David Cronenberg’s latest film, The Shrouds, now in theaters via Sideshow and Janus Films, draws from deeply personal experiences without crossing into autobiography, the director insists. The film follows Karsh, a Canadian tech entrepreneur portrayed by Vincent Cassel, who creates a cemetery where loved ones can monitor real-time decomposition through an app-connected burial shroud. The concept stems from Cronenberg’s own grief after the death of his wife, Carolyn, in 2017.

Despite surface parallels between Cronenberg and his protagonist — including Karsh’s distinctive hairstyle and minimalist attire — the filmmaker maintains a sharp distinction between personal experience and fiction. “Once I start writing the screenplay, it becomes fiction and I’m creating fictional characters who are not me,” Cronenberg said in an interview.

The Shrouds explores themes of mourning, love, technology, and existential longing. The film’s origin traces back to Cronenberg’s visceral reaction to losing his wife. He described...