Crimes of the Future is a 2022 Canadian-Greek science fiction body horror film about humans learning to adapt to their synthetic surroundings.
Written and directed by David Cronenberg (eXistenZ; Dead Ringers; The Fly; The Dead Zone; Videodrome; Scanners; The Brood; Rabid; Shivers), the movie stars Viggo Mortensen who has previously worked with the Canadian filmmaker on his A Dangerous Method; Eastern Promises and A History of Violence.
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The main cast also consists of Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart, Scott Speedman, Tanaya Beatty, Nadia Litz, Yorgos Karamichos, Yorgos Pirpassopoulos, Welket Bungué, Don McKellar and Lihi Kornowski.
Teaser:
International trailer:
Controversy:
World of Reel has reported that Crimes of the Future has begun to screen for international programmers ahead of its 2022 Cannes Festival debut.
An anonymous person apparently told the site, “I cannot say much, obviously, but if people thought Crash was divisive back in 1996, this is going to create way more chaos and controversy for sure. The last twenty minutes are a very tough sit. I expect walk-outs, faintings and real panic attacks (I almost had one myself!) at the Lumière Theatre. No hyperbole, I promise.”
They added, “[Léa] Seydoux’s role is way too bonkers and radical to contend for a Cannes Best Actress award in my book, but I’d love to be proven wrong. I see no precedent in Cannes for a performance of that caliber/genre gaining momentum with a jury … I mean Seydoux basically plays a (very oft-naked) Gina Pane-like artist of the near future.”
Plot:
In the not-so-distant future, humankind is learning to adapt to its synthetic surroundings. This evolution moves humans beyond their natural state and into a metamorphosis, altering their biological makeup. While some embrace the limitless potential of trans-humanism, others attempt to police it. Either way, “Accelerated Evolution Syndrome”, is spreading fast.
Saul Tenser is a beloved performance artist who has embraced Accelerated Evolution Syndrome, sprouting new and unexpected organs in his body. Along with his partner Caprice, Tenser has turned the removal of these organs into a spectacle for his loyal followers to marvel at in real-time theatre. But with both the government and a strange subculture taking note, Tenser is forced to consider what would be his most shocking performance of all…
Production:
Filming began in Athens, Greece and continued until September 2021. Meanwhile, Mortensen has released a statement:
“As we begin filming Crimes of the Future, just two days into this new adventure with David Cronenberg, it feels like we’ve entered a story he collaborated on with Samuel Beckett and William Burroughs if that were possible. We are being pulled into a world that is not quite like this or any other, and yet is one that feels strangely familiar, immediate and quite credible. I can’t wait to see where we end up.”
The movie is co-produced by Robert Lantos, Panos Papahadzis and Steve Solomos. It reunites Cronenberg with frequent collaborators Carol Spier (production designer) and Howard Shore (composer).
Rocket Science is handling international distribution sales and Neon will release in the US.
The project takes Cronenberg back to his origins as his second feature, an experimental film made in 1970, is also called Crimes of the Future (see clip below).
