Videodrome

--Reviewed by Lindy Loo

Plotline: A cable tv producer is constantly seeking out the newest most edgy programming for his television station. When he stumbles across a pirate station in which a person is being beaten and tortured, he thinks that perhaps this is something that would get him more viewers. Instead, he ends up stumbling into the world of Videodrome, a world where television and reality become fused in the mind's eye.

Scariness factor: Meh.

Gross-Out Factor: There's a bit of old-school goriness--heads getting smashed in close-ups, gaping wounds that people stick their hands (and vcr tapes) into, etc.



Complaints: Since I really dug The Brood, I decided to order another Cronenberg movie from the library. As always, Cronenberg offers up a horror movie that is a bit of a social commentary as well, this time one about how we're controlled by television and sex and how it leads to violence and death in a strange apocalyptic vision of mind-control through the television (which symbolizes what technology and television is doing to us in the real world), etc. etc. blah blah blah but the message is terribly heavy-handed and not all that interesting. Quiet honestly, I was bored bored bored with this movie. I found James Woods irritating. The sex between him and Debby Harry was moreso just creepy than sexy. I just wanted to shield my eyes and look away. Some of the special fx were silly and laughable. And again, the message was just heavy-handed and not all that interesting--it might be worth exploring in our current reality-tv culture, but even then, still not so much. And for christ's sake, if a giant hole opens up in your stomach, perhaps you should NOT JAM A GUN IN THERE.

High Points: There were a couple moments of creepy good special fx. But that really was about it.



Overall: Get The Brood or The Fly instead. They are far superior Cronenberg horror flicks.

Grade: D