Recent Reviews for Videodrome
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MCT:September 26, 2008Cronenberg at his strange best and Rick Baker with some FX that are as seamless and good as American Werewolf... One of my favorites from the early years!
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MCT:September 26, 2008The ending seems made up on the fly (a pun), but if you've always wanted to see James Woods sporting a Betamax compatible vagina and flagellating a masochistic, throbbing TV set, then you'll love AIR BUD!
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MCT:September 24, 2008After getting to know David Cronenberg a little better, I can better identify the things he's good at, and the things he's not so good at which initially turned me off to him. I'll do this through the vehicle of Videodrome, a film in which James Woods, a network exec at a risque TV station, discovers a vast conspiracy related to shock TV in pirate video signals, which are called, you got it, Videodrome. That brings me to my first point: Cronenberg is great at weird. He knows weird better than most, and Videodrome is no exception to his exceptional record. It's fascinatingly original and supremely bizarre in its plot and execution. His effects are top notch, and the grotesque and completely nightmarish visions in Videodrome are executed well and serve the entire movie's feel of being in a freak, hallucinatory television experience. James Woods guides us through our freakish trip with ease and fascinating craze, and that's another thing Cronenberg is great at, getting fantastic performances out of his leading men. Woods, Mortensen, Goldblum, they're all exceptionally fantastic when working in Cronenberg's universes. On the opposite spectrum, he has a knack for getting lackluster and completely uninteresting performances out of his leading ladies. All around the board in what I've experience, the leading ladies in Cronenberg films are given flat parts and find trouble giving them life, and Videodrome is no exception. Watching Nikki is like watching yourself fall asleep, and in the scenes she's supposed to bring fright to, I can't break away from her over-the-top lifeless and uninterested gaze. It's not part of the style, it's too much. Videodrome seems to be trying to make some sort of commentary on something, but it's hard to say because all the commentaries it might be making are presented so heavy handedly that it's embarassing to have to bring them up. It's a commentary on violent TV! Oh, I get it! Subtlety is not his key and it works for and against him when he ventures into the world of bizarre. In the end, it makes for entertaining movies with no real depth behind them. So Videodrome is another masterpiece of the macabre from David Cronenberg, and simultaneously, another laughably pointless venture into horror/sci-fi. Credit where credits do though.
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MCT:September 21, 2008
A really good one from Cronenberg. Beware: it can seem a dated movie, so immerse yourself in the early 80's.
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MCT:August 10, 2008
This movie shows the horrific obsessions about the human body of Cronenberg in a illusion vs. reality plot worthy of Phillip K. Dick.
It's a really interesting movie but I thought it could have gone further in visual terms. Great eerie electronic soundtrack by Howard Shore.
Personally I think that Cronenberg was more succesful with similar themes in eXistenZ. -
MCT:August 9, 2008
A Cronenberg classic serving as a cautionary tale about how the flickering images on TV (and computers nowadays) being perceived as real as reality. Like the immortal words of Philip J. Fry on HDTV: "It has better resolution than the real world!" Although Videodrome appears a bit tame and dated, its themes are one for the ages; obsessions, addictions, like Cronenberg alluding shocking entertainment to drugs. Heh, and being a David Cronenberg film, expect this to be a weird and slightly disturbing film to watch. A film ahead of its time... pretty errie.
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MCT:August 9, 2008
One truely messed up flick. It does spread a good message though and the movie was clearly ahead of its time. Great peformance by James Woods, and the ending is one of the best ever possibly.
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MCT:August 7, 2008
David Cronenberg is on the top of my list for favorite directors. If you have a weak mind or a weak stomach then don't watch this film.
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MCT:August 3, 2008profetic strange alucinatory reflection of the demise of any past, present and future media distribution
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MCT:August 3, 2008
Stylish and refreshing, you'll be hard pressed to find another movie that's quite like Videodrome. Very bizarre, which is a big part of its charm. Definitely recommended for horror fans.
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MCT:July 24, 2008
I totally dug this and I have a ton to say about it but I also have a splitting headache so now it is time for sleep.
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MCT:July 17, 2008
tv transmissions to permanently alter the viewer's perceptions by giving them brain damage, video hallucinations, a pirate video broadcast showing torture, murder, and mutilation. can we say an opiate for the masses that ends in ones own demise. yes motherfucker yes!
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MCT:July 11, 2008I decided to watch this based on the synopsis, but as soon as I saw David Cronenberg's name in the opening titles, I knew I was in for a disappointment...
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MCT:July 8, 2008
This is one intersting piece of video candy, Cronenberg has a knack for making a visual world very real, his style and story line can take you for a ride and even though this was made years ago his vision of hte future is not that far fetched.
I have always been a Peter Weller fan and watching Debbie Harry play off him was a twisted treat, this is not amove for everyone but if your into bizzare this is your cup of tea. -
MCT:June 22, 2008Videodrome is an, well, interesting horror film. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't quite good. It was merely mediocre and slightly boring. Perhaps that is due to the fact that the first third feels like porn and the second third feels like a slow drama. Luckily, however, the pace is picked up by the last third which is filled with great, gory effects and a starnge and exciting finale. The filmwork throughout the film is also well done, as is the acting. The film just felt a little too slow and bland for my tastes.
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MCT:June 8, 2008I had high hopes for this film as being a great classic horror by some of the reviews and recommendations that I had seen, but this was a very odd film (and not in a good way), I couldn?t wait for it to end. I found it quite ridiculous ? it has to go into the worst movies list for sure.
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MCT:May 30, 2008
Bizarre, terrifying, disturbing, and nothing short of absolute genius.
Definitely something that requires multiple viewings to take most of it in. -
MCT:May 27, 2008
"Television is reality. And reality is less than television."
Full of fantastic imagery, some of which has been revisited in for example, the later eXistenZ, Videodrome is a powerful, disturbing and twisted Cronenberg film. Citing his 'influences' as mondo/porn flick Emmanuelle in America and the critically acclaimed Network, many of the ideas here about the way in which the future of the media may be heading may have seemed implausible on release, but there's now a shocking amount of truth and reality here. Bolstered by the superb lead performances from James Woods and Debroah Harry, this is one of Cronenberg's most successful and affecting films; it is violent, sexual, scary and funny, and the special effects sill look fantastic.
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MCT:May 21, 2008
This entire film I was distracted by the fact that I was a young James Woods on screen. Not sure why, but that was very mystifying to me.
That said, fun Cronenberg flick with plenty of bodily hang-ups and general repulsiveness. Cancer gun! -
MCT:May 19, 2008
An absolutely original, talented and brilliant masterpiece, of what is Cronenberg's best so far. His direction and plot development, just like his talent and vision go one huge step further within the genre. he may go a little bit mainstream, but he gives away all of his genius in this one. Two thumbs up for this wonderfully well-made horror/thriller/fantasy surrealist piece.
94/100 -
MCT:May 2, 2008
Max Renn (James Woods) runs a TV channel, and when looking for new material to show he discovers a 'snuff' broadcast called 'Videodrome'. What he doesn't find out until much later is that the 'Videodrome' show permanently alter the viewer's perceptions by giving them brain damage. "Videodrome" is one of director David Cronenberg's best know movies and features some of his best know trademarks such as 'mutation' and 'gore'. The special effects are creepy and cool, James Woods and Deborah Harry (of Blondie) does a good job in their roles and Howard Shore score is just perfect. "Videodrome" is suspenseful, creepy and worth seeing for anyone who don't mind some weirdness.
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MCT:May 1, 2008Love James Wood, too bad you could cal this movie wood I felt nothing during this movie except yawning throughout
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MCT:April 30, 2008
When I saw this the first time I was much younger and wasn't paying much attention to it and as a result I didn't really get it. This time around it was smooth sailing and boy am I glad I watched it again attentively. This is no doubt a bizarre and surreal tale and it's almost alarmist about the future of technology. There aren't really any other films like this one, but make sure you pay attention and are willing to let it blow your mind.
We have a guy named Max who seems to be right into the violent sexual videos which is a good thing because it's his job to find cheap stuff for his station. He finds this program called Videodrome which is straightforward snuff type stuff, but when he goes to investigate he gets more than he bargained for. It begins consuming him and before long he starts to uncover the disturbing truth.
Deborah Harry is wonderful as Wood's weirdo girlfriend Nicki, and well Woods is well cast too. It's one of those things where the doors are left open for interpretation but really it's rather thought provoking and simply awesome. This will show you things you never thought you'd see on tv...okay I never thought I would but I'm glad I did! -
MCT:April 20, 2008
A very unique concept that is well done and effective. Definitely my favorite David Cronenberg and if you're a little open minded you definitely shouldn't miss it.
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MCT:April 17, 2008
The level of depravity hinted at in this film speaks to those who enjoy films such as the 'Saw' franchise, japan's 'Guinea Pig' franchise just to name a few.
An interesting look into what truly makes people tick... Chronenberg does an excellent job, and Blondie's not that bad either...
