Cronenbergs first proper film,and gloriously offensive it is to!Shivers uses ideas and themes that Cronenberg has been interested in for most of his excellent career.Science gone wrong,body horror,and physical disgust.Cronenberg has a ball with this film,reveling in jet black humour,as the revolting, sluglike venereal parasites infect the inhabitants of the Starliner Towers complex,turning them into sex crazed psychos!Some of the scenes are very nasty,especially the scene where Barbarah Steele is attacked in the bath by one of the parasites.And then theres the revolting bit when Joe Silver tries to pull several of the little suckers off of his face,using a pair of pliers!Most typical of Cronenberg is the scene where the girlfriend of the films hero Paul Hampton, tries to explain to him why the disease she's infected with is so wonderful."Even old flesh,is erotic flesh".She purrs at him.Cronenberg ends the film with the sort of happy ending that only he could come up with.Excellent early Cronenberg.General Cromwell says if you haven't seen this then check this baby out!(Not for the easily offended)
Review of Shivers
