Nobody does body horror better than David Cronenberg. And in his first movie since 2014’s “Maps To The Stars,” it looks like Cronenberg returns to what he does best: a visceral, extreme take on humanity as we careen into the future.
“Crimes Of The Future” has its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next week, where it vies for the coveted Palme d’Or. It also marks Cronenberg’s first film at the festival since “Stars” and his fifth film to have its world premiere at Cannes. Back in 1996, “Crash,” Cronenberg’s adaptation of J.G. Ballard‘s novel, took home a Special Jury Prize at Cannes. Will his latest take home Cannes’s biggest prize of all?
Here’s the official synopsis for “Crimes Of The Future,” courtesy of NEON:
As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. Accompanied by his partner, celebrity performance artist Saul Tenser showcases the metamorphosis of his organs. Meanwhile, a mysterious group tries to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.
Viggo Mortensen leads ‘Future’ as Saul Tenser, with Léa Seydoux as his partner, Caprice. It’s Mortensen’s fourth film with Cronenberg after “A Dangerous Method,” “Eastern Promises,” and “A History Of Violence.” The film also stars Kristen Stewart, Don McKellar, Scott Speedman, Welket Bungué, Lihi Kornoswki, and Tanaya Beatty.
Cronenberg shot ‘Future’ in Greece last year, and word of mouth suggests the film’s opening scene may inspire walkouts at its world premiere. Talking to Variety, Cronenberg confirms as much: “Yes, and that is a crucial scene. It’s not a shock scene. It’s a crucial event that is the motor of the whole movie but it’s done with, I think, some beauty and emotion. And yes, there’s a lot in the movie that is like a Greek tragedy, actually. And it’s not just because we’re shooting in Greece, the birthplace of tragedy but because it’s in the script, basically.” So, we’ve all been warned by the man himself.
After its world premiere at Cannes next week on May 23, “Crimes Of The Future” hits theaters in France on May 25, then US theaters on June 2. Watch three new clips from the movie below.