Shivers

[D-Man]

I have been a huge David Cronenberg fan for years, but strangely, I never watched this movie until yesterday. 

I have to say, I'm impressed.  It was made all the way back in 1975, but it's still an effective film today.  I see so many other filmmakers (Eli Roth comes to mind immediately) who try to shock and disgust, simply for the sake of shocking and disgusting...and that whole thing gets old after a while. 

I don't know why, but the thing about Cronenberg's films is that they can be just as disgusting and shocking (even more so in some cases) but the sting with them has a real staying power that you don't get with other films...maybe it has to do with the messages, or the way he likes to mix elements from different genres, but his material is practically ageless. 

Shivers, the story of creatures possessing people to commit random, violent sex acts against each other,  is a great example of this.  It's old, it's low budget, with outdated hairstyles and clothing styles, and tiny rubber monsters...but the way he uses it all, the incredibly repulsive, yet compelling imagery he comes up with in his head...Unlike anything I've seen before.  My hat's off to the guy!

[akiratubo]

Is this an alternate title for They Come From Within?

If so, I found it to be damn near intolerable.  It just kept going on and on and there just wasn't any point.  Oh, look!  Monsters possess you and ... make you have sex.  Aaahhh!  Nooooooo!  There were a couple of people killed but, for the most part, they were just having sex.

I haven't enjoyed any of the Cronenberg movies I've seen thusfar, honestly, except for The Fly.  Rabid was at least hilarious, and Videodrome had James Woods.  They Come From Within, though,  was just crap.

[RCMerchant]

 I LOVE this movie. The thing about Cronenberg, I believe, that shocks and upsets so many people, is that ,in some way, he always hits on very personal notes...like sex-(this film) and relationships, ( a HiISTORY of VIOLENCE), thus making the impact of the horror all the more personal...unlike porno violence of garbage like I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE.

[voltron]

I absolutely LOVE Shivers. It was the first Cronenberg film I saw and it's still one of my faves.
I love the part where the guy vomits blood from atop a building and the little old lady gets blood spashed on her umbrella. "Ohhhh...the poor birdie!"
Classic body horror from the master and in a weird way it preempts the whole AIDS epidemic in it's own (perverted) way. 70's Cronenberg was his finest. Fact.

[voltron]

 RCMerchant, I really liked I Spit On Your Grave. I don't know, I just liked the realism and the grittiness of the film. Ebert actually gave this a ZERO rating. f**k him. And I must add that Camille Keaton lookes absolutely stunning in this flick (well save for the nasty nudity scenes which as I'm sure to assume were not meant to be erotic).

[Andrew]

I've watched it twice and really didn't like it the first time, but had better luck the second.  I swear, the first time I watched it the film was almost turned off and thrown away.  The second time, I'd say it was a solid two slimes.  Thinking back on it, I don't know if a third viewing would increase my respect.  "Rabid" is one I like a good bit better and I'd call that a three slimer.

The idea of it, with the parasites invoking sexual reactions, was pretty good.  I even thought that the established characters were fine.  What I didn't like was some of the scenes, with the things dropping off of ledges and interactions (especially once the infection started rolling).  I couldn't decide if the parasites were pretty mobile or needed the hosts to aid infection.  They seem to muck around in the middle ground with that.

Maybe, come to think of it, the characters presented reached their limitations for me.  To hit the right "I like this movie" spot in my brain, they would have to change, so the scenes could change. 

[RCMerchant]

  I think he made a very enjoyable fantasy ( "let's all have an orgy!") into a horrifying,monstorous nightmare.  It could have been called"NIGHT of the HORNY DEAD."

[Torgo]

Is this an alternate title for They Come From Within?

Yes, that was the American title from what I gather.

[Scott]

Rented this film on VHS years ago and didn't think it would be much, but found myself surprised at how good it was.

[youtube=425,350]http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZkK59lXG9uE

[DistantJ]

I'm interested to see Shivers. I never got around to it but I love the idea of sex zombies. 

[Scott]

Their are these slugs that enter the body and cause the host to be aroused in order to transfer the creatures from person to person.

[Torgo]

I thought that the creepiest part of the movie was the middle aged man with the little girl.