10 Movie Diseases You Would Never Want To Catch

9. Shivers (1975)

10.04.2013shivers 1 Shivers, by David Cronenberg, was also titled The Parasite Murders upon first release, which gives you a clue as to what sort of disease you are going to get in this film. The parasite is created by Dr Emil Hobbs, who wants to create an organism that will free people from society's imposed good behaviour rules. He experiments with a parasite and implants it into a young woman called Annabelle. The parasite causes the infected to lose all their social and moral inhibitions and became lust crazed maniacs sexually attacking everything and everyone who they come into contact with. They will pass the parasite on through sexual activity. The virus is spread throughout an apartment complex with a lone doctor struggling to avoid infestation. Many people compare the film to Night of the Living Dead but with sex maniacs instead of zombies. It is a fitting description but Night of the Living Dead is more of a straight horror film whereas Shivers is a psychological study of the terror of having a parasite/disease invading one's body and inflicting changes - fear of transmission. Some parts of the film are very talky. The ugly 1970s decor of the unattractive apartments serves to heighten the horror.
 
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My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!