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David Cronenberg: Clinical Trials
An illustrated monograph on the work of legendary writer/director David Cronenberg, master of body horror and cinematic provocateur behind films such as The Fly, Scanners, Naked Lunch, Eastern Promises, and Crimes of the Future
David Cronenberg’s films have long enjoyed a cult following, pushing the boundaries of taste, blending high art with horror, and straddling the commercial and the cutting-edge. Here, the reader will be presented with the familiar and unfamiliar aspects of iconic films such as Videodrome, The Fly, Naked Lunch, and Crash. Though dividing the book into two halves (Freudian and Jungian) suggests a binary, the sections within each will emphasize that this work—and the world itself—is perpetually shifting. The reader will progress through these different stages—and films—and see how the recurrent narrative, cultural, and visual themes loop back and intersect with one another. Rather than a straightforward narrative about a filmmaker, this book will be a dreamlike exploration of all that is Cronenbergian.
David Cronenberg’s films have long enjoyed a cult following, pushing the boundaries of taste, blending high art with horror, and straddling the commercial and the cutting-edge. Here, the reader will be presented with the familiar and unfamiliar aspects of iconic films such as Videodrome, The Fly, Naked Lunch, and Crash. Though dividing the book into two halves (Freudian and Jungian) suggests a binary, the sections within each will emphasize that this work—and the world itself—is perpetually shifting. The reader will progress through these different stages—and films—and see how the recurrent narrative, cultural, and visual themes loop back and intersect with one another. Rather than a straightforward narrative about a filmmaker, this book will be a dreamlike exploration of all that is Cronenbergian.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 24, 2024
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March 6, 2025I appreciated the focus on the psychology behind Cronenberg rather than surface level body horror talk - this book understands better than most that there is a clear through line from the early genre work to “mature” 21st century dramas
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November 25, 2024David Cronenberg has certainly had quite the career in Hollywood as a noted, sometimes controversial director. The long list of movies that he has had a hand in, are certainly most impressive, so it was only logical for a book to be released focusing on his life and times. But it is not just any sort of biographical tale. It is a deep dive not only into the life of Cronenberg but also looks at his films in psychological terms and how they movies are viewed in terms of Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud.
This makes the project most ambitious, as it veers in many facets of some of the more controversial movies Cronenberg has done. The book also talks of the director’s earlier years in Canada, and how the man was a lightning rod for controversy. His life is fascinating, as is the roadmap to becoming a respected director. He at one time worked for a record store, one of the biggest in Canada, before heading for France in 1971 with a 16mm camera that he bought thanks to a Canada Council grant. He completed several mini-documentaries for the CBC, who he worked for at one time. He always had an eye to taking chances and making films, films that maybe pushed the envelope with controversy.
His first film Shivers, was certainly controversial, raising the ire of critics like Marshall Delaney of Saturday Night magazine. His next movie Rabid raised even more blood pressures, as one of its stars was Marilyn Chambers, a noted porn star at the time. It even caused the eviction of David and his family from his home, because the landlady read an article about Rabid in a newspaper, mentioning Chambers as the star. She said there was a morality clause in the lease to the house, that it could not house pornographers, which was not true, but she stuck to her views. He had to move.
The book looks at the lows and of course the highs of his film career, also mentioning the films he turned down. Among them were Flashdance, Top Gun, Witness, After Hours, and Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan. But there is little question that Cronenberg was selective in his movie directing choices, ultimately selecting: The Brood, Scanners, Videodrome, The Dead Zone, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, Crash, M. Butterfly, and others.
The author does more than talk about the successes, she also addresses the film’s themes and motifs through the psychological lens, and the imagery conveyed. That is more for the deeper thinkers, but still basis for debate and discussion. Interviews with those associated with some of the films, plus stills from his movies, make for a most well-rounded book with something for everyone, whether the career of Cronenberg or looking at the movies in more intense and psychological terms.
This makes the project most ambitious, as it veers in many facets of some of the more controversial movies Cronenberg has done. The book also talks of the director’s earlier years in Canada, and how the man was a lightning rod for controversy. His life is fascinating, as is the roadmap to becoming a respected director. He at one time worked for a record store, one of the biggest in Canada, before heading for France in 1971 with a 16mm camera that he bought thanks to a Canada Council grant. He completed several mini-documentaries for the CBC, who he worked for at one time. He always had an eye to taking chances and making films, films that maybe pushed the envelope with controversy.
His first film Shivers, was certainly controversial, raising the ire of critics like Marshall Delaney of Saturday Night magazine. His next movie Rabid raised even more blood pressures, as one of its stars was Marilyn Chambers, a noted porn star at the time. It even caused the eviction of David and his family from his home, because the landlady read an article about Rabid in a newspaper, mentioning Chambers as the star. She said there was a morality clause in the lease to the house, that it could not house pornographers, which was not true, but she stuck to her views. He had to move.
The book looks at the lows and of course the highs of his film career, also mentioning the films he turned down. Among them were Flashdance, Top Gun, Witness, After Hours, and Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan. But there is little question that Cronenberg was selective in his movie directing choices, ultimately selecting: The Brood, Scanners, Videodrome, The Dead Zone, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, Crash, M. Butterfly, and others.
The author does more than talk about the successes, she also addresses the film’s themes and motifs through the psychological lens, and the imagery conveyed. That is more for the deeper thinkers, but still basis for debate and discussion. Interviews with those associated with some of the films, plus stills from his movies, make for a most well-rounded book with something for everyone, whether the career of Cronenberg or looking at the movies in more intense and psychological terms.
April 14, 2025
DNF
"Not to put too fine a point on it, but I fucking hate that."
I wish this book had been more about Cronenberg. Instead, it's less a book about the man himself and more the author's pithy asides on vacillating subjects and axe-grinding against Jungian philosophy. Interspersed are post-twenty first century perspective analyses of mostly just Scanners and Dead Ringers that support and celebrate current socio-political trends, but are presented as if they were the very reason for the films' creation. As it stands, the first two chapters are a rough and tumble primer overview of the filmmaker's career. If you are at all familiar with his life and work, there's nothing new here. The process of weaving through the author's jarring and, at times, infuriating asides and commentary (GET IN LOSER WE'RE GOING FILMAKING is the subheading of a section discussing Fast Company) cancels out any benefit that could be gained from the core text. I read over a hundred pages in this book and learned nothing, except for the what the author does and does not approve of.
Furthermore, the Jungian philosophy conceit of the book turned out to be as flimsy as I feared it would be when I first started reading it. Especially when compounded with how much the author seems to disapprove of, if not flat out disdain, Jung. Cronenberg is an appreciator of many people and subjects. The choice of Jung was as arbitrary for the reader as it was flawed for the author.
If you don't agree with a certain philosophy or worldview, don't use it as the framework for your book.
I'm sorry I ever purchased this.
"Not to put too fine a point on it, but I fucking hate that."
I wish this book had been more about Cronenberg. Instead, it's less a book about the man himself and more the author's pithy asides on vacillating subjects and axe-grinding against Jungian philosophy. Interspersed are post-twenty first century perspective analyses of mostly just Scanners and Dead Ringers that support and celebrate current socio-political trends, but are presented as if they were the very reason for the films' creation. As it stands, the first two chapters are a rough and tumble primer overview of the filmmaker's career. If you are at all familiar with his life and work, there's nothing new here. The process of weaving through the author's jarring and, at times, infuriating asides and commentary (GET IN LOSER WE'RE GOING FILMAKING is the subheading of a section discussing Fast Company) cancels out any benefit that could be gained from the core text. I read over a hundred pages in this book and learned nothing, except for the what the author does and does not approve of.
Furthermore, the Jungian philosophy conceit of the book turned out to be as flimsy as I feared it would be when I first started reading it. Especially when compounded with how much the author seems to disapprove of, if not flat out disdain, Jung. Cronenberg is an appreciator of many people and subjects. The choice of Jung was as arbitrary for the reader as it was flawed for the author.
If you don't agree with a certain philosophy or worldview, don't use it as the framework for your book.
I'm sorry I ever purchased this.
July 10, 2025
Violet's one of my favorite film critics so I was disposed to enjoy this but the Jungian organizing layout really worked! Perfect pre-game for watching The Shrouds on criterion channel last night.
July 15, 2025
I loved it.
Didn't think the Jungian psychoanalysis approach would bring anything to the table but it did.
Didn't think the Jungian psychoanalysis approach would bring anything to the table but it did.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews