Videodrome [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Hardcore pornography, sadomasochism, mind control, and living televisions all play crucial roles in Videodrome, one of director David Cronenberg's explorations of dangerous sexuality and technological obsession. The morally questionable hero of the tale is one Max Renn (James Woods), a television executive searching for an intense new program for his sex-oriented network. He ultimately discovers an underground program called "Videodrome," which appears to broadcast pornographic snuff films of actual murders. Horrified but perversely intrigued, Renn sets out to find the truth behind the program. During his search, he meets alluring femme fatale Nicki (Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry), technology cult leader Bianca O'Blivion, and other mysterious figures. Things become even more disturbing for Renn as his addiction grows, and the program begins to infect the outside world -- or perhaps merely destroy own his sanity. Cronenberg mingles his cerebral concerns about the nature of reality in the video age with enough visceral gore (courtesy of Rick Baker) to satisfy the film's intended horror audience. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Features:
  • Two audio commentaries, one featuring Cronenberg and Irwin, the other actors James Woods and Deborah Harry
  • Camera (2000), a short film by Cronenberg
  • Forging the new flesh, a half-hour documentary by filmmaker Michael Lennick about videodrome's video and prosthetic makeup effects
  • Effects men, an audio interview with makeup effects creator Rick Baker and video effects supervisor Lennick
  • Bootleg video, the complete footage of Samurai Dreams and seven minutes of other transmissions from videodrone, presented in their original, unedited form, with filmmaker commentary
  • Fear on film, a roundtable discussion from 1982 with Cronenberg and filmmakers John Carpenter, John Landis, and Mick Garris
  • Original theatrical trailers and promotional featurette
  • Stills gallery featuring rare behind-the-scenes production photos and posters
  • Plus: a booklet featuring essays by writers Carrie Rickey, Tim Lucas, and Gary Indiana

AWARDS

• Genie Awards

•     Won Best Director - 1984 (David Cronenberg)
•     Nominated Best Art Direction - 1984 (Carol Spier)
•     Nominated Best Cinematography - 1984 (Mark Irwin)
•     Nominated Best Editing - 1984 (Ronald Sanders)
•     Nominated Best Screenplay - 1984 (David Cronenberg)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actor - 1984 (Peter Dvorsky, Les Carlson)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actress - 1984 (Sonja Smits)

• Rotterdam International Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2010

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       James Woods - Max Renn
       Sonja Smits - Bianca O'Blivion
       Deborah Harry - Nicki Brand
       Peter Dvorsky - Harlan
       Les Carlson - Barry Convex
       Jack Creley - Prof. Brian O'Blivion
       Lynne Gorman - Marsha
       Julie Khaner - Briley
       Lally Cadeau - Rena King
       Sam Malkin - Bum
       Bob Church - Newscaster

• Director:

  David Cronenberg

• Producer:

  Claude Heroux

• Screenwriter:

  David Cronenberg

• Cinematographer:

  Mark Irwin

• Composer (Music Score):

  Howard Shore

• Editor:

  Ronald Sanders

• Production Designer:

  Carol Spier

• Associate Producer:

  Lawrence Nesis

• Executive Producer:

  Pierre David, Victor Solnicki

• Costume Designer:

  Delphine White

• Special Effects:

  Frank Carere

• Makeup Special Effects:

  Rick Baker

• Properties Master:

  Peter Lauterman

REVIEW:

• Well before he adapted William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch, David Cronenberg's debt to the beat writer was laid bare with Videodrome, a phantasmagoric journey through fractured psyches and cathode tubes. The film features several of Burroughs's trademarks, including a stream-of-consciousness narrative, a paranoid, conspiratorial tone, and overriding themes of desire and addiction. At the same time, this movie is perhaps the best articulated vision of Cronenberg's ongoing exploration of the edges of technology and human physiology. Detailing the transformation of a sleazy television producer into literal media terrorist, Cronenberg presents a world of pulsating videotapes, televisions that undulate like flesh, and large, vagina-like abdomen slashes that function as a biomechanic VCR. Though the technology, special-effects, and fashion sensibilities all seem dated, Cronenberg's basic questioning of the media through Max Renn's particular psychological affliction seems more relevant today than it did when his film was first released. As technology becomes more advanced, Cronenberg explores not only whether it will affect our sense of reality but also our evolution as a species. His Videodrome is a postmodern masterpiece that unsettles, shocks, and provokes. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi