Videodrome - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: Cronenberg addresses some hot-button issues...
Review: ...which are ultimately more interesting in theory than execution with "Videodrome," a grisly, imaginative comment on television's influence over the public.

Max Renn (James Woods, who blends discomfort, confusion, and sleaze very well) is the president of Civic TV, an independent Canadian outfit that specializes in "everything from soft-core pornography to hard-core violence," and when he comes across a pirated satellite feed of a new program called "Videodrome" (just people being tortured and murdered), he can't take his eyes off it. Renn is matched in madness by Nicki Brand (Deborah Harry, of Blondie), a spacey, new-age radio personality with an appetite for physical pain. After a series of hallucinations and strange bodily transformations (stomachs develop vaginal openings to accept videotapes, of course), Renn is introduced to Barry Convex (Les Carlson, whose excellent, villainous performance is one of the movie's highlights), an eyeglass manufacturer who happens to be the mastermind--or at least ONE of the masterminds--behind the sinister "Videodrome" program.

There are a lot of positive aspects to be extracted from this movie, and being a huge fan of Cronenberg I was expecting to be as enthusiastic as everyone else about this one. But even after watching it countless times, "Videodrome"--while ingeniously crafted--still tends to leave me feeling shut out after it's all over. The movie simply isn't as involving as "The Dead Zone," "Shivers," or "eXistenZ," and I have no idea why. Cronenberg's specialty may be icy characters in strange predicaments, but this is the first instance where I was left cold by the proceedings.

On the positive side, "Videodrome" IS a bit of a sly satire on television that's still relevant today. How much viewing does it take before someone's reality becomes television (as one character asks)? It also shows--maybe subconsciously--the link between watching violence and having it carry over into reality (i.e.--Renn becomes a mind-controlled assassin for Videodrome). Cronenberg's script is stuffed with issues of social and political importance, so much that it takes a few viewings to completely observe his intentions (the mark of a good film).

But maybe the true stars of "Videodrome" are Rick Baker's rushed but efficient special effects, which present some of the most nauseatingly gory images ever committed to celluloid. The aforementioned vaginal openings, videotapes made from flesh, guns grafting themselves onto hands, and bodies turning themselves inside out are just a few things to look out for.

David Cronenberg is one of the most talented directors working today, and "Videodrome" IS a good movie, but--in my humble opinion--it's not the best he's put out.

Rating:
Summary: They use her image to seduce us...
Review: A cult favorite since its release in '83, VIDEODROME is in some ways a "great flawed film." The characters are far from sympathetic, the plot is often confusing and contradictory, and some of the dialogue is unintentionally hilarious. Yet on the level of images and ideas, VIDEODROME is a rich, compelling experience which will take root in your brain long after the film is over. James Woods turns in a terrific performance as Max Renn, sleazoid co-owner of a quickie TV station. For reasons which never become clear, Renn is chosen as the gateway for public transmission of the "Videodrome" TV signal, which hypnotizes its viewers and causes mind-altering hallucinations. Renn, always on the lookout for the ultimate trash with which to hook his slavish, sensation-seeking audience, is introduced to "Videodrome," a charming bit of snuff TV where men in masks torture women and a black man for no real reason at all, except for cheap thrills. Renn, correctly assuming that sex and violence sell to the masses, tries to discover the human face behind Videodrome. Along the way, he stumbles onto what seems to be a conspiracy to control the mind of the North American audience through TV (hmmm...hasn't this happened by now?), seemingly to create an audience of docile, consumeristic sheep. After a rather shocking sequence of events, Renn becomes one of the "New Flesh," apparently a race of humans who have evolved away from the body to exist entirely in the electronic realm (hmmm...isn't this happening right now?) and are trying to destroy Videodrome. His companion in this journey is masochistic Nicki Brand, played by Deborah Harry at her most glamorous. Nicki, turned onto Videodrome by Max, abandons her life as a "radio personality" and seems to become an entirely image-based being, first used by Videodrome to seduce Max, then somehow escaping and joining the "New Flesh." I know none of this makes much sense, but VIDEODROME has to be seen to be believed. Cronenberg's imagery, realized by FX genius Rick Baker, is incredibly sensual and powerful, using all the resources of the cinema to suggest multiple levels of reality and hallucination. I won't spoil the surprises for you by describing the effects here; let's just say that Cronenberg combines sex, violence, electronics and body/machine anxieties in a new and compelling way. Harry's incredible charisma and style lend the role of Nicki just the right touch of simultaneous allure and wierdness (she is first introduced as an image on a TV screen, and actually spends most of her time in the film in scenes where she is clearly a hyperreal hallucination instead of a person. She and Woods have a very believable chemistry and should have had more scenes together - the script for this film needed a few more drafts. I first saw this movie as a teen-ager, back before the Internet, virtual reality or cybersex existed, and developments in audio-visual technologies since then have only underscored the seriousness and ambition of Cronenberg's vision. Where do we end and our electronic prostheses begin? Is electronic experience more real than real? Is the television screen now truly "the retina of the mind's eye?" I think so. VIDEODROME will make you think of your own environment in a new way. Great late-night viewing!

Rating:
Summary: Cronenberg's new flesh
Review: After the disappointing misstep of Scanners, one would have been hard pressed to predict that David Cronenberg would rebound with the quantumn leap of filmmaking that is Videodrome. After more than 20 years it is still one of the most daring and original sci-fi thrillers ever made. A dark, kinky, complex nightmare of paranoia and mind control. Cronenberg strikes a perfect balance between sensuality and depravity, hallucinations and reality, ideas and imagery. James Woods is perfectly cast as the oily Max Renn, Debbie Harry brings a vacant sexuality to Nikki Brand and the effects, while somewhat dated, are still quite distrubing. As you watch this film - and it is one that truly benefits from multiple viewings - you will actually see the moment where a filmmaker hits his stride, and it's a wonder to behold. This is the definitive Cronenberg movie.

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Summary: David Cronenberg Scores Again With Videodrome!
Review: David Cronenberg is one of the greatest horror film directors to come on the scene. His stylish mix of science fiction and horror gives us surreal films easily compared to directors like David Lynch amoung others. Videodrome is probably my favorite Cronenberg film.

The film is about a television station that specializes in showing softcore pornography and other disturbing types of film. Max Renn, played wonderfully by James Woods, has people go out and find new footage for the network to play. In his search, Renn comes across a video entitled Videodrome, which contains footage of a brutal torture of a few woman. The video becomes an obsession of Renn's and begins to control his life.

An incredible film, with amazing performances from Debrah Harry, singer for the band Blondie, and Woods. The film gives a surreal look at how what we see on television can control our lives. I recommend it to anyone who loves Sci-Fi or horror movies. Definately a classic.

Rating:
Summary: Wait for the Criterion DVD this August!
Review: From Fangoria:
• Audio commentary by Cronenberg and cinematographer Mark Irwin
• Audio commentary by stars James Woods and Deborah Harry
• Cronenberg's short film Camera, created for the Toronto Film Festival in 2000 and starring VIDEODROME's Les Carlson
• A new 30-minute documentary by VIDEODROME video FX artist Michael Lennick about the movie's landmark makeup and special FX
• Fear on Film, a half-hour roundtable discussion from 1982 between Cronenberg, John Carpenter and John Landis (all of whom were working on Universal horror films at the time), hosted by director-to-be Mick Garris
• Short promotional featurette from 1982, also created by Garris
• Trailers
• Extensive galleries with makeup test shots, behind-the-scenes photos, publicity stills, marketing materials, etc.
• Samurai Dreams-the fake Japanese soft-porn film seen in the movie, presented in its entirety
• And more!

Rating:
Summary: Videodrome....whoa
Review: I can't believe nobody knows about this film! This wonderful trip into violence on television really stuck in my mind a long time after viewing. James Woods is excellent as Max Renn, the cable station programmer who's violent program lineup "provides an outlet for the viewers frustrations." He believes his search for the perfect show is complete when he accidentally taps into a program called 'Videodrome' on a pirate satellite. Mesmerized by the display of graphic violence, Max sets out to find the person behind Videodrome, but not before it's deadly side effect takes over his life. This movie, althought semi-dated and cheesy at moments, it quite visually spectacular and a top notch, ahead of it's time psychological thriller, not to mention extremely graphic in a few scenes. Definately worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: THE FLIP SIDE OF TV.....
Review: I saw this on it's release in 1983 and whew!. Here's another good reason why some movies should not be seen under the influence of anything. I never forgot it and grabbed it on video later and then DVD. It's my personal favorite of Cronenberg's films. TV becomes a living breathing organism on it's own and cable TV pirate Max Wren (an excellent James Woods) experiences this when he tries to follow sexy talk-radio host Debbie Harry into the other world of "Videodrome"---a violent underground cable TV reality show like no other that has a strange hypnotic power. He manages to track down it's source and discovers the ultimate takeover using the "new flesh". Incredible special effects and in one scene "hand gun" takes on an all new meaning. Just watch it and judge for yourself but be aware this is an intense and graphic film. Fascinating viewing and absolutely bizarre....it's a definite cult item. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Should be considered a classic
Review: If any film deserves to be called a modern classic, it is definitely Videodrome. This is an incredibly disturbing and dark tale about sex & violence on television. James Woods stars as Max Renn, head of the upstart cable station Civic TV, whose main draw is outrageous softcore pornography and extremely graffic violence. Renn intercepts a show called Videodrome which is nothing but hardcore violence for a half hour and becomes instantly mesmerized by its content. He soon discovers things about the show that should not be told or discussed to anyone until they see the film for themselves. The cast is brilliant, and Cronerberg seems to get his normal sleepy performances from everyone involved, including Woods and Deborah Harry, lead singer of 80's band Blondie. The only thing that will deter people from seeing this film is the amount of highly disturbing imagery and disgusting gore effects by makeup whiz Rick Baker. This is an abosolutely outstanding film that touches on a subject that is still hush hush in today's soceity. This is not a movie only for film buffs. It is a movie for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Long live the new flesh.
Review: James Woods always gives strong performances in almost all his movies, in a Comedy (The Hard Way), in a Horror Film (John Carpenter`s Vampires), in a Drama (Another Day In Paradise) or in a Suspense (The General Daughter) always great as usual in these different kind of performances.

He Plays-Max Renn is a Controversial Cable Programmer, he co-own an small T.V. station, he show soft-core films to hard-core violence. Then one day, a friend of his, catch on a satellite scramble a pirate T.V. show, Called-VideoDrome is torture, rape and people are murdered for real ? Once he watch it, is no turning back, he starting to have-hallucination. Then he find out, what VideoDrome really means-Invader is a television show that seduces and controls its viewers. is it meant for for whole wide world to know, what it is?

Unusaul Premise From Controversial Director-David Croneneberg (Crash, The Dead Zone, The Fly-1986) is a bit familiar from previous film-eXistenZ.

Deborah Harry of Blondie-in a small role, she plays-Nicki Brand. One of a kind, From Make-Up Artist-Rick Baker (An American Werewolf In London) are Visual Outsanding. So is that same year in 1982, an young Make-Up Artist-Rob Bottin did a Outstanding job on-John Carpenter`s The Thing. VideoDrome is not for all taste but for David Cronenberg`s Fans will have a blast, watching this new shocking vision from Science-Fiction and Horror Films. Grade:A-.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Horror
Review: TV will rot your brain, some say- and in the world of Videodrome, that's exactly what happens. A group working with a media philosopher (a nice parody of Marshall McCluhan) has created a signal that can be superimposed on a video program that will, quite literally, mutate the brain. It may be a tumor- or it may be a new organ. It's infected cable TV president Max Venn (James Woods), and is starting to change him and his world in bizarre ways.

Videodrome is a wonderfully original movie that mixes a well crafted script with some novel (for the time) special effects and a marvelous darkly comic sensibility. Puns abound; the president of "Spectacular Optics"- itself a pun- is named Convex. Brian Oblivion (the Marshall McCluhan parody) founded the "Cathode Ray Mission" (as in "cathode ray emission"), where the homeless and destitute are re-integrated into society by providing them with exposure to television.

Underneath this is a dark, sexual theme- Max's attraction to the images of bondage and sadism that are his undoing, and to radio psychologist Nikki (Debbie Harry, in a compelling if inartful performance) who is willing to go a lot farther than is Max in her pursuit of kinky thrills.

Is Max really being physically transformed, or is it all in his head? Is the New Flesh real, or another delusion? All in all, a compelling and original film that will delight any fan of cult films and erotic horror.