CRIMES OF THE FUTURE (2022) Reviews of David Cronenberg’s surreal movie

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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.

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.

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.

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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…

Reviews:

“As par for Cronenberg’s course, Crimes of the Future finds him bringing an inherently intriguing premise full of Big, Intellectual Ideas. What ultimately keeps this film from success is how less-than-fully fleshed-out the speculative execution seems, in part due to an overly talky script. The auteur’s unmistakable and unmatched eye for set design, however, is present and alert…” Flick Attack

” …Crimes of the Future is devilishly realized with entrancing practical effects and gnarly makeup. But the story is difficult to digest. It is more an amalgamation of all things David Cronenberg than something genuinely compelling with something new to say, even after thinking about it.” Flickering Myth

” …the crowded nature of the narrative means there’s little room to examine these characters or even explain what’s happening in a comprehendible way. Crimes of the Future is full of curiosities, presented with a strong sense of style and the bizarre. The movie’s downfall, though, is that it’s not curious about those elements on a level deeper than how thoroughly odd they are.” 2/4 Mark Reviews Movies

” …a further extension of ideas and themes that Cronenberg has found the most fruitful to his vision. Incorporating some examination of our contemporary social media and televisual culture, set in a strange semi-dystopian world, it has a comfortable familiarity tinged with a few updates and tweaks…” Screen Anarchy

Release:
In the US, Neon will release ‘R’ rated Crimes of the Future theatrically in New York and Los Angeles on June 3, 2022, before a wider release on June 10.

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.”

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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.”

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).

Release:
Rocket Science is handling international distribution sales and NEON will release in the US.

Teaser trailer:

International trailer:

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