LogFAQs > #980001008

7. Videodrome (1983 / 147 points)
Directed / Written by: David Cronenberg
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Why Its Significant - Videodrome explores the merging of flesh and technology, with hallucinations manifesting as physical growths and technological implants. Its central theme revolves around the manipulative power of media. The mysterious Videodrome signal not only bombards viewers with violent content but also alters their perceptions and even controls their minds. In the age of social media and targeted advertising, the film's message about the potential dangers of media consumption feels more relevant than ever. Videodrome eerily predicted the rise of the 24-hour news cycle and our constant bombardment with information and explores the desensitization to violence and the blurring of lines between reality and entertainment. Today, with our constant connection to screens and the overwhelming amount of content available, Videodrome seems like a cautionary tale come true. Videodrome's impact can be seen in countless horrors that followed - some of the most notable being Tetsuo: The Iron Man on this very list being one such direct offspring, the Ring books and films, Pulse (for some reason Videodrome influenced a lot of Japanese media in particular), & the Black Mirror TV series.

The Rankers
Johnbobb - 2
Plasmabeam - 2
Evilordexdeath - 3
Karo - 3
Rockus - 3
Snake - 3
Jcgamer107 - 14
Bitto - 17
Seginustemple - 17
Fortybelowsummer - 19
Lightning - 19
Mythiot - 20
Inviso - 25

Johnbobb - https://i.imgur.com/HWS3i7n.gif

Plasmabeam - The best surprise on this list. Feels like a Black Mirror episode that was written in the darkest corners of hell (or Pittsburghtake your pick). I had never heard of Videodrome till now, and Ill be rewatching it ASAP.

Evilordexdeath - Starting out with what could be read as an examination of TV brainrot whose themes have only become more relevant with the advent of the internet, this film pretty quickly spirals into a narrative of hallucinations and secret conspiracies whose true meaning I wouldn't try too hard to grasp. It's fun to watch and well-constructed, with nice payoffs like James Woods hiding a gun in his chussy in what appears to be a fever dream only to take it out and use later on, and the inscrutable narrative with its potential questions about how much was part of the film's reality and how much was hallucination provides intrigue that makes it amusing to think about after you've watched, but there is a part of me that feels like the conspiracy narrative ends up being mostly meaningless while the initial premise could've delivered more ~~~substance~~~. And that's okay, art is supposed to be a sensory and emotional experience so ~~~substance~~~ isn't necessarily everything, and I think this film works very well as that type of experience - the ending is probably the sequence I've been most haunted by after watching all these movies - but still that's what's keeping it from quite breaking into my top 2.

Karo - Video pirates encounter a TV broadcast that causes mass hallucinations and loss of touch with reality of its victims. By that I mean one other than Fox News.

The protagonist's search for the source of the program leads him down some strange paths, such as turning in to a human VCR and having sex with his television set.

The film carries a sense of innovation and novelty that is rarely seen in the movies of the decade, and its plot about the effects of media manipulation in the populace before the advent of the internet and 24 hour news cycle was very very ahead of its time.

It is very disturbing and thought provoking, and although it is indeed very weird it manages to avoid the aura of silliness that plagues so many of these movies.

Rockus - Another great David Cronenberg body horror picture. A surreal nightmarish fever dream on television, and by extension other modern screen media, in controlling and shaping us. Constantly visually dynamic and visceral. Like a number of horror films of the era, Possession and Hellraiser included, its themes and ideas are layered in complex ways that it might require multiple viewings to get to everything it has to say. It just might be the quintessential David Cronenberg film. Another masterpiece.

Snake - Videodrome is a sensory overload, a waking nightmare that burrows into your brain and won't let go. James Woods delivers a performance that's electric as Max Renn, a sleazy TV executive hungry for the next shock sensation. Debbie Harry, a surprising but mesmerizing addition to the film, a captivating presence who adds yet another layer to the film's exploration of sex, violence, and the blurred lines of perception.

The lines between reality and TV blur, with Max experiencing hallucinations that are both horrifying and strangely titillating. Cronenberg doesn't shy away from the grotesque but it's not just about shock value. Videodrome is a brutal satire on our insatiable appetite for violence, a prophecy of our media-saturated world. We're bombarded by negativity, and Cronenberg asks the terrifying question: is the line between entertainment and manipulation even there anymore? Videodrome (in film) isn't just entertainment; it's a weaponized broadcast designed to manipulate viewers. It critiques the idea of a passive audience, suggesting the media actively shapes our thoughts and actions.

By the time Cronenberg's trademark body horror comes into play, were already disoriented, suitably off-put, and confused, but these elements take the film to even higher and more frightening levels. Max putting the gun inside himself, the distorted and contorted flesh-like TV set that pulls Max inside, witnessing his body develop strange growths and orifices, its all suitably disgusting and portrayed with the grim desperation it deserves. I feel the gun becomes an extension of his body, pulsing and throbbing with a life of its own, is is pure Cronenbergian brilliance and I think the single best thing hes ever done effects-wise.

This is a film that feels ahead of its time, a chilling glimpse into a future where technology becomes an extension of ourselves, and the very fabric of reality can be warped by unseen forces. The score by Howard Shore is a perfect complement, a throbbing, unsettling soundscape that mirrors Max's descent into madness.

Videodrome isn't just a film; it's an experience that left an indelible mark on my psyche. Long live the new flesh.

Jcgamer107 - 6/10

Bitto - Rating: C

I wasn't born in the 80s, so I have no idea if this movie is prophetic or not. But it's interesting to watch now. It's actually kinda boring because I have such a clear idea of what this looks like in modern times so the plot was really predictable. I really like the overall tone of seduction in this movie, probably most highlighted by the video and the TV literally moaning and pulsating. I think the "long live the new flesh" part is really interesting, but it doesn't really get much time to breathe. I also really do not like the programming aspect where Videodrome starts to hijack and control Max. It just felt...inconsistent with the rest of the plot. Max going and killing his other board members with no intervention is also completely absurd.