblast]

When I first saw it, I loved it... then I watched it again a few years later and wasn't as impressed with it... watched it again recently, and I love it again.

Yeah, this is one hell of a movie, even if I can't make my mind up on it.


By the way, if you dig this movie, have a Blu Ray player, and 30-40 bucks laying around, Criterion has a Blu Ray of this that is absolutely stellar.

[nocomments87]

Jan 9, 2013 23:16:23 GMT -5 Bishblast said:

When I first saw it, I loved it... then I watched it again a few years later and wasn't as impressed with it... watched it again recently, and I love it again.

Yeah, this is one hell of a movie, even if I can't make my mind up on it.


By the way, if you dig this movie, have a Blu Ray player, and 30-40 bucks laying around, Criterion has a Blu Ray of this that is absolutely stellar.

I second this recommendation...although I paid $17.99 for mine during one of Amazon's Criterion sales. So it's best to wait for either Amazon to do a Criterion sale (they do at least 2 a year), or Barnes and Noble when they do their 50% off sale (which would bring it down to $19.99...still a great price, considering it's Criterion).

[bob]

all hail the new flesh!

[BoilerRoomBrawler]

Jan 10, 2013 21:22:08 GMT -5 bob said:

all hailLong live the new flesh!

FTFY .

I finally saw Videodrome last year on Netflix. Very interesting movie. Disturbing in many ways, what with human lips on TV sets, hands turning into cancer guns, and vaginas forming in the midsection. Classic body horror from David Cronenburg.


That's to say nothing of the utter warping of reality. Does James Woods enter an alternate reality? Does he ever exit it? Is his perception simply altered?


There's also the fascinating yet disturbing element of the guy (I forget the name) who records his entire life on tape. It interestingly would be like someone today doing constant videoblogging.

At some point I need to watch it again. I also have to wonder if it "plays better on VHS." I can't think of a better suited movie for that.

[Deleted]

Dr. O'Blivion's prediction that we'll all have new names resonates when you find yourself posting on a forum ;D. The initial talk show scene, with it's fake plants and its well spaced chairs, already puts you into a strange non-place.

When the video guys watch the porn in the beginning, its suggestive that they talk about how they need something more raw, more real. The thing is, it doesn't matter what they play, just as long as it's stimulating and real. The sex scene afterwords is more about pain than sex which reminds me of the idea that it doesn't matter what's being watched, just as long as it's being watched. You can sexualize anything, just as long as it's being viewed. The question about what the wall is made of in the torture video speaks to the sort of ennui throughout the film.