Antiviral (2012)
Starring: Caleb Landry Jones, Joe Pingue, Sarah Gadon
Writer and Director: Brandon Cronenberg
Story:
In the near future, The Lucas Clinic sells injections of live
viruses from celebrities to their crazed fans. An employee by the name of Syd
March smuggles diseases from the corporation in his own body and sells them on the black market. One
particular infection he shoots brings on severe symptoms quicker than expected,
and if he doesn't soon find the root of this disease the consequences could be dire.
My Thoughts:
A lot of films out of David Cronenberg’s catalog leave you
with a “Well, I've never seen anything quite like that before” type reaction.
Videodrome and eXistenZ, to name a couple. They’re just sparkling with
originality; there’s no other way to put it. But so much of his work is also
seething with concepts that honestly aren't too far removed from what could be reality.
After reading the Netflix synopsis and getting five minutes into Antiviral, it
became evident that Brandon Cronenberg has that exact same trait.
The story may seem fantastical, but freakishly
taps into what could easily be a future likelihood. Let’s face it; celebrities have
some fucked up fans. Some of them would do anything to feel a closer connection
to their favorite actor, musician, athlete, etc… So, if it were possible for a
fan to purchase, say, a flu virus from Justin Timberlake, you can bet your ass
one of them would.
I totally fell in love with the set design in this movie.
From the cold white sterile nothingness of The Lucas Clinic and Syd’s apartment,
to the dirty grimy underground feel of the black market; it all feels so
appropriate. The visuals are solid. I particularly dug the slowed down 3rd
person shots of Syd approaching a doorway, surrounded by floral decorations,
feeling them through rubber gloves as he walks by. The film is just very
gorgeous, through and through.
Before Antiviral, I was only familiar with Caleb Landry
Jones from his role as Banshee in X-Men: First Class. He was also in The Last
Exorcism and a few other pictures I have seen, but memory is escaping me as far
as performances go. That being said, as Syd March, the guy fucking slays and I
hope to see him in more leading roles soon. The character comes off a bit bored
at work, spitting out emotionless and uncaring dialog, but for good reason. His
position seems insanely repetitious, something all of us can relate to. Landry
nails this, and when it comes to his body language while under the influence of
illness, good grief. I wish to never feel the way he portrays to. There’s also
some good supporting performances, particularly Joe Pingue as Arvid, Syd’s go
to guy for selling smuggled pathogens.
Antiviral is not a straight up gorefest, but it is body
horror, and one of those cases where less is more. I’m not too fond of needles,
and whenever I become witness to someone shooting up or getting an injection in a
movie, I tense the fuck up. Well, there’s plenty of that here, and for me, it’s
every bit as graphic as some motherfucker getting his head ripped off or innards
pulled out and molested. Aside from needles, there’s a few other supplements of
nasty to feast your eyes on, too.
Final Word:
For a first time feature film, Brandon Cronenberg knocks it
out of the park with Antiviral. Doin’ his pops proud. I really can’t wait to
see what the future brings for him. Anybody who talks about being tired of
remakes, sequels, or just plain ole unoriginality really needs to check this
out. It will definitely be on my year end list of favorites.
