PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Over the years, the name David Cronenberg has become synonymous with subversive and terrifying films, delivering visceral horror and violence to viewers and eventually becoming one of the filmmakers who helped shape the body horror sub-genre. June 6, 2020 marks the 45th anniversary of the United States release of Cronenberg’s debut feature, Shivers.
After studying English Literature and graduating with Honors at University College in Toronto, Canada, in 1967, Cronenberg already had a significant affinity for filmmaking. After making four short films, notably Stereo (1969) and Crimes of the Future (1970), David went on to successfully obtain backing from the government-funded Canadian Film Development Corporation for his feature-length debut. This fact would prove significant.
In October of 1975, the film premiered in both its native Canada as well as screening at the famed Sitges Film Festival in Spain. Originally titled both Orgy of the Blood Parasites and The Parasite Murders in the Canadian release, Cronenberg’s oddity was introduced to the United States on July 6, 1976 as They Come From Within.
Unfortunately but not surprisingly, Shivers was met with harsh criticism and received backlash, described as “being crammed with blood, violence and depraved sex” courtesy of critic Robert Fulford. David’s ode to New York underground cinema became the center of Canadian scrutiny. To be completely honest, what the hell did you expect from a film the director intended on titling Orgy of the Blood Parasites?
Because that’s exactly what is going down in the Starliner Towers, the luxurious, secluded, high-rise apartment building outside of Montreal that was set as the backdrop for Cronenberg’s devilishly effective debut. Opening with a look at the exclusive homes while simultaneously showing a violent attack upon a girl—including the seemingly absurd postmortem wounds inflicted upon her and the immediate suicide of her murderer—Shivers starts with a bang and continues to achieve a sense of dread as we learn of the bizarre, ambitious, scientific experiment that turns the swanky high-rise into ground zero for a wild, violently hedonistic outbreak among the residents. It presents acute and uncomfortable layers to the viewer, but on the surface, it is an enticing, sex-fueled exploitation flick.
Paul Hampton (Waxwork II: Lost in Time 1992), Lynn Lowry (The Crazies 1973), Alan Kolman and the legendary Barbara Steele (Black Sunday 1960, Nightmare Castle 1965) come together in Shivers for a disturbing and, for the time, progressive piece of horror. This alone is pretty noteworthy, but to have Cronenberg admit that he was learning as he went along in this production—one that was shot in only two weeks—is fucking mind boggling and inspiring. In such a short amount of time, David had to learn all the different functions of folks on set, how to delegate tasks, and how to budget and schedule, all while shooting multiple sequences involving practical effects, scenes that would repulse critics, but planted the public seed for a cult sensation.
Despite his rookie filmmaking status and all of the negativity that was spewed all over his creation, Shivers became the first film ever to not only return the investment made by the Canadian Film Development Corporation, but also earn a profit. With a $185,000 budget, the independent horror film ended up making five million dollars, earning Cronenberg a legion of lifelong fans while kicking off an eclectic filmography that spans over five decades.
There are scenes within Shivers that have stuck with me, making it a film I revere. It’s not the best film, but it’s the catalyst for the career of an artist I admire deeply and whose works I revisit excitedly. There’s a reason why this man has five of his films within the Criterion Collection, has been named on countless ‘Best Of’ lists, has received the Golden Lion—a lifetime achievement award—at the 75th Venice International Film Festival, and was honored in 2018 during Beyond Fest in Los Angeles.
If you are also excited to revisit Cronenberg or maybe these words have stirred some curiosity within you, you can experience Shivers on Tubi in addition to looking forward to a much needed royal treatment via the Vestron Video Collector’s Series coming this September.
