David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future hit theaters last Friday, and as expected, fans of the genre maestro have come out in force for his return to “body horror.” The film apparently inspired some walkouts at Cannes, but our critic JimmyO was wild for it (read his review), and indeed if you like Cronenberg, this is a movie you can’t miss. Set in an undefined future where pain no longer exists, surgery has become the new sex, as Kristen Stewart’s character explains early on. Viggo Mortensen plays Saul Tenser, an avant-garde artist who, with his partner Caprice, exploits the fact that his body is producing new organs for their art. She tattoos his new organs and removes them to the delight of a paying audience.
Crimes of the Future distributor, Neon, was kind enough to set us up with some interview time with many of the big names involved with the film. First up is none other than David Cronenberg himself, who tells us all about the Cannes premiere, addressing both the walkouts and perhaps a fear of laughing at moments that were intended to be funny despite the gore. Scott Speedman, who’s got a huge cult following for his role in the Underworld saga, digs into what it was like to work with the Canadian auteur, and both guys are pretty down-to-earth and relaxed, which is a common refrain about David Cronenberg. Despite how weird his movies are, the man himself is anything but.
Crimes of the Future is in theaters now, and if you’re a fan of Cronenberg’s grotesque take on body horror, this is an event, so be sure to check it out after watching this interview.