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It was good as a kid
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Warning there are spoilers within this review. David Cronenberg, famous for films like 'The Fly' (1986); 'Videodrome' (1983) and 'Naked Lunch' (1992), is well known for his horror films that make the sub-genre of 'Body Horror' a mainstream subject. In spite of his recent gangster films: 'Eastern Promises' (2007); 'A History of Violence' (2005) this Canadian director has become known for his fascination with the flesh, underground culture and explicit content - particularly in the depiction of wounds. This director has sparked an interest within me that has produced the pursuit of all his films, looking at each films approach to 'Body Horror'. The term refers to horror films that uses visceral images of mutation, parasites, deformities and the general horror one feels in their body is abnormally changing. 'Tetsuo: The Iron Man' (d. Shinya Tsukamoto 1989) is another film that is strongly routed in these concepts and can be likened to David Cronenbergs work. 'Shivers' (1975) was David Cronenberg's debut film and took him from television into the film industry, but mostly due to it's controversial nature as it was almost banned due the shock of explicit sex, or so it was claimed. The film has a very simple narrative, which is very similar to many zombie films as the parasites immediately are a problem and questions are raised as to who is infected and who isn't. 'Shivers' horror came from parasites, that once have taken a host, turn them into animalistic nymphomaniacs and so there are connotations of being violated by an alien and unwanted being - may be making statements about rape. Due to the film explicitly depicting sexual themes, the film could be criticized as merely porn and many children may miss some of the in depth questions the film poses and makes statements on in favor of the sex. However despite the films reputation, there is no full frontal nudity but there are strong sexual references of a homosexual nature; of a incestual nature; of a peadophilic nature; of a lesbian nature; between old people; married people; different races. There could be connotations that sex is sex no matter who it is between, and it is a part of each and every one of us as part of our nature as animals. "Everything is sexual" "Old flesh is erotic flesh". The ending also has a strong statement as everyone who is infected leaves to join society. This allows us to fear them being near us or to understand that they are amongst us and could well be us. However one of the nicest elements for me, was the character Janine (Susan Petrie) and the antagonist Nicolas (Allan Collman) (Nicolas is the antagonist as he is from the very beginning depicted as the host for all these parasites). The relationship between these characters makes a massive statement on a husband raping his wife, which wasn't illegal until the 90's! As Janine is depicted as a loving and caring sympathetic character as Nicolas is quite the opposite, but really takes a turn for the worse when the parasites fully control his instincts. "You will make love to me, Janine, you are my wife" the force of his actions are shown as inhuman due to the parasite, and this vile act is made more hard hitting by Janine crying and attempting simple tasks. However in spite of these themes, as a low budget film effects and performances broke the realism and the tension as to completely destroy it's effect at points and so the film is for the open minded as most will find it less entertaining.Read full review
Here we go again, I have just completed a review for David Cronenbergs other chiller, Rabid and this is just as bad. Perhaps good in their day 20 years ago however, up against films such as the Saw collection, the Underworlds and Shrooms, the only shivers this film gives me is from the cold of how long I have been sitting in the chair wasting my time watching it! David Cronenberg again on drugs, sexually orientated crap. Don't waste your money.
The movie starts off very quickly and disturbing violent. Don't expect a happy ending. the idea of this story, if you can't defeat them, join them. the bad part is there is not much description and history about the blood parasite. how it breed? how does it deals with the host? any good about this crazy slug? A good low budget show considered in 1975 where there is not attractive to audience to show something softcore yet artful. in the past, there is not much show about parasite epidemic. Classic horror cult in 1975 are Psycho slasher films. Idea of this story could be from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1975. Night of living dead by George A. Romero 1968 B&W. Wes Craven Last House on the left 1972
It's showing it's age now, felt very dated. The critics raved about it, but really, who are they kidding ?
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