CRIMES OF THE FUTURE harks back to director’s own 1970 experimental short but is otherwise unrelated. Instead of remake, sequel or whatever, we get full exploration of Cronenberg milieu’s bio-anarchy medley & more, to date, with grisly alternative futurism composed of notable thematic riffs, to deliver thinking-man’s surrealism: The Brood, Videodrome, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, Crash, eXistenZ, plus Crony combo’s fatherly recognition of Brandon’s worthwhile genre pictures Antiviral (2012), Possessor (2020). SF subversion reigns here as neo-organ creator Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen, veteran of DC’s previous A Dangerous Method, Eastern Promises, A History Of Violence) wallows in modern freak-show legends of pain-free subculture where ‘sexy’ surgery is creepy theatrical performance while provocative satire unfolds with partner Caprice (Lea Seydoux).
Legal, social, & bureaucratic problems arise from ‘New Vice’ cop & registry offices for body-horrors, when Saul attracts fan-girly stalker Timlin (Kristen Stewart), as taboo-breaking Tenser & Caprice prep their bio-tech gear for arty autopsy on murdered mutant boy. In a trans-human world without infections where illness can be easily managed by cyber sleep, weirdo sensationalism has become darkly beautiful, seemingly repulsive, yet strangely alluring. CRIMES... gets my vote as movie of the year. After this surprise return to directing Crony is also making THE SHROUDS, now in pre-prod for 2024.
