That theme is fascinating to me.
SPIDER, VIDEODROME, NAKED LUNCH, and even THE DEAD ZONE all pretty much map directly to it from a very subjective POV (along with eXistenZ).
CRASH, M. BUTTERFLY and DEAD RINGERS map to it more indirectly, and from a much more omniscient POV.
His other films (especially the first four) are more about mind/body issues, and lotsa mutations (not that you don't get mutations in some of the others).
While he's talked about being influenced by Burroughs and Nabakov, he's also mentioned Philip K. Dick, and that influence really shows.
I think that The Dead Zone is the only Cronenberg film I've seen in its entirety (I've always managed to stumble across Dead Ringers on TV about an hour or so into it, and I never stick around because I'm not following the story).
I'm lame; I never realized that
The Dead Zone
and
M. Butterfly
were Cronenburg.
Of course, it's a good day when I don't confuse Cronenburg and Lynch. I think that comes from seeing
Eraserhead
and
Videodrome
at the same time.
I'm happily surprised you're not confined to a rubber room after that double feature. First and only viewing of Eraserhead cost me THREE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.
Just cut them up like regular chickens.
I was the only one not chemically altered for the viewing, and those who were had it worse I think. I didn't have sleepless nights, but I couldn't quite relate to the world normally for a week or so.
I'm just glad no one suggested
A Clockwork Orange
as well.
Just cut them up like regular chickens.
Damndest little things.
Of course, it's a good day when I don't confuse Cronenburg and Lynch. I think that comes from seeing Eraserhead and Videodrome at the same time.
Heh. Love them both, but that's like the double bill from hell. Eraserhead is probably the only movie that could make Videodrome seem relatively coherent.
I'm lame; I never realized that The Dead Zone and M. Butterfly were Cronenburg.
Well, neither is really a typical film for him (see also the new one, apparently).
skipped like ... skippey!
Me and Bruce Campbell
