1076. Dead Ringers

Dead Ringers
1988
Directed by David Cronenberg

The Listmakers' only criterion for choosing horror movies seems to be, "will this movie disturb the audience for the rest of their lives?" And Dead Ringers is certainly fitting of this category. Good thing I don't have to get my next pap smear for awhile.

Jeremy Irons plays twins Elliot and Beverly, who are both gynecologists. The filmmakers kind of want us to think Elliot is the evil twin and Beverly is the sensitive one, but they are both rapists, so there really isn't as much of a moral gray area as the filmmakers desire. They share everything, including an actress on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

This movie taps into a latent fear in women that their gynecologists are secretly creepy perverts. I wish that he hadn't dived into the body horror as much as he had. But I suppose asking David Cronenberg to not do something gross with a body part is asking too much of the poor lad. I was much more interested in the psychology of the twins than watching them experiment with "radical" methods. I also wish the drug storyline wasn't included, as I find it more interesting observing sober people's actions. To me, then the explanations for their behavior are more intriguing than "drugs made them do it."

So another upsetting watch for our October creep-out. Ain't Halloween fun?

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Robert De Niro turned down the main roles because he didn't want to play a gynecologist. Is that really the upsetting part of this film?

Based on real life twins Stewart and Cyril Marcus.

831. Naked Lunch

Naked Lunch

1991

Directed by David Cronenberg

In addition to having seen this movie, I also read the book.  Really, a lot of homework to do for a story I did not enjoy in print or on screen.

William Lee works as an exterminator, who is having a bad reaction to the bug powder.  He believes he is a secret agent who received a mission to kill his wife (who is also addicted to bug powder).  So it's almost like Total Recall, only grosser and with less attractive people.

William Burroughs is one fucked up man and as a writer he receives more attention for his strangeness than his actual talent.  He saw the world, and the writing profession, in a very ugly way, which we are forced to sit through here.  I suppose it would appeal to some people; the aesthetics and the whole structure are quite unusual.  But it doesn't take a lot of skill to portray a world in such a dirty, disgusting way; optimism and beauty are much harder, and much more rewarding, to produce.

Not my cup of tea.  Are we done with Cronenberg yet?

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

Cronenberg's first non horror film.  Is it, though?

743. The Fly

The Fly
1986
Directed by David Cronenberg

I was completely disgusted by Videodrome (which I suppose was the point) and had no desire to watch anymore David Cronenberg films (which I suppose wasn't the point).  I did get excited about this remake and while it is not a favorite, it certainly isn't a candidate for the worst movie of the 80s.

Seth Brundle is a brilliant scientist who has recently developed teleportation pods.  While the pods successfully transport inanimate objects, gross things happen when Brundle tries to transport living things.  He shows off his invention to Veronica, a journalist, and the two begin a relationship because what is hotter than science?  One night Brundle gets drunk and attempts to teleport himself.  Unfortunately, he doesn't notice that there is a fly inside the pod with him and things get even grosser as he slowly becomes an insect.

I am not sure that the filmmakers succeeded in making us sympathize with Brundle.  I felt like we were supposed to feel great compassion for him (especially at the end) but I thought he was an asshole from the very beginning.  I suppose that doesn't matter, since the main purpose of the movie is to have the audience ooh and ahh at the special effects.  Or ooh and vomit.  Either way they were quite well done, even if that isn't my preferred type of entertainment.

 I don't sound too positive, but I actually did enjoy most of this.  The acting was surprisingly good and the film never lagged.  Still prefer the original though.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis were dating at the time.

695. Videodrome

Videodrome
1983
Directed by David Cronenberg

Well that was gross.  It was extremely difficult finding a non disgusting picture to use for this post.  Unfortunately, I was not able to do it and we all now have to look at James Woods.  Okay, that was pretty mean but there is no denying Woods' sleaze factor.

Mark Renn is the president of a seedy tv station that specializes in soft core pornography.  He comes across Videodrome, a broadcast that continually shows snuff tv.  Max is ordered to pirate it for his station, since apparently it is the future of tv.  Sigh.  Anyway, the film really goes off the rails at this point and I can't really explain any more of the plot.

Like I said, this film was absolutely revolting.  There is no doubt that the special effects artists were doing their best to induce vomit in their audience.  Kudos.  You guys are the real heroes.  The film's plot is completely ridiculous and nonsensical, although I suppose it was only there to hammer home its message about the future of entertainment.  Perhaps being hypocritical was an artistic decision.  Ick.

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

Andy Warhol called this film A Clockwork Orange of the 1980s.