The Shrouds: David Cronenberg describes Vincent Cassel, Lea Seydoux afterlife thriller as autobiographical

Writer/director David Cronenberg’s latest body horror film Crimes of the Future was released earlier this year – but even before Crimes of the Future reached theatres, it had been announced that Cronenberg was re-teaming with Eastern Promises and A Dangerous Method cast member Vincent Cassel on an afterlife thriller called The Shrouds. Now Deadline reports that Cronenberg, speaking during a press conference at the San Sebastian film festival, describes The Shrouds as “autobiographical”. Here’s the quote, which reveals that Léa Seydoux is following Cronenberg from Crimes of the Future to The Shrouds: “The new film I’ll be making is called The Shrouds and it stars Vincent Cassel and Léa Seydoux. Despite that, it’s not a French film. It’s a very personal project for me. People who know me will know parts of it are autobiographical. The idea is to shoot that in the Spring in Toronto.“

During that same press conference, Cronenberg also confirmed that moments in Crimes of the Future had been shot with a phone: “The last few short films I’ve made were just with very available consumer cameras and even phones. And, in fact, there are some moments in Crimes of The Future that were shot with an iPhone. I won’t say which but you can probably figure it out.“

The story Cronenberg has crafted for The Shrouds centers on

Karsh (Cassel), an innovative businessman and grieving widower, who builds a device to connect with the dead inside a burial shroud. Karsh’s revolutionary business is on the verge of breaking into the international mainstream when several graves within his cemetery are vandalized and nearly destroyed, including that of his wife. While he struggles to uncover a clear motive for the attack, the mystery of who wrought this havoc, and why, will drive Karsh to reevaluate his business, marriage and fidelity to his late wife’s memory, as well as push him to new beginnings.

The Shrouds is expected to start filming in March of 2023. Saïd Ben Saïd of SBS Productions, Martin Katz of Prospero Pictures, and Michel Merkt are producing the film, with CAA Media Finance handling U.S. Sales and FilmNation Entertainment overseeing international distribution.

Are you looking forward to The Shrouds, and did you notice the phone-shot moments in Crimes of the Future? Share your thoughts on Cronenberg’s quotes by leaving a comment below.