By Nicholas Porteous

Crimes of the Future, David Cronenberg’s daring and mysterious last work, established “surgery is the new sex”. His follow-up, The Shrouds, posits something along the lines of “death is the new exposition dump”. Vincent Cassel runs a cutting edge graveyard complete with 3D live feeds of all the lucky corpses. With that trademark grey coif, Cassel appears to be doubling for Cronenberg himself. They’re virtually indistinguishable when he’s wearing sunglasses. Cassel is also processing his wife’s passing (while maintaining an odd friendship with her identical sister), and  he’s obsessed with disintegrating bodies. When an unknown group attacks his cemetery, our lead is roped into a world of espionage, conspiracies, and counter-intelligence, unravelling everything he thought he knew about the nature of his business, and the love of his life. It sounds pretty fun, eh? The unfortunate thing about The Shrouds is it’s not nearly as cinematic as that summary might suggest.

Much of the runtime in this peculiar neo-noir involves following Cassel through conflicting dialogues. One character will provide a tip or speculation about the other, contradicted by the next, flipped again by the following. A framework of unreliable narrators and double crosses comes into focus. And I continue to make this all sound way more entertaining than it really is. Cronenberg has always had a knack for hilariously weird and engrossing dialogue, but in spite of a few chuckles and provocations here and there, this movie–which leans so heavily on its interchanges–has the least to offer out of his last few projects, the majority of which this particular critic has loved. There’s way too much explaining and expositing, not enough compelling characterization. The performances are uniformly detached to the point that there’s not much to distinguish the living from the dead. There’s a good chance that’s part of the point, but The Shrouds doesn’t do nearly enough to make me feel invested in deciphering that point. It’s physically and dramatically inert. Being such an obviously personal project, I would say this one’s for Cronenberg obsessives only. But even then, watch your step.

The Shrouds screens at TIFF ’24:

Wednesday, September 11th at 9:30 PM at Roy Thompson Hall

Thursday, September 12th at 2:30 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre

Sphere Films today confirmed David Cronenberg’s highly anticipated The Shrouds will have its world premiere in the Official Competition at the Festival de Cannes in May. The film starring Vincent Cassel (La Haine, Irréversible, Black Swan), Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds, In the Fade), Guy Pearce (Memento, LA Confidential, The Hurt Locker) and Sandrine Holt (Daredevil: Born Again, House of Cards) will open in theatres across Canada later this year.

The Shrouds is written and directed by David Cronenberg (Crimes of the Future, A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, Crash) and produced by Martin Katz for Prospero Pictures (A Dangerous Method, Cosmopolis, Maps to the Stars), Saïd Ben Saïd (Elle, Maps to the Stars, Last Summer) and Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent (Strange Way of Life, Trailer of the Film That Will Never Exist: “Phony Wars”). This is the seventh time that a David Cronenberg film has been selected to compete in Cannes. His films have previously won a Special Jury Award (Crash) and Best Actress Award (Maps to the Stars). ​ The Shrouds also reunites Cronenberg with Cassel, who previously collaborated on Eastern Promises and A Dangerous Method.

“Being selected for the Cannes Film Festival is an immense honour, but to return for the seventh time is incredibly humbling. I look forward to sharing this film with the world on such a prestigious stage,” said David Cronenberg.

Shot on location in Toronto in 2023, The Shrouds tells the story of Karsh, 50, a prominent businessman. Inconsolable since the death of his wife, he invents GraveTech, revolutionary and controversial technology that enables the living to monitor their dear departed in their shrouds. One night, multiple graves, including that of Karsh’s wife, are desecrated. Karsh sets out to track down the perpetrators.

“The Shrouds is an audacious and human film, so apt for our times,” said Martin Katz of Prospero Pictures. “It also marks our fifth collaboration with David Cronenberg and our second collaboration with Saïd Ben Saïd, both lasting relationships and deep friendships of which we are very proud.”

The Shrouds is produced by Martin Katz for Prospero Pictures, Saïd Ben Saïd, and Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent in association with Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, Eurimages, and Canal +.

ABOUT SPHERE FILMS

One of Canada’s foremost distributors, Sphere Films serves both the local and international markets with premium content across all genres. Sphere Films delivers the best of Canadian and international cinema, including the Academy Award-winner for Best Picture, Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite. Other recent releases include the critically acclaimed films Crimes of the Future and Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Academy Award-nominated The Worst Person in the World, the Quebecois produced Arsenault et fils and Maria Chapdelaine. The Sphere Films brand belongs to Sphere, a Canadian film and television industry leader with offices in Montréal and Toronto.

ABOUT PROSPERO PICTURES

Prospero Pictures is the film and television production company founded by Martin Katz, whose credits include Hotel Rwanda, which was nominated for three Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. For over two decades, Prospero has produced films with celebrated director David Cronenberg, including A Dangerous Method, which had its world premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival, Spider and Cosmopolis which premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and Maps to the Stars, for which Julianne Moore received the Best Actress Palme d’Or at Cannes. Prospero’s television projects include Ice Road Truckers, one of History Channel’s highest-rated documentary series and Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…, an award-winning music and performance series hosted by Elvis Costello with appearances by Bono, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Herbie Hancock, Rufus Wainwright, Renée Fleming and Diana Krall, co-produced with Rocket Pictures’ David Furnish and Sir Elton John.

ABOUT SBS PRODUCTIONS

SBS Productions was founded by the French-Tunisian film producer, Saïd Ben Saïd, in 2010.

SBS is driven by a commitment to produce authors internationally renowned and finds its unity through the advocacy of a cinema that is both demanding and accessible. Its most recent productions received awards throughout the world, among which Paul Verhoeven’s Elle which won the Best Foreign Picture at the 2017 Golden Globes, Nadav Lapid’s Synonyms which was awarded with the 2019 Golden Bear at the Berlinale and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Bacurau which received the 2019 Jury Prize in Cannes, Ira Sachs’ Passages which was selected at Sundance festival in 2023 and Catherine Breillat’s Last Summer, which premiered in the Competition at Cannes 2023.

ABOUT SAINT LAURENT PRODUCTIONS

Saint Laurent Productions is a registered subsidiary of the house, marks the first fashion house to count the full-fledged production of films among its activities. The division, envisioned by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent, is in line with Vaccarello’s assured steering of the brand into the future, while echoing the cinematic breadth and nuances of his collections.

By Mr. Will Wong

DEAD RINGERS pushes boundaries daringly in the same spirit that David Cronenberg would approve. This new six-episode Prime Video Limited Series, based on the great Canadian’s groundbreaking 1986 feature, stars Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz in dual roles as New York City’s well-known twins Elliot and Beverly Mantle. Together, the twins break the rules, but it isn’t without reason. When it comes to women’s health, their care and rights pre and post-natally, they are here to challenge antiquated practices and standards. They aren’t entirely heroes though in the classic sense. They use each other’s identities to deceive and they literally share everything – no secrets. So what happens when one finds love and the other no longer is everything to the other?

Canada’s Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Nest) has a knack for exploring stories from the eyes of complex female characters, and is tasked with directing three of the six episodes here. Others behind the lens include a directing team packed with talent: Karyn Kusama (Girlfight, Destroyer), Lauren Wolkstein (The Strange Ones) and also Toronto’s own Karena Evans (Firecrackers).

Make no mistake, the Series is not for the light-hearted. True to Cronenberg form, this is very much a Psychological Thriller with Body Horror elements. It looks and feels like the 1988 original as well, cold, dark and gray. It’s graphic, bold and the Mantle Sisters are unflinching and can take it as well as they can dish it. That being said, so much of the Series weighs on the strength of Weisz’s superb work, effectively characterizing each sister so convincingly that we forget they’re played by the same Actor.

DEAD RINGERS arrives April 21, 2023 on Prime Video.

Sphere Films x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a copy of David Cronenberg‘s CRIMES OF THE FUTURE as a VOD rental or on Blu-ray! One lucky winner also will get a David Cronenberg-signed Poster!

Synopsis:

Starring Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, and Kristen Stewart, the film follows the story of a performance artist who turns the removal of his metamorphosized organs into real-time art. Receiving a six-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival premiere this year, CRIMES OF THE FUTURE is, as Guillermo del Toro likes to put it, “100% Cronenbergian body gospel.”

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Indiciate in the comments there if you are requesting to win a VOD rental or a Blu-ray copy. One winner will get a signed Poster! Contest open within Canada only.

Rules and regulations here.

Sphere Films release CRIMES OF THE FUTURE on-demand starting August 2, 2022 and Blu-Ray on August 9, 2022.

More here how to see it!

(Photo/video credit: Sphere Films)

The Canadian Star System in full forcelast night at the North American Premiere of David Cronenberg’s Body Horror, CRIMES OF THE FUTURE. The Film, shot in Athens, got its World Premiere earlier this month in Cannes.

The Film looks Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen) and Caprice (Léa Seydoux), the former, a celebrity Performance Artist, who publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission – to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.

The film has received wide-acclaim, sticking to Cronenberg‘s shocking sensibilites.

In attendance at the Red Carpet Premiere at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX was a who’s-who of Canadian Cinema including:

Don’t forget to visit TIFF Bell Lightbox as they celebrate Cronenberg‘s iconic career with display pieces from the David Cronenberg Permanent Collection throughout the building for a limited time only. TIFF will screen Crash (1996), setting the stage for both the theatrical release of Crimes of the Future and a four-film TIFF Cinematheque series spotlighting Cronenberg’s earlier work, titled Cronenberg: Crimes of the Past and running July 2 to July 10. The series features screenings of Videodrome (1983), Dead Ringers (1988), eXistenZ (1999), and a second screening of Crash.  More at tiff.net.

Sphere Films will release CRIMES OF THE FUTURE June 3, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Sphere Films/Mr. Will Wong)

By Amanda Gilmore

This latest effort from Auteur David Cronenberg takes place sometime in the future when the human species has adapted to a synthetic environment. In doing so, the human body undergoes new transformations and mutations. Saul (Viggo Mortensen) is a man whose organs metamorphosis. This leads him and his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux) to put on performance art shows where she operates on him, removing one of these mysterious organs at a time. However, a mysterious underground group believe that Saul’s ever-growing insides might just be the next step toward evolution.

Cronenberg opens with a young boy searching the ocean as a rotted shipwreck is just off the coast. It’s clear something has happened to Earth due to climate change. His mother warns him to not eat anything he finds. From her urgent, disgusted tone it’s clear he does this a lot. Soon we watch as he eats a plastic garbage bin. It’s a powerful opening to a film that works best as a commentary on climate change.

The impact of this climate change has caused the human body to transform in order to survive. However, this has led the species to feel no pain. As mentioned in the Film, pain acts as a warning sign. This brings into question how one can survive without it. The hollowness that comes with these characters causes them to crave something to feel.

The surgeries, and performance art, act as a substitute for sex in Crimes of the Future. As Kristen Stewart’s character Timlin explains: “Surgery is the new sex.” Stewart steals the show with her portrayal of the mousey Timlin. Particularly, in her advances upon Saul. It’s a shame she’s underused. But this statement is true as we see when watching Caprice (a daring and captivating performance from Seydoux) perform the surgeries on Saul. The look of desire and lust spreads across her face as she controls the procedure.

This theme of sex throughout the Film directly correlates to the idea of reproduction that continuously comes up. The evolution of humans won’t happen if no one is reproducing. One scene has Caprice unzip a part of Saul’s stomach and perform what is akin to oral sex. It’s as though Cronenberg is asking: how will the human race continue if they don’t procreate? They can adapt all they want, but without procreating the species will cease to exist.

The stylistic world Cronenberg and his Production Design team have created brings us into this futuristic world. The bed Saul sleeps in resembles a cocoon. He eats in a chair shaped like a skeleton that constantly moves. When he’s getting operated on, the machine looks like he’s in an incubator. This world and Cronenberg’s vision are fully realized.

There are Subplots that Cronenberg explores in the Film. He touches on how the Government police human bodies. They don’t want the characters to stray from the natural transformation their bodies are going through. This is the significance and the young boy from the beginning and the underground group who are attempting to perform surgeries to progress the human body. This Subplot is an intriguing one and we wish we had more time spent to evaluate it.

Crimes of the Future does have its share of queasy moments, however, it might not be as nauseating as was promised. The gruesome aspects come from the operations Caprice performs on Saul. Although, even then these scenes aren’t horrific – unless you are terrified of organs. The brutal aspects come more from the child. These two segments of the Film aren’t for the faint of heart, but they do tie everything together.

Crimes of the Future screens at Cannes ’22:

Mon, May 23 at 9:30 PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Tue, May 24 at 12:00 PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Tue, May 24 at 7:00 PM at LICORNE

Tue, May 24 at 7:30 PM at SALLE BAZIN

Wed, May 25 at 12:30 PM at CINEUM IMAX

Thu, May 26 at 9:30 AM at CINEUM AURORE

The 2022 Cannes Film Festival might have started a week ago, but the excitement continues to build as David Cronenberg’s CRIMES OF THE FUTURE premiered tonight. In attendance were none other than Kristen Stewart, whom our Amanda Gilmore spotted at the Press Junket and Photo Call earlier in a pink Chanel suit. Also in attendance were Léa Seydoux, Scott Speedman and Viggo Mortensen.

The Horror centers on a Performance Artist couple Caprice (Léa Seydoux) and Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), whom publicly showcase the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission – to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.

The Horror received both walkouts and a standing ovation, divisive as Cronenberg expected. CRIMES OF THE FUTURE arrives in theatres June 3, 2022 via Sphere Films.

Also spotted around town were Jamie Foxx, seen enjoying the French Riviera on a yacht.

Canada’s Nina Dobrev and Shaun White also were spotted around town at both the Top Gun: Maverick Premiere last week, and a Fundraiser for Ukraine, the With Love for Peace Gala.

Review here for CRIMES OF THE FUTURE.

(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore/Mr. Will Wong)

Huge news! Hot off its Premiere at Cannes, David Cronenberg‘s CRIMES OF THE FUTURE will get a Canadian Premiere in Toronto at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX on May 30, 2022. This event is brought to us by TIFF, Sphere Films (known formerly as MK2 | MILE END) and Seredipity Point Films.

The event will be followed by Q&A with the Director, the Producer, and members of the Cast at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the exclusive Canadian venue to screen the film’s North American premiere. The Film opens across North America on Friday, June 3, 2022 including TIFF Bell Lightbox.
 
Tickets for the Crimes of the Future special one-night-only event as well as tickets for the film’s regular theatrical screenings go on sale starting at 10am on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 for TIFF Members, and to the general public on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Tickets will be limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Synopsis:
 
Crimes of the Future is a meditation on human evolution. As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux), Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission — to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.
 
Following its North American premiere on May 30, Crimes of the Future will start its theatrical run at TIFF Bell Lightbox on June 3, 2022. On Tuesday, May 31, the day after the premiere, TIFF will screen Crash (1996), setting the stage for both the theatrical release of Crimes of the Future and a four-film TIFF Cinematheque series spotlighting Cronenberg’s earlier work, titled Cronenberg: Crimes of the Past and running July 2 to July 10. The series features screenings of Videodrome (1983), Dead Ringers (1988), eXistenZ (1999), and a second screening of Crash. Tickets for Cronenberg: Crimes of the Past go on sale Wednesday, June 22 for TIFF Members and to the public the following week on June 29. All screenings will take place at TIFF Bell Lightbox.  Pieces from David Cronenberg‘s collection will be on-display also throughout TIFF Bell Lightbox in celebration of the Film.

(Photo credit: Sphere Films)
 

David Cronenberg‘s CRIMES OF THE FUTURE will be premiering at Cannes! This is the sixth time the Canadian Filmmaker has appeared at the Festival in competition.

Shot in Athens, the Film stars Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart and Scott Speedman.

Synopsis:

As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux), Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission – to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.

From Sphere Films (formerly MK2 | MILE END), the Film will be opening across Canada on June 3, 2022, following its world premiere in the Official Competition at the Festival de Cannes

(Photo/video credit: Sphere Films)

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL, which premiered at TIFF ’19!

Synopsis:
When Abby (Tuppence Middleton) returns home following the death of her mother she becomes obsessed with fragmented memories of a kidnapping she claims to have witnessed as a child. Abby’s younger sister (Hannah Gross), Laure’s tense relationship with her sibling is tested as Abby’s obsession grows out of control.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance. You must be following on both channels to qualify.

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)