Although analog technology has gone all but extinct in the 40 years since Videodrome first permeated viewers’ psyches, there’s no denying the prescience of its themes. Writer-director David Cronenberg, circa 1983, portended the exploitation of the internet age, virtual reality, and media manipulation. At its core, Videodrome confronts the viewer to examine their own relationship with entertainment.
As the head of Civic TV, Max Renn caters to the subterranean market, transmitting sex and violence into Toronto homes over Uhf airwaves. His appetite for depravity no longer fulfilled by the likes of softcore pornography, Max’s interest is piqued by a mysterious pirated broadcast called Videodrome. As he describes it, “It’s just torture and murder. No plot, no characters. Very, very realistic. I think it’s what’s next.”
Max’s perception of reality is altered from the moment he’s first exposed to Videodrome, as devious hallucinations — from a cancerous...
As the head of Civic TV, Max Renn caters to the subterranean market, transmitting sex and violence into Toronto homes over Uhf airwaves. His appetite for depravity no longer fulfilled by the likes of softcore pornography, Max’s interest is piqued by a mysterious pirated broadcast called Videodrome. As he describes it, “It’s just torture and murder. No plot, no characters. Very, very realistic. I think it’s what’s next.”
Max’s perception of reality is altered from the moment he’s first exposed to Videodrome, as devious hallucinations — from a cancerous...
- 10/17/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
The enemy, as it seems it always has been, is within in David Cronenberg’s Videodrome, but its violence, gore, and torrential mayhem is hard to miss. Influenced by the writings of Marshall McLuhan, this 1983 vision of the intermingling ideas and functions of technology, the mind, and “the flesh” is, like a great deal of Cronenberg’s work, endlessly fascinated with decay, bodily fluids, wounds, and growths. All of which come to bear in one form or another on Max Renn (James Woods), a forager of outré entertainments at Civic-tv, a sleazy Uhf television station in Toronto that he helped to found, and whose motto, “The One You Take to Bed with You,” is more ominous than goofy.
But where softcore pornography would effectively crawl up the ass of any major network executive and start biting as if it were its last meal, Renn is bored by shots of Asian...
But where softcore pornography would effectively crawl up the ass of any major network executive and start biting as if it were its last meal, Renn is bored by shots of Asian...
- 10/9/2023
- by Chris Cabin
- Slant Magazine
For many, Videodrome (1983) remains David Cronenberg’s signature film. It is not his most successful or necessarily even his best, but it does most thoroughly define the descriptor “Cronenbergian.” It is a distillation of many of the themes and motifs he would explore throughout his filmography. Along with The Fly (1986), it is perhaps his greatest depiction of the subgenre that he is most often associated with—body horror, but it also explores a number of philosophical ideas that thread their way through much of his body of work. Above all, Videodrome is an often uncomfortable interrogation of humanity’s relationship with violence, entertainment, and media, and forty years after its release, that interrogation has only become more disturbing and prescient.
Videodrome is an idea movie wrapped up in a mystery/conspiracy plot. That the plot makes any sense at all is rather remarkable considering, due to Canadian tax shelter policies,...
Videodrome is an idea movie wrapped up in a mystery/conspiracy plot. That the plot makes any sense at all is rather remarkable considering, due to Canadian tax shelter policies,...
- 2/9/2023
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
Long Live The New Flesh, Bitch!
And just like that, we’re into February. After starting the new year with a redo of our episode on The Perfection, followed by AIDS metaphor Safe, del Toro’s Gothic Romance Crimson Peak and slasher remake House of Wax, Trace and I are settling into our birthday month with four weeks of ‘Weird Sex’ films.
First on the docket: David Cronenberg‘s iconic body horror film Videodrome, which just celebrated its fortieth anniversary last week. In the film, Max Renn (James Woods) works at a Toronto TV station that programs sexy, violent content and he’s always on the hunt for new fare. Enter Videodrome: a pirated signal originally thought to originate from Malaysia (but is actually from Pittsburgh) that is basically snuff.
The trouble is that Videodrome is also a weapon, causing physical changes in the body of viewers (tumors), as well as vivid hallucinations.
And just like that, we’re into February. After starting the new year with a redo of our episode on The Perfection, followed by AIDS metaphor Safe, del Toro’s Gothic Romance Crimson Peak and slasher remake House of Wax, Trace and I are settling into our birthday month with four weeks of ‘Weird Sex’ films.
First on the docket: David Cronenberg‘s iconic body horror film Videodrome, which just celebrated its fortieth anniversary last week. In the film, Max Renn (James Woods) works at a Toronto TV station that programs sexy, violent content and he’s always on the hunt for new fare. Enter Videodrome: a pirated signal originally thought to originate from Malaysia (but is actually from Pittsburgh) that is basically snuff.
The trouble is that Videodrome is also a weapon, causing physical changes in the body of viewers (tumors), as well as vivid hallucinations.
- 2/6/2023
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
Stars: James Woods, Deborah Harry, Sonja Smits, Peter Dvorsky, Leslie Carlson, Jack Creley, Lynne Gorman, Julie Khaner, Reiner Schwarz, David Bolt, Lally Cadeau | Written and Directed by David Cronenberg
Out of all the David Cronenberg films I’ve seen, Videodrome always sticks with me as my favourite and some of his best work, if not The best. Having not seen it in a few years, Arrow Video’s new Blu-ray release was the perfect chance to catch up with the movie and see if my memories of it were purely nostalgia. Thankfully, they were not.
Max Renn (James Woods) is a sleazy cable-tv programmer looking for more extreme ways to entertain his viewers. When he discovers “Videodrome” it appears to be exactly what he was looking for. When he starts hallucinating though, he suddenly finds reality becoming warped to the point where he is not sure what is real, or what is Videodrome.
Out of all the David Cronenberg films I’ve seen, Videodrome always sticks with me as my favourite and some of his best work, if not The best. Having not seen it in a few years, Arrow Video’s new Blu-ray release was the perfect chance to catch up with the movie and see if my memories of it were purely nostalgia. Thankfully, they were not.
Max Renn (James Woods) is a sleazy cable-tv programmer looking for more extreme ways to entertain his viewers. When he discovers “Videodrome” it appears to be exactly what he was looking for. When he starts hallucinating though, he suddenly finds reality becoming warped to the point where he is not sure what is real, or what is Videodrome.
- 8/17/2015
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Paul Toombes has played a horror movie antagonist for years, but the wicked ways of his onscreen persona are now trickling into his real life world in 1974’s Madhouse. In 1975’s The Land That Time Forgot, World War I-era castaways wash ashore on Caprona, a place where dinosaurs still stomp the scenery. And in similar fashion to Psycho‘s Norman Bates, Ezra Cobb kills people with his mother in mind in 1974’s Deranged. Kino Lorber recently announced that they are bringing these three diverse films out on Blu-ray in the near future, and we have the trio’s release details for those interested in making them new additions to their collections.
Madhouse: Featuring a fresh HD master, Madhouse will hit Blu-ray in July. Bonus features and the cover art have not been revealed yet. Directed by Jim Clark, Madhouse stars Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry, and Adrienne Corri.
Synopsis: “Masters of macabre Vincent Price,...
Madhouse: Featuring a fresh HD master, Madhouse will hit Blu-ray in July. Bonus features and the cover art have not been revealed yet. Directed by Jim Clark, Madhouse stars Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry, and Adrienne Corri.
Synopsis: “Masters of macabre Vincent Price,...
- 2/9/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Actor Leslie Carlson has died, aged 81.
The character actor was best known for playing the villain Barry Convex in David Cronenberg's 1983 horror Videodrome.
He passed away from cancer at his Toronto home on May 3.
He had roles in three other Cronenberg movies: The Dead Zone, The Fly and Camera.
He also played the enthusiastic tree seller in A Christmas Story, and had roles in Black Christmas and Deranged.
On TV, he guest starred on a variety of shows including The X-Files, Highlander, MacGyver and 21 Jump Street.
The character actor was best known for playing the villain Barry Convex in David Cronenberg's 1983 horror Videodrome.
He passed away from cancer at his Toronto home on May 3.
He had roles in three other Cronenberg movies: The Dead Zone, The Fly and Camera.
He also played the enthusiastic tree seller in A Christmas Story, and had roles in Black Christmas and Deranged.
On TV, he guest starred on a variety of shows including The X-Files, Highlander, MacGyver and 21 Jump Street.
- 5/12/2014
- Digital Spy
Leslie Carlson, a character actor best known for his role as the sinister Barry Convex in the classic sci-fi film “Videodrome,” is dead. He died of cancer at his home in Toronto at the age of 81 on May 3. In addition to his role as a creepy corporate bad guy in 1983's “Videodrome,” for which he was nominated for a Genie Award for supporting actor, Carlson appeared in three other movies directed by David Cronenberg: 1983's “The Dead Zone,” 1986's “The Fly” and the short film “Camera” in 2000. Also see: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2014 (Photos) Among his most high-profile films roles.
- 5/11/2014
- by Todd Cunningham
- The Wrap
★★★☆☆ Opinions on what makes a good horror film usually fall into two distinct camps. On the one hand you have those which unsettle and shock audiences, but sends them home smiling. Then you have the likes of Deranged (1974), the notorious cult outing by directors Jeff Gillen and Alan Ormsbury - starring Roberts Blossom, Cosette Lee and Leslie Carlson - which leaves the viewer nauseated and repulsed, asking the question "Was that really necessary?" Deep in the heart of rural America, Ezra Cobb (Blossom) lives alone with his mother Amanda (Lee). When Amanda dies, Ezra is left to fend for himself.
Haunted by the presence of his overbearing mother, Ezra embarks on a series of inhuman acts which would go down in the annals of American history as some of the country's most depraved and heinous crimes. Over the years, the life of Ed Gein - the unhinged handyman from La Crosse County,...
Haunted by the presence of his overbearing mother, Ezra embarks on a series of inhuman acts which would go down in the annals of American history as some of the country's most depraved and heinous crimes. Over the years, the life of Ed Gein - the unhinged handyman from La Crosse County,...
- 8/20/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Why Watch? Because David Cronenberg is a master who understood that the camera symbolized death. This short film starts with a very funny shot (just as the kids bring home the old camera they find), and it continues to explore itself until reaching a haunting conclusion. I could talk about it more, but it’s Cronenberg, so it speaks for itself. What Will It Cost? Just 6 minutes of your time. Does it get better any better than that? Check out Camera for yourself: Camera (2000) Written and Directed By: David Cronenberg Starring: Leslie Carlson, Marc Donato, Harrison Kane, and Kyle Kassardjian Trust us. You have time for more short films.
- 4/19/2011
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
It is a very light week for horror DVDs with a few re-releases on Blu-ray of newer classics, starting with the "New Flesh" that is Videodrome as well as Guillermo del Toro's Cronos.
Other releases this week that are worthy of any mention include a blood-soaked whale-watching trip, an entomologist who started a human collection instead, and a television mini-series about exorcism.
Videodrome (Criterion Collection) (1983)
Directed by David Cronenberg
Starring James Woods, Deborah Harry, Sonja Smits, Peter Dvorsky, Leslie Carlson
When Max Renn goes looking for edgy new shows for his sleazy cable TV station, he stumbles across the pirate broadcast of a hyperviolent torture show called Videodrome. As he unearths the origins of the program, he embarks on a hallucinatory journey into a shadow world of right-wing conspiracies, sadomasochistic sex games, and bodily transformation. Renn's ordinary life dissolves around him, and he finds himself at the center of...
Other releases this week that are worthy of any mention include a blood-soaked whale-watching trip, an entomologist who started a human collection instead, and a television mini-series about exorcism.
Videodrome (Criterion Collection) (1983)
Directed by David Cronenberg
Starring James Woods, Deborah Harry, Sonja Smits, Peter Dvorsky, Leslie Carlson
When Max Renn goes looking for edgy new shows for his sleazy cable TV station, he stumbles across the pirate broadcast of a hyperviolent torture show called Videodrome. As he unearths the origins of the program, he embarks on a hallucinatory journey into a shadow world of right-wing conspiracies, sadomasochistic sex games, and bodily transformation. Renn's ordinary life dissolves around him, and he finds himself at the center of...
- 12/6/2010
- by kwlow
- DreadCentral.com
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