Summary
- David Cronenberg is hailed as the master of body horror, with films like
Scanners
and
The Fly
among the genre’s finest. - Cronenberg’s upcoming release,
The Shrouds
, is a personal and autobiographical project that may resonate emotionally with audiences. - The film delves into the passing of Cronenberg’s wife and is expected to blend emotions with the horror genre, offering a poignant and intense viewing experience.
While he’s tackled several genres throughout his wide-ranging career, Canadian auteur David Cronenberg is most prominently known for pioneering a fan-favorite realm of cinema: body horror. From Scanners (1981) and VideoDrome (1983) to The Fly (1986) and Crimes of the Future (2022), several of the subgenre’s most superb entries ever were both written and directed by the famous Canadian filmmaker.
He’s dipped his toes into several other genres, but no matter their tone or style, Cronenberg’s movies are always made with world-class technique. In all likelihood, The Shrouds (2024) will continue this trend. He’s had plenty of fantastic films throughout his career, and that claim is supported by his many nominations for the Canadian Screen Awards. While he’s never been recognized at the Oscars, his career has been put on display as the most nominated director in CSA history.
The Career of David Cronenberg
Well before becoming a general household name, David Cronenberg made a name for himself in a specific corner of the industry by dint of some independent sci-fi films. His inaugural entry in the body horror subgenre came by way of Shivers (1975), and he followed up just two years later with another one titled Rabid (1977). These were high-quality films, though not too prominent regarding Cronenberg’s career – not like Scanners, that is.
Along with VideoDrome and The Fly, this Canadian auteur was established as the bona fide master of body horror. All three of those movies are among the finest the genre had to offer throughout the 1980s, and they’re arguably held in even higher regard by film fans today. While he’s taken a hiatus from horror here and there, audiences associate Cronenberg with one genre in particular. With good reason, but often, his horror is blended with the conventions of science fiction.
The 15 Greatest Sci-Fi Horror Movies of All Time
Some horror movies prefer robots, aliens, and cyborgs to the typical ghosts and ghouls.
Several of his films exclusively fit that bill, and that’s only scratching the surface of categories tackled by Cronenberg. Now, he’s set to release the ninth film in his greatest-ever genre, a fan-favorite realm of cinema that made him a household name in the first place. And while there hasn’t been much being made regarding its production or release, The Shrouds should nonetheless prove to be another Cronenberg masterpiece.
The Shrouds Is Another Foray Into Sci-Fi Horror
Marking yet another splash into the realm of sci-fi horror, The Shrouds will be the 23rd film of Cronenberg’s career. It features a talented array of actors who hail from around the world: the Star of the show, Vincent Cassel, is among the greatest actors from France, while the same can be said for Diane Kruger and Guy Pearce regarding Germany and Australia, respectively.
Its plot follows a suffering widower named Karsh, who invents a device that allows its user to interact with the dead. This is quite an intriguing premise, and knowing Cronenberg’s penchant for screenwriting, many twists are bound to unfold throughout the following acts. Calling on a few of his best collaborators to see it come to life, Cronenberg returns to his favorite genre with an international co-production between America and France.
Director of Photography Douglas Koch and editor Christopher Donaldson had previously worked with Cronenberg on Crimes of the Future, with both of their efforts proving essential to production. Howard Shore, perhaps Cronenberg’s greatest collaborator, has scored nearly all his most famous films, from The Fly to Eastern Promises (2007). Speaking of the latter, the upcoming horror film will mark the third time Cronenberg has worked with Vincent Cassel.
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With impressive performances and high-quality films under his belt, Vinnie Cas should be considered among the best actors to ever live.
After Eastern Promises (2007), the two worked together again by way of A Dangerous Method (2011). Neither of those were horror movies, nor did Cassel play the respective main characters, but still, the Frenchman now leads the newest scary movie of an all-time great director. Cronenberg has received widespread praise every step of the way and created some truly special projects. While others like The Fly will perhaps remain more popular, The Shrouds has been constantly cited as the auteur’s “most personal” film.
David Cronenberg’s Most Personal Film to Date
Speaking about his upcoming movie, David Cronenberg called The Shrouds a “personal” and “autobiographical” project. In her interview, lead actress Diane Kruger shed further light on those sentiments. “We just finished filming it,” she said. I think it might be his most personal film because it talks about him and the passing of his wife.”
In concluding the interview, Kruger cited a certain vulnerability within Cronenberg throughout filming and hinted that those emotions would be parlayed into an equally poignant project. It makes sense, after all. The passing of someone’s wife will send anyone into a spiral, especially if they were married for as long as David Cronenberg.
Nearing their 40th anniversary, Carolyn Zeifman – the second wife of David – passed away in 2017. A film editor, Carolyn was with David throughout the most pivotal points in their respective careers, and as one might expect, her death impacted the famous filmmaker in a highly emotional fashion. Considering the comments from Cronenberg along with Diane Kruger, it’s likely that The Shrouds will captivate audiences in thematic resonance alone. Chances are, it’ll also provide some scares. The Shrouds is in theaters on September 25, 2024.
