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
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
It’s not uncommon for a science fiction film to prophesy the future, in terms of technology, the social state of humanity, or even certain global scenarios. It is, however, relatively rare for a film to have as its basic premise particular subject matter that, while relevant in its year of production, grows increasingly pertinent and frighteningly accurate as years go on. This is the case with Videodrome, David Cronenberg’s extraordinary 1983 film starring James Woods as Max Renn, a sleazy television programmer who has grown sensorially flaccid by the stale material he peddles on air.
The shows that run on his Civic TV Channel 83 just aren’t cutting it. Max is not content with straight porn, not even niche markets that cater to particular fetishes. Samurai Dreams, which we see a few seconds of, is just too soft. Yes, as Max puts it, “Oriental sex is a natural,” but is it tacky enough?...
The shows that run on his Civic TV Channel 83 just aren’t cutting it. Max is not content with straight porn, not even niche markets that cater to particular fetishes. Samurai Dreams, which we see a few seconds of, is just too soft. Yes, as Max puts it, “Oriental sex is a natural,” but is it tacky enough?...
- 4/12/2015
- by Jeremy Carr
- SoundOnSight
Universal Pictures is moving forward on its languishing remake of David Cronenberg's Videodrome, hiring commercial director Adam Berg for his feature directorial debut.
We first reported on this remake back in April 2009, when Universal brought on Ehren Kruger (Transformers: Dark of the Moon) to write the screenplay. The original starred James Woods as the head of Civic TV Channel 83. He injects new life into the network by airing a program dubbed Videodrome, which depicts gruesome murders and other violent acts that have a unique effect on viewers. Our initial report revealed that they plan to include nano-technology and make this a massive action sci-fi thriller.
Daniel Bobker will produce alongside Ehren Kruger, with René Malo serving as executive producer. Adam Berg has won numerous awards for his commercials and short films, such as the Film Grand Prix award at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
Videodrome was released February 4th,...
We first reported on this remake back in April 2009, when Universal brought on Ehren Kruger (Transformers: Dark of the Moon) to write the screenplay. The original starred James Woods as the head of Civic TV Channel 83. He injects new life into the network by airing a program dubbed Videodrome, which depicts gruesome murders and other violent acts that have a unique effect on viewers. Our initial report revealed that they plan to include nano-technology and make this a massive action sci-fi thriller.
Daniel Bobker will produce alongside Ehren Kruger, with René Malo serving as executive producer. Adam Berg has won numerous awards for his commercials and short films, such as the Film Grand Prix award at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
Videodrome was released February 4th,...
- 8/23/2012
- by MovieWeb
- MovieWeb
Many directors have cited Videodrome (1983) as an influence. However, no one who has invoked its name has managed to make a film as good or as interesting. Only someone like David Cronenberg can come up with such a crazy idea and execute it in such a committed straight-ahead fashion.
Max Renn (James Woods) runs a pay cable station that specializes in erotica and violence. Max is tired of the same old softcore porn. He wants something tougher. His hacker technician Harlan (a very weird Peter Dvorsky) clues him into an errant satellite signal that only transmits pornographic ultra-violence. Max becomes obssessed with tracking down the source. While on his journey, he encounters numerous people, including a sultry radio host Nikki Brand (Deborah Harry) and a Marshall Mcluhan type media guru named Prof. Brian O'Blivian (Jack Creley). The more Max finds out about the transmission known as Videodrome, the more endangered his life becomes.
Max Renn (James Woods) runs a pay cable station that specializes in erotica and violence. Max is tired of the same old softcore porn. He wants something tougher. His hacker technician Harlan (a very weird Peter Dvorsky) clues him into an errant satellite signal that only transmits pornographic ultra-violence. Max becomes obssessed with tracking down the source. While on his journey, he encounters numerous people, including a sultry radio host Nikki Brand (Deborah Harry) and a Marshall Mcluhan type media guru named Prof. Brian O'Blivian (Jack Creley). The more Max finds out about the transmission known as Videodrome, the more endangered his life becomes.
- 12/9/2010
- Screen Anarchy
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
The start of year-long programming @ Toronto's Tiff Bell Lightbox, will include a live appearance from Toronto-based director David Cronenberg, Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 9:15pm and Friday, September 24, 2010 at 9:30pm, introducing a special screening of his 1983, science fiction thriller "Videodrome".
"Videodrome", written/directed by Cronenberg, was loosely-inspired by Moses Znaimer's 1970's soft-core 'Baby Blue' porno programming @ Toronto's City-tv (before Znaimer declared himself a genius, programming music videos supplied free of charge by MTV).
The Toronto-lensed "Videodrome", starring James Woods, Sonja Smits, and singer Deborah Harry, followed the CEO of a small cable station who stumbles upon a broadcast signal that causes brain damaging hallucinations. As 'Max' gets closer to discovering the origins of the signal, he gets sucked into a world of sadomasochistic sex, left-wing conspiracies and physical transformations.
"...'Max Renn' (Woods) is the president of Civic-tv, a sleazy Toronto Uhf television station specializing in exploitation programming. Displeased with...
"Videodrome", written/directed by Cronenberg, was loosely-inspired by Moses Znaimer's 1970's soft-core 'Baby Blue' porno programming @ Toronto's City-tv (before Znaimer declared himself a genius, programming music videos supplied free of charge by MTV).
The Toronto-lensed "Videodrome", starring James Woods, Sonja Smits, and singer Deborah Harry, followed the CEO of a small cable station who stumbles upon a broadcast signal that causes brain damaging hallucinations. As 'Max' gets closer to discovering the origins of the signal, he gets sucked into a world of sadomasochistic sex, left-wing conspiracies and physical transformations.
"...'Max Renn' (Woods) is the president of Civic-tv, a sleazy Toronto Uhf television station specializing in exploitation programming. Displeased with...
- 9/22/2010
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
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