Videodrome (The Criterion Collection)

Description

Author: Leslie Carlson

Features:

• Shrink-wrapped

Format: Anamorphic

Release Date: 07-09-2004

Details: Amazon.caEqual parts smart and sleazy, David Cronenberg’s Videodrome depicts a cable TV owner who falls under the sway of a pirate program. Instead of bachelorettes and dancing stars, kinky sex and sadistic violence fill his screen. In the first commentary track, Cronenberg and cinematographer Mark Irwin talk about the cast and the makeup effects, like the gaping maw that opens up in Max Renn’s abdomen. While Cronenberg praises the actor’s performance, he reveals that James Woods refused to wear the virtual reality helmet, forcing the director to become his stand-in. Citing Marshall McLuhan as an inspiration, Cronenberg notes that « a lot of people have thought of this film as being very prophetic, » adding « I have never been interested in being a prophet of any kind, » and yet the movie predicts today’s wired world. Despite the dark themes and tight schedule, Irwin remembers the shoot as a « pure joy. » Woods and Deborah Harry tackle the second track, in which the former explains that the filmmaker « writes from inspirations he gets from his dreams. » A 2004 documentary allows Rick Baker and Michael Lennick to go into more detail about the film’s visceral imagery, including the exploding television and the exit of Len Carlson’s Barry Convex. Other supplements include a stills gallery, the new wave-style trailers, a Universal featurette, excerpts from the fictional broadcast, a terrific episode of the 1982 series Take One (with Cronenberg, John Landis, and John Carpenter), and the unexpectedly tender 2000 short film Camera starring Carlson. –Kathleen C. Fennessy

UPC: 715515015424

EAN: 0715515015424

Languages: English

Binding: DVD

Item Condition: UsedVeryGood