Good morning or afternoon, depending upon when I get done writing this. I’m beginning this cozy Friday morning by delving straight into the abyss of debauchery, although it has promise, as most films do (or need to) in order for me to write a single word about them.

I must note, the nature of the cinematography and presentation of this film seems to inspire a great many online ARGs that the likes of Nexpo dive into, the sorts of pseudo-mind controlling broadcasts he enjoys milking.

Halfway into Videodrome I’m impressed by the quality of the acting in this Canadian film (I know right, for once?), and considering the date of its release, its insight into sadomasochism is especially impressive, considering how far-reaching such an analysis of it is not even close to the halfway point; and that’s coming from an individual who knows from whom the word ‘sadism’ was specifically coined. No. I’m never watching Salo again for this blog…Good as my word is for anything these days.

Written & Directed by: David Cronenberg

Anyhow, with this film being one addressing television stations themselves and the desensitization audiences, pornographic actors and producers endure/enjoy, I feel rather ashamed of myself for not having watched it previously and if you know much about me personally, you can probably see why.

Videodrome blends fiction and reality in a very uncliched way that is still rather effective to this day – and I’m not talking on a plot level – I’m talking about psychological hallucinations manifesting before my own eyes whilst I watch this movie; alongside some of the more grotesque, (effectively presented through ironically enough terrible VHS quality) supposed snuff scenes.

I gave a lot of credit to Man Bites Dog in an earlier post, however, the means by which this film is narrated/presented isn’t of the organic, homemade footage – hyper-realism caliber, that’s for sure, so I won’t be making too many comparative statements, however, I do to some extent retract my thoughts of it being all that revolutionary – and I don’t say this out of naivety either.

The idea that watching a videotape could bestow upon you some irrevocable illness or fate seemingly started here and not with Ringu, although I’m sure someone (maybe even myself, eventually) would be able to correct me about such a matter.

Upon finishing Videodrome I let out a long sigh of bewilderment and relief, probably down to the fact that I chose to watch it first thing upon waking up on a morning. I don’t want to go into depth with spoilers here, but it puts freedom of expression to war against governmental tyranny and for any of you out there that have taken less acid than I have and lost your sanity, it really does bring some MK Ultra mind-control shit into the forefront of your mind (and the protagonist’s).

To some extent, I wish this film was longer and delved deeper into the motives, setting, and just about everything else to do with it. This could have been a double-edged sword, however, and would have left perhaps too little ambiguity for audiences to muse upon.

Considering it came out in 1983, this film is particularly innovative and has more substance (in terms of the horror genre) on a technological level than most films today – the horrors of the modernization of technology have not yet been accurately depicted in such a medium, in my honest opinion.

Yeah, if you’re a fan of horror, this one’s a cornerstone. Can’t believe I haven’t already watched it. Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for reading this, whoever the fuck you all are.

Sedlo