Videodrome
Max Renn is the President of Channel 83 Civic-TV, a small television station on the UHF dial. He defends his programming of largely X-rated shows - which depict graphic sex and extreme violence - as a pure matter of economic survival as a small station. Behind closed doors in specific company, he would admit that he enjoys such programming, but as President will stay away from associated activities that may be dangerous for him in its purchase. His current girlfriend, radio personality Nicki Brand, who he met on a television talk show, is sexually aroused by light mutilation on her person, that despite or because her radio show is like an open air crisis hotline. On that same talk show, the other guest via video feed was Professor Brian O'Blivion - solely his stage name - who believes that television and video broadcasts will one day overtake the world as reality, which may make Max's programming in combination more dangerous. In Max's search for the next big thing in like programming already on Channel 83, Harlan, his pirater who scans satellite signals, illegally obtains a satellite feed of something called Videodrome, which depicts continual sexualized torture and murder with no storyline of which to speak. The background behind Videodrome is unknown, but believing it is that big thing for which he is looking, Max is determined to find the producers so that he can purchase it for his station. He is concerned for Nicki if she goes ahead against his warnings in wanting to appear on Videodrome, however it does not lessen his desire to purchase it. If Max in turn does not heed the warning of Masha, one of his long time show suppliers, based on what little she discovers about it, Max may discover that Videodrome is just the next but destructive step in O'Blivion's prognostication.
Review
I had the privilege to see this in a gorgeous 4k restoration (Criterion), which did a lot to make this bearable for me. The special effects were cool and definitely pretty great for 1983, but the 4k helped in making them obviously effects, which I have to think look much more shocking in standard definition.
I was surprised in looking at the filmography of David Cronenberg that I had seen several of his movies. None of them were of the sort that you would expect some sort of supernatural body disfiguring, but they did include some disturbing stuff. The fight scene in the bath house in Eastern Promises is really difficult to watch. Burt that didn't really compare to my reaction when I saw the gun go into Max's abdomen, or when it became part of his hand. That stuff is weird, and not exactly what I'm looking for.
I did notice the close-up looks at the skin effects. They look like the exact same effects used when Arnold cuts his eye out in The Terminator. A quick search did not turn up a connection (very, very quick search) but I plan to keep looking. Again, I was helped along by the 4k rendering these effects as obvious. I needed that.
Debbie Harry was weird as hell, but ultimately a real treat to watch. I can only imagine how she was received at the time, especially with a movie that appears to have been made to appeal to a certain audience anyway. Her character was exactly what I expected to get from her being in the movie, so excellent work making the 80s (maybe even some 70s throwback) a character in itself in a way.
James Woods was good but could have been any number of other actors. I think that may be James Wood's thing. I don't find anything uniquely appealing about the guy, so he was a wash to me.
Overall, this is obviously a movie that appeals to a certain type om move fan, and I'm not sure I'm that fan. I like id. I thought it was weird enough to keep me interested and find out what happens, but I would probably not generally recommend this. You'd have to indicate to me some level of understanding of me (don't want anyone to think certain things about me) and of movies before I suggested this one. I'll probably wait a while before watching again. Maybe I'll take in a few more of Cronenberg's first.
Notes:
* Was this some sort of moral panic in the '80s? I seem to remember some snippet of a news report about "snuff films" when I was a kid.
* I probably didn't fully get this, but is this taking place in a world where television is an addiction (another possible moral panic)? There are methadone-type clinics where they give you doses of cathode rays?
* The ending/overall theme--psychic death and giving oneself over to religion? That's what I got. I also really want it to be a response to a lot of Hollywood taking up Scientology.