Videodrome - Lisa's Review

I'll start this weeks review by putting it out there - I hated Videodrome!  I seem to be standing out there in a very lonely place with that viewpoint.  I've read so much about manipulation of mass media, subliminal messaging and how clever the movie is, but it most certainly isn't something that I would choose for a nights viewing.

The movie is directed by David Cronenberg who is known for his love of movies with an underlying message.  He also is a big fan of body horror, which Videodrome definately falls into the category of.  I am no Cronenberg fan, it has to be said., with the exception of a small number of his movies that I can count on one hand and still have some fingers left over, I find his work incredibly dull and self indulgent.  The effects artists he works with on movies are where the talent lies.  I will admit some of the actual body horror itself is impressive in a disgusting kind of way.  That's where I find myself intrigued and glued to the screen.  If I wanted to start watching political movies or movies with a specific hidden agenda, I would.  Mostly I just want to be entertained and carried away to somewhere much more interesting not educated on "the impact of mass media perversity on the human psyche".



So a premise of sorts is in order I suppose?  Videodrome stars, amongst others, James Woods (who is looking rather hot it has to be said) and Debbie Harry of Blondie fame.  James Woods plays Max Renn, the CEO of a scummy little Tv station called Civic-Tv.  It seeks to deliver something new and extreme for the lovable wierdo next door.  The programming ranges from soft porn to violent movies.  When Max comes across a program called 'Videodrome' by way of a TV Pirate he works with, he is intrigued.  What he first believes to be incredibly realistic, if poor quality, torturing and murdering of nude or partially dressed young men and women, turns out to be a reality.  He has in fact become somewhat obsessed with nothing more than snuff movies.

Max has an equally wierd girlfriend, Nicki (Debbie Harry), who gets off on all this barbarity, openly admitting it turns her on and asking Max to cut her where he notices someone has "beat him to it".  She thrives on the thrill of violence and pain, even burning herself with a lit cigarette before instigating passionate sex with Max.  The obsession with Videodrome only gets worse, with Max having severe hallucinations.  This is where the fantastic special effects come into play, giving a little light relief in an otherwise awful movie.

I won't go into any more detail on the movie as frankly it bored me to tears and I found my brain switching off time after time whilst watching it. It seems there is a wide consensus that this is a great movie, cleverly showing how sexual, graphic or extreme imagery is used to subtley convey a message to the masses.  This can be whatever message the program makers wish and generally leads to the loss of identity and emotion, leading to materialism and obsession with technology.

Possibly something a lot of movie fans will love and DO love, but frankly, something that left me stone cold.  I won't suggest 'avoiding' the movie as the special effects are great and it does appear I am in the minority in not enjoying this movie.