A new version of David Cronenberg’s 1983 film Videodrome was rumoured back in 2009, and now, it seems the rumours have gained substance.
Ehren Kruger’s writing the script, and Adam Berg’s in line to direct. If those names sound unfamiliar, Kruger wrote some Transformers movies (along with the wonderful Arlington Road), and Berg directed some adverts.
Videodrome was a one-of-a-kind sci-fi horror meditation on our close and sometimes parasitic relationship with television. Topics such as copycat violence and the corrupting qualities of disturbing and pornographic images were dealt with in subversive, surreal ways. Televisions throbbed and distorted into fleshy guns. Mind-corrupting videotapes were inserted into fleshy orifices in James Woods’ stomach (who turned in a career-best performance).
It was a brilliant, uncompromising film, full of provocative ideas and hideous images that etched themselves onto the retina of the mind’s eye. It was an 18-rated film in 1983, and would probably remain so today, such is its power to discomfort and generally mess with your head. As one character in the movie put it, “It's a real sicko. For perverts only”.
Given that Videodrome was set in the early 80s era of VHS, Kruger plans to ‘modernise’ the movie, and at the same time, somehow make it “a large-scale sci-fi action thriller”.
We know we’re supposed to remain upbeat and lacking in prior judgement about these remake situations, but we’re really struggling to muster much enthusiasm about this particular piece of news.
At any rate, here’s the commercial Adam Berg directed for Philips, which is full of smart camera moves and fancy graphics. We’re not sure, but we think it's an advertisement for clown masks.
Long live the new flesh.
Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.