I think Cronenberg is great! I still remember seeing VIDEODROME on the big screen as a pre-teen. And I finally got to see the unrated version on the Criterion DVD (which I definitely must buy)!!! There’s also a great interview with him, John Carpenter and John Landis from 1982 on this disc.
I also recently re-watched RABID, which is still a cool, creepy film.
It’s very telling how Cronenberg predicted numerous human events in his films (whether it’s mas hysteria of blood/sexually transmitted disease (RABID) or ultra-right wing religious/political fanaticism in the media (VIDEODROME) - the latter today could be seen as a precursor to the rise of Rupert Murdoch and Fox News, in my opinion. Cronenberg was always on the mark when it comes to depravation and degradation of the human body and mind.
I still need to see SHIVERS and THE BROOD.
8)
