Videodrome (1983)
Genre: Horror / Scifi
Duration: 87 minuten / 89 minuten (director's cut)
Country:
Canada
Directed by: David Cronenberg
Stars: James Woods, Debbie Harry and Sonja Smits
IMDb score:
7,1 (116.143)
Releasedate: 4 February 1983
Videodrome plot
"First it controls your mind. Then it destroys your body."
Video pirate Max Renn runs his own channel and is looking for new material for his show. He discovers a snuff movie channel called Videodrome. His girlfriend is auditioning and when he sees her on TV he has hallucinations. This also results in transformations.
Actors and actresses
Max Renn
Bianca O'Blivion
Nicki Brand
Harlan
Barry Convex
Brian O'Blivion
Masha
Bridey
Moses
Raphael
Reviews & comments
jono
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- 345 messages
- 4146 votes
The American science fiction and horror film Videodrome (1983) was directed by David Cronenberg and is considered one of the most important cult films of the twentieth century. The film opens with images of the daily worries of one Max Renn (James Woods). He runs the commercial television station CIVIC-TV, which is out to make erotic exploitation television. While searching for new material for his show, he discovers a snuff movie channel called Videodrome. His girlfriend, the self-destructive Nicki Brand (a stunning Deborah Harry, whom I was very much in love with at the time) auditions and when he sees her on TV he has hallucinations.
Reality and hallucinations are intertwined in the film, and the hallucinations are beautifully portrayed. In addition, the film deals with topics that are still current today; the film features subjects such as reality TV, computer use and how our image of reality is determined by the media. These were not common subjects at the time the film was made: reality TV did not yet exist and the internet had yet to be invented. The film was initially not very popular among moviegoers. It was probably too vague for horror fans, but too gory for moviegoers who wanted to see a serious film.
Today, however, the film has a cult following and rightly so, as it is an excellent film that was way ahead of its time given the theme. 4*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
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- 2365 messages
- 2119 votes
Interesting that this film represents a trip down memory lane for the thirty to forty year old to the era of video recorders and VHS tapes. So nostalgic retro science fiction, but at the same time the film has - despite the outdated technology that is exposed - lost none of its expressiveness, taking into account the impact of the current new digital media on people and society.
I am absolutely in love with the old school effects in this film (not CGI!) by top designer Rick Baker. There is also the wonderfully dark synth soundtrack by master Howard Shore.
James Woods is one of my favorite actors and he doesn't disappoint. It's also nice to see pop icon Debby Harry at work in a seductive role.
A film that deserves its cult status.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Sir Djuke
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- 388 messages
- 1110 votes
1983 was a defining year for Canadian director David Cronenberg. Until the release of 'Videodrome' he was the 'darling of the underground scene' and films like 'Shivers' and 'Scanners' were only picked up by a small group of enthusiasts.
The unexpected commercial success of 'Videodrome' (helped by the presence of Blondie singer Debbie Harry in a half-naked pose) brought him to the attention of mainstream producers, after which Dino De Laurentiis gave him the opportunity to publish Stephen King's book 'The Dead Zone ' to film.
A bit bland, of course, to attribute the breakthrough to La Harry, because 'Videodrome' is an excellently successful horror thriller about snuff movies and the integration of man and machine. The editing, film technique and explicit and horrifying scenes still clearly bear the stamp of the cult film genre, but Cronenberg's virtuosity is clearly present.
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