Shivers (1975) – David Cronenberg

A product of the “liberal” and entirely seedy post-Free Love attitude of the 1960s, and a bizarre amalgamation of zombie apocalypse and horror-softporn, Shivers is a curious article from the mid ’70s…

A luxury high-rise resort on “Star Liner Island” houses the results of genetic sexual experiments, which quickly spread throughout the building, striking man, woman and child alike, regardless of age or creed. It’s an odd film, because at no point can the viewer tell whether it’s a stark, cynical indictment of lascivious sexual freedom (some of the dialogue is surpsingly philosophical and nihilistic), or a perverse attempt by Cronenberg to use shock tactics and a cast of nubile young females (none of whom are adverse to exposing themselves on camera) in an orgiastic horror of taboos. In either case, the result is hardly one of tittilation.

As becomes fairly obvious in the first half of the movie, Shivers is the natural predecessor to Alien, exploring similar themes – the paternal fear of pregnancy, emasculation of alpha male protagonists (in this case through violent lesbianic sexual awakenings as a result of male impotency), and invasive penetration of the body – though perhaps its representational style has more in common with exploitation cinema. Several scenes are nothing more than softcore injected into the narrative, though it’s also important to recognise the young Cronenberg operating rather admirably on a budget, and far from the realms of Hollywood. Some of the cinematography and acting is clunky, but for a relatively minimalist picture, it’s not to the detriment of the overall story, or gore. Shivers is still engaging, and often horrific to watch, the emphasis on horror is never lost, and even retrospectively the special effects (also operating on budget) are ahead of their time in terms of visceral grimness.

Although perhaps accidental, the film also acts as a vocal prediction of the economic and sexual excesses of the 1980s, with Yuppie attitudes and the emergence of AIDS seemingly foretold by the degenerate, middle-class abandon of the Star Liner Island inhabitants.

Not for the faint-hearted, Shivers is a worthwhile, atmospheric slice of sex-terror cinema, with every anathema or immoral activity from incest, elderly sexuality, homo-eroticism, rape, asphyxiation, and group intercourse covered. A lesser known classic for video nasty fanatics, but perhaps not the best choice to screen to a new girlfriend when you invite her round for dinner….

S.D.

by enos