Shivers is the Only David Cronenberg Film that Made me Extremely Uncomfortable
Shivers was my second David Cronenberg film, and it was an experience that haunted me for a long time. I can't believe I was able to even finish the movie, due to how extreme the film continued to become until that disturbing ending.
It's a possession story, but a different kind that is absolutely haunting.
We follow multiple people living in an apartment complex, that becomes the main target for a parasite to take over. The parasite was created by a company, and their idea was to create a living organism that can 'take over the function of a human organ.'
A random dude stumbles upon their bodies, not knowing that he is already carrying the parasite within his body. He goes back to the apartment complex, where he ends up spreading the infection. The parasite is passed on through the mouth, some kind of disgusting monster that is transferred through erotic and violent acts.
It's so hard to watch the movie, because of all the people who live in this apartment complex…and knowing that no one was spared. Not even the children…it's a sadistic horror film that doesn't need to show everything. Knowing how the parasite is passed on, while everyone is screaming or going to full panic mode, is awful.
It's hard to watch, and damn, I felt so sick while watching the movie.
This whole film literally focuses on the downfall of everyone, watching them slowly succumb to such a sick fate, becoming mindless sex zombies. The main character of the story, named Roger, ends up being the final one, the only survivor left after he loses his girlfriend to the parasite.
She is attacked by a random man who attempts to harm her, but Roger kills him, saving her. Unfortunately, he couldn't prevent the infection from happening. He escapes from his girlfriend, and he finally runs into the random bastard that brought the chaos to the apartments. He kills him, but repeats the process of trying to get away from more infected.
He struggles to get away from the infected toward the third act of the film, and I kept on hoping that at least someone would get out alive. But I was met with one of the most depressing endings to a horror movie instead.
Roger attempts to escape from the apartment complex, but he fails to escape from the madness. He runs into the pool located at the apartments, and while the infected are surrounding him, his infected girlfriend arrives too. They all hold him down as his girlfriend kisses him, passing on the parasite to Roger, sealing his fate.
Roger, now infected, leaves the apartment with his girlfriend and the other residents, driving away into the city, gleefully happy. The movie ends with news reports stating that disturbing crimes are taking place in the city, but they are warning people to not be panic as they continue their investigations into this terrifying invasion.
When I first saw this ending, it messed me up for several days.
I remembered how I struggled to sleep that night. This movie really got into my head, because that kind of invasion is so damn sickening to imagine. David Cronenberg is a body horror genius, but I don't know how he came up with a crazy idea like this for a movie.
I don't think I'm ever going to watch this movie again.
The thought of subjecting myself to a movie like this again…no. Hell no. I can't do it. I am a huge fan of horror, but like I have said before, I have my own limits.
I don't recommend this movie. At all.
Comments
Post a Comment