Plot Summary: Tech entrepreneur Karsh (Vincent Cassel) creates a system—GraveTech—that lets mourners watch their loved ones decompose in real time. After some shrouds are mysteriously hacked and vandalized, he digs into a disturbing cyber conspiracy involving grief, surveillance, and obsession.
Director & Writer: David Cronenberg
Producer(s): Saïd Ben Saïd, Martin Katz, Anthony Vaccarello
Music: Howard Shore
Cinematography: Douglas Koch
Editing: Christopher Donaldson
Starring:
Vincent Cassel as Karsh
Diane Kruger as Becca / Terry / Hunny
Guy Pearce as Maury
Sandrine Holt as Soo‑Min
***SPOILER ALERT***
The Return of Cronenberg… and Preset C
FREDDY:
Guess who's back? After a 10-year hiatus on this blog, Preset C is joining us to review the latest Cronenberg movie, The Shrouds. And you know what else is coming back with him? Something we haven't seen in a while around here? That's right, boobies! So, this review is intended for a mature audience – warning is on, because you know, cinematic female frontal nudity on the internet might really hurt your kid... I'm not the biggest connoisseur of Cronenberg; I think I've only watched Videodrome and The Fly, being the classic '80s horror titles they are. The Shrouds is a movie that makes me feel a bit intellectually challenged, to be honest. I can't quite make sense of it. What's it even about? Jealousy? I didn't watch this in the best conditions, because it was during the day and our little daughter, who was napping, kept waking up and interrupting the flow of the movie. And this is not a movie you want to interrupt to go get more popcorn.
Guess who's back? After a 10-year hiatus on this blog, Preset C is joining us to review the latest Cronenberg movie, The Shrouds. And you know what else is coming back with him? Something we haven't seen in a while around here? That's right, boobies! So, this review is intended for a mature audience – warning is on, because you know, cinematic female frontal nudity on the internet might really hurt your kid... I'm not the biggest connoisseur of Cronenberg; I think I've only watched Videodrome and The Fly, being the classic '80s horror titles they are. The Shrouds is a movie that makes me feel a bit intellectually challenged, to be honest. I can't quite make sense of it. What's it even about? Jealousy? I didn't watch this in the best conditions, because it was during the day and our little daughter, who was napping, kept waking up and interrupting the flow of the movie. And this is not a movie you want to interrupt to go get more popcorn.
PRESET C:
The Shrouds is a sleek looking movie, but ultimately I couldn't help feeling it promises more than it can deliver. It sets a stark, clean tone from the get go, and it does present itself with a stylish, intelligent quality that you don't find everyday in your typical Hollywood film. It seems to be set in a near future where technology is not so outlandish, but more accessible, at least to people in the high ranks of life. Vincent Cassel does a good job playing the wealthy tech entrepreneur, handling himself pretty well after a few years of having lost his wife to cancer, while still obsessing about her and his technology to an unhealthy degree.
The Shrouds is a sleek looking movie, but ultimately I couldn't help feeling it promises more than it can deliver. It sets a stark, clean tone from the get go, and it does present itself with a stylish, intelligent quality that you don't find everyday in your typical Hollywood film. It seems to be set in a near future where technology is not so outlandish, but more accessible, at least to people in the high ranks of life. Vincent Cassel does a good job playing the wealthy tech entrepreneur, handling himself pretty well after a few years of having lost his wife to cancer, while still obsessing about her and his technology to an unhealthy degree.
The GraveTech Mystery & Cronenberg's Weirdness
FREDDY:
Let me go back to the what's and why's. The GraveTech concept, with those corpses on the tombstone screens, seems like a really bad idea that only a few creeps and scientific investigators would be interested in putting money on. The minute I saw that, it made me as uncomfortable as the date accompanying our main actor, Karsh (Vincent Cassel). So, what's with the "little things" on the bones? Were the Chinese, or Russians, putting them there? Was it the jealous ex-boyfriend, Maury (played by Guy Pearce) who've rendered them digitally? Why the f*ck would he do something so elaborate, and to what point? Just to mess with Karsh's mind? I get the purpose of the AI assistant, Hunny (voiced by Diane Kruger), but this whole surveillance of the dead makes no sense. There are some really uncomfortable scenes of Karsh's wife, Becca (also played by Diane Kruger), walking around naked in his dream-like flashbacks, and that cracking sound when they were about to have nightmarish sex was seriously unsettling.
Let me go back to the what's and why's. The GraveTech concept, with those corpses on the tombstone screens, seems like a really bad idea that only a few creeps and scientific investigators would be interested in putting money on. The minute I saw that, it made me as uncomfortable as the date accompanying our main actor, Karsh (Vincent Cassel). So, what's with the "little things" on the bones? Were the Chinese, or Russians, putting them there? Was it the jealous ex-boyfriend, Maury (played by Guy Pearce) who've rendered them digitally? Why the f*ck would he do something so elaborate, and to what point? Just to mess with Karsh's mind? I get the purpose of the AI assistant, Hunny (voiced by Diane Kruger), but this whole surveillance of the dead makes no sense. There are some really uncomfortable scenes of Karsh's wife, Becca (also played by Diane Kruger), walking around naked in his dream-like flashbacks, and that cracking sound when they were about to have nightmarish sex was seriously unsettling.
PRESET C:
I find the real highlight here to be Sandrine Holt, who successfully manages to portray an intimidating character of a blind woman who is very calm and collected, despite being worn out by years of dealing with her husband's disease, another rich tech entrepreneur. However, I found myself disconnecting from the narrative and wondering if something truly exciting was going to happen. It fails to create a buildup that grabs one's attention, while dragging around a few characters that aren't particularly engaging. (If I wasn't trying to be nice I'd probably use the word insufferable.) It kind of played out like a TV series, maybe a (much) smarter CSI episode or a futuristic soap opera, that in the end just left me hoping for something more, and in fact ends without a clear or satisfactory conclusion to the story.
I find the real highlight here to be Sandrine Holt, who successfully manages to portray an intimidating character of a blind woman who is very calm and collected, despite being worn out by years of dealing with her husband's disease, another rich tech entrepreneur. However, I found myself disconnecting from the narrative and wondering if something truly exciting was going to happen. It fails to create a buildup that grabs one's attention, while dragging around a few characters that aren't particularly engaging. (If I wasn't trying to be nice I'd probably use the word insufferable.) It kind of played out like a TV series, maybe a (much) smarter CSI episode or a futuristic soap opera, that in the end just left me hoping for something more, and in fact ends without a clear or satisfactory conclusion to the story.
Visuals, Performances, and... Boobies
PRESET C:
Don't get me wrong, I loved the visual aspect, and while every shot felt like it was perfectly balanced and calculated, after a while I slowly lost hope that something mildly surprising was going to come out of this smug detective tale.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the visual aspect, and while every shot felt like it was perfectly balanced and calculated, after a while I slowly lost hope that something mildly surprising was going to come out of this smug detective tale.
FREDDY:
I also enjoyed that disconcerting scenery and the kind of somber and peaceful nature of the cinematography. But I guess I needed something new or different for today. Vincent Cassel is okay, though I found his character's reactions a little strange sometimes. The movie seems to play around with you about all the possible conspiracies that never really go anywhere. This was made clear to me after Karsh's last talk with the character Terry (also played by Diane Kruger). In the very next scene, all his conspiracy bullshit about the fingers being gone is immediately uncovered, being a lie that would quickly be discovered anyway, even if Karsh somehow never noticed the lack of those fingers in all their interactions. Anyway, I've enjoyed how this 82-year-old director can write something that's relevant today, especially with AI technology. I think current movies need to always bring some AI talk to the table if they want to be relevant – except if you're doing a period piece, obviously. I don't know if I would watch this movie again because of its runtime. I kind of feel like it, to try to understand something more out of it, but probably I will just read random people's interpretations on IMDb, because it's not a movie that impressed me or left a lasting impression. And what are your thoughts on these, Preset C?
I also enjoyed that disconcerting scenery and the kind of somber and peaceful nature of the cinematography. But I guess I needed something new or different for today. Vincent Cassel is okay, though I found his character's reactions a little strange sometimes. The movie seems to play around with you about all the possible conspiracies that never really go anywhere. This was made clear to me after Karsh's last talk with the character Terry (also played by Diane Kruger). In the very next scene, all his conspiracy bullshit about the fingers being gone is immediately uncovered, being a lie that would quickly be discovered anyway, even if Karsh somehow never noticed the lack of those fingers in all their interactions. Anyway, I've enjoyed how this 82-year-old director can write something that's relevant today, especially with AI technology. I think current movies need to always bring some AI talk to the table if they want to be relevant – except if you're doing a period piece, obviously. I don't know if I would watch this movie again because of its runtime. I kind of feel like it, to try to understand something more out of it, but probably I will just read random people's interpretations on IMDb, because it's not a movie that impressed me or left a lasting impression. And what are your thoughts on these, Preset C?
PRESET C:
Yes, we do get to see some boobies, but it's such an austere presentation that kind of fizzles out the thrill, leaving one feeling stuck halfway between an artsy picture and an expensive emotionless experience with an erotic robot. There is one scene (with the sister-in-law) (FREDDY: yep, the one I've put up here for your enjoyment) that I must admit explores this vibe with more satisfying results; unfortunately I can't help feel this was the high point of the film, which is somewhat disappointing. Overall, an interesting movie, with some moments of photographic brilliance, but as a whole I found it unfulfilling and overly cold. Is this maybe where humanity is headed, with the way technology is taking over our lives and how we interact with each other? I'd rather not believe that.
Yes, we do get to see some boobies, but it's such an austere presentation that kind of fizzles out the thrill, leaving one feeling stuck halfway between an artsy picture and an expensive emotionless experience with an erotic robot. There is one scene (with the sister-in-law) (FREDDY: yep, the one I've put up here for your enjoyment) that I must admit explores this vibe with more satisfying results; unfortunately I can't help feel this was the high point of the film, which is somewhat disappointing. Overall, an interesting movie, with some moments of photographic brilliance, but as a whole I found it unfulfilling and overly cold. Is this maybe where humanity is headed, with the way technology is taking over our lives and how we interact with each other? I'd rather not believe that.
Preset C Score: 56/100
Freddy's score: 46/100
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