2. Videodrome
This is the third David Cronenberg film released by Criterion (Naked Lunch and Dead Ringers being the others) but it's also regarded as one of David Cronenberg's best, the pinnacle of body horror. Filmed in Toronto (Cronenberg's place of birth) and taking place in Toronto, libertine cable TV programmer Max Renn (James Woods) who, in an attempt to reprogram his stations middling lineup for more ratings, stumbles upon a station called Videodrome which depicts sensationalist murder and violence. A symbiosis of flesh and machine permeates every part of this film as Cronenberg eerily predicts the future of media and our convoluted interaction with it . The original DVD release was great but fans owe it to themselves to pick up the Blu Ray as there is a notable improvement. Great clarity at 1080p, transferred from 35mm and presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Videodrome has never looked better. Audio is uncompressed PCM mono track with very little obtrusive hissing. The real treat here is Howard Shore's (long time Cronenberg collaborator) engaging score which doesn't suffer from any lossless audio. Rivaling Night of the Hunter for supplemental material, Criterion doused this release with fantastic features. There are two commentaries presented, one with David Cronenberg and director of photography Mark Irwin (who consistently worked with Cronenberg until 1988), the other with actors James Woods and Deborah Harry.
A short film directed by Cronenberg called Camera which stars Les Carlson (who played Barry Convex in Videodrome) which was produced for the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival. Disc 2 (for the DVD release of course) is where you find more interesting features. Forging the New Flesh is a half hour documentary on the makeup and visual effects with interviews from James Woods, David Cronenberg, FX wizard Rick Baker and effects supervisor Mark Lennick. Another effects feature aptly called Effects Men, is a four part audio interview with Baker and Lennick on their careers and working on Videodrome. Bootleg Video is the complete footage of transmissions from the Videodrome station in the film as well as Samurai Dreams, a soft-core porn short. There is also Helmet-Cam Test, footage of Max Renn wearing the Image Accumulator. Fear on Film which was shot in 1982 and is hosted by a fledgling Mick Garris as he moderates a round table discussion with David Cronenberg, John Carpenter and John Landis. Running at almost 30 minutes, this interview was made a time where horror was booming and Carpenter and Landis were on a high note with The Thing and An American Werewolf in London. Marketing rounds the last of the features off with several theatrical trailers, a Making of Videodrome directed by Mick Garris and a gallery mixed with production stills, promo materials and makeup tests. Finally, we have the box art itself, Criterion plays on the films motif with some unique and fanciful Betamax-esque packaging.