Film #2 (of 12) in Chuck's Around the World Movie Challenge.

Forgivably clumsy and unpolished, but still capable of achieving a certain visceral impact. Think of Shivers as a dry run for some of the pet themes that would later dominate much of Cronenberg's career. Even the rough-hewn, DIY aesthetics lend a squirming palpability to its images of corporeal decay, diseased erotics, and social entropy. In a way, it's like a low-budget adaptation of Freud's Civilization and Its Discontents, but with a wriggling, viscera-soaked phallus monster.

Terrible, with shades of brilliance. Definitely worth checking out to see where many of the Cronenbergisms began. Only, you should be prepared for Amateur Night on the technical level. Some will write it off as ridiculous (which it is); others will dig the hell out of the bad taste sensibility which Cronenberg obviously relishes fully here.

As his first two features (Stereo & Crimes of the Future) focus on different subjects, Shivers is Cronenberg’s first experiment with all the elements he would later be known for; body horror. The presentation of Shivers shows all the experimental traits of any upcoming director in its awful acting and sub-standard dialogue, but there’s a real sense of dread in the tension that Cronenberg so aptly utilises. In creating the fear paradox through his startling use of gore in sporadic form, Shivers shows signs of the master filmmaker that Cronenberg would later become. There is an overwhelming power in Shivers, and although the visionary statement that Cronenberg so consistently pursues in his films is not here, it’s worth the watch at its meagre 80 minute duration. If anything it had me imagining what Dawn of the Dead or Invasion of the Body Snatchers may have been like under Cronenberg’s mastery.

Sex zombies and a poo-nis monster.

I love you, Mr Cronenberg.

Part of my Watchlist: Lynchenberg project.

Legitimately one of the worst films I've ever seen. Creates absolutely no atmosphere, features sub-porno dialogue and acting, built on a weak plot stretched way too thin, and it's not even scary or disturbing... I can't think of a single redeeming factor about it.

Sounds like the plot to a cheesy horror porno flick.

the lil buggy virus thing looked like a poo

Film #2 (of 12) in Chuck's Around the World Movie Challenge.

Forgivably clumsy and unpolished, but still capable of achieving a certain visceral impact. Think of Shivers as a dry run for some of the pet themes that would later dominate much of Cronenberg's career. Even the rough-hewn, DIY aesthetics lend a squirming palpability to its images of corporeal decay, diseased erotics, and social entropy. In a way, it's like a low-budget adaptation of Freud's Civilization and Its Discontents, but with a wriggling, viscera-soaked phallus monster.

Shivers, the first recognized feature by David Cronenberg, delivers unexpectedly. Easily one of the most disturbing movies ever made, Cronenberg again hides his extremely intelligent movie making beneath a shroud of violence and sex. The story is pretty obscure and the film is cheaply made, but nevertheless, it manages to put through the bleak message it was meant to. Not right up there, but yes, a must watch for all the cynics out there.

An experiment gone awry in a luxury apartment complex turns the tenants into sexually depraved zombies. The film that introduced the world to David Cronenberg. A low budget film that shows the future auteur honing his craft by presenting some of the macabre themes that would mold his future films.

As his first two features (Stereo & Crimes of the Future) focus on different subjects, Shivers is Cronenberg’s first experiment with all the elements he would later be known for; body horror. The presentation of Shivers shows all the experimental traits of any upcoming director in its awful acting and sub-standard dialogue, but there’s a real sense of dread in the tension that Cronenberg so aptly utilises. In creating the fear paradox through his startling use of gore in sporadic form, Shivers shows signs of the master filmmaker that Cronenberg would later become. There is an overwhelming power in Shivers, and although the visionary statement that Cronenberg so consistently pursues in his films is not here, it’s worth the watch at its meagre 80 minute duration. If anything it had me imagining what Dawn of the Dead or Invasion of the Body Snatchers may have been like under Cronenberg’s mastery.