Videodrome (1983)

Ah, finally a body horror film that I don't have to shield my eyes from during certain scenes! And finally, I can declare a favorite Cronenberg film! Of course, I'm referring to Videodrome, in which James Woods stars as Max Renn, a sordid and outspoken cable-tv programmer who gets his hands on a revolutionary new S&M show. As he becomes transfixed by the program, he finds himself hallucinating uncontrollably and is soon caught up in a strange plot involving a masochistic DJ (Debbie Harry), a manipulative eyewear manufacturer (Leslie Carlson), and a cult leader's daughter (Sonja Smits). So little of the plot makes sense on paper I really just can't go into it any further.

But it's all so AWESOME! Seriously, this had me hooked from beginning to end and I'm still thinking about it a week later. The premise is fantastic, with atmosphere and themes setting the stage for the likes of Brazil and Max Headroom and a gritty aesthetic all too fitting for early-80's sci-fi. Cronenberg's facility for gross-out body horror and imaginative imagery is in full-force here despite his limited means. I wasn't too squeamish or anything, it's all just really cool, impressive effects. The story is confusing and weird and surreal, and all the better for it. I loved trying to read between the lines and try to puzzle through just what anyone was ever talking about. It will make for many fun rewatches.

One of the main reasons I wanted to see this movie (besides its inclusion on the Sci-Fi List) was Debbie Harry, whom I adore without question. While her screentime is sadly limited, she is smoking hot and charismatic for those few scenes that it's totally worth it. I dug James Woods in the lead role- he's great as a sleazy programming exec in the beginning, and believably morphs into a confused, sympathetic test subject just trying to find out what the hell is going on. The rest of the cast is fun too, but he drives the entire film and the audience watches events unfold from his point of view.

I loved basically everything about this movie. It's sexy, strange, surreal, inventive, funny, tragic, confusing, and just fucking awesome in every way.

4.5/5 (So close to giving it a 5/5. I probably will after a rewatch, since I usually don't give 5's for something I've only seen once)

Pair This Movie With: Watch a couple episodes of Max Headroom and you're in for some awesome visions of our television-obsessed future from an 80's perspective.