David Cronenberg’s films usually feature hyperviolence that manifests on the outside of the body. Think of the birthing sacs pulsating on Nola Carveth (Samantha Eggar) in The Brood or the vaginal cavern on Max Renn’s (James Woods) chest in Videodrome. Next to these grisly visions, Scanners stands out as a […]
Barney Nuttall
Lost Highway (1997) A Mind-Bending Rollercoaster Ride with some Hefty Caveats
In many ways Lost Highway is quintessential David Lynch. There are strobe lights, doppelgangers, and twisted symbols of Americana. Yet, unlike his dreamier films, Lost Highway has a heavy metal intensity. The music is aggressive, miles away from Angelo Badalamenti’s iconic Twin Peaks score, and Lynch’s approach to sex and […]
Daddy’s Head (2024) Frightening Exploration of Grief via Polished Filmmaking
Although its title suggests something pulpier, Shudder’s latest release, Daddy’s Head is actually a frightening exploration of grief told via polished filmmaking. It leans towards elevated horror aesthetics, most notably in the modernist house setting which recalls Ex-Machina, Parasite, The Invisible Man, etcetera. It is the distinction between the sharp-edged, […]