Gruesome 2022 sci-fi horror film Crimes of the Future has been added to BBC iPlayer, allowing viewers to dig into its violent delights for the first time.
Directed by body horror maestro David Cronenberg, the film is set in a bleak future where human evolution has advanced to the stage where mankind is undergoing a series of bold mutations.
It stars Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux as a pair of avant-garde performance artists who showcase their abilities by performing grisly surgeries live on stage – removing his organs for a shocked audience.
They soon attract the attention of timid bureaucrat Timlin (Kristen Stewart), who develops a fascination with their work, proclaiming that ‘surgery is the new sex.’
However, not everyone was quite so enthralled with the film’s shocking acts of blood-spurting mutilation – in the real world, horrified audience members reacted by walking out of the screening during its 2022 Cannes Film Festival debut.
After airing on BBC2 last night, viewers can now see what all the fuss is about for themselves, with the film also being added to iPlayer where it can be streamed in full.
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Since its release, Crimes of the Future has been favourably reviewed by critics, who contributed to its 80% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Metro.co.uk’s own Anna Smith and Louise Griffin described it as ‘strangely fascinating but disturbing,’ while praising its ‘tangible atmosphere and terrific cast.’
Meanwhile, Mark Kermode described it as ‘a playful step back rather than an evolutionary leap forward,’ placing it in the lower echelons of the horror giant’s work.
Audiences have been even more divided, leading to a split-down-the-middle 50% Popcorn score on the review aggregator. However, those who loved it have been effusive in their praise, with user Jeffrey P calling it: ‘Profound and prophetic; perhaps the greatest dystopian pseudo-sexual body-horror film ever made.’
Meanwhile, Jeff M described it as ‘the single strangest movie I have seen in my entire life.’
However, others were less enthused, with Mark B calling it ‘slow and repulsive,’ adding: ‘ugh!’ and ‘ick.’
The film’s reaction at Cannes was equally divisive, inspiring both audience walkouts (most of which are said to have occurred within the first five minutes) and a six-minute standing ovation.
Speaking prior to its release, director Cronenberg had predicted a few people might leave the screening, saying: ‘There are some very strong scenes. I mean, I’m sure that we will have walkouts within the first five minutes of the movie. I’m sure of that.
‘Some people who have seen the film have said that they think the last 20 minutes will be very hard on people, and that there’ll be a lot of walkouts. Some guy said that he almost had a panic attack,’ the Crash and Videodrome director told Deadline.
And I say, “Well, that would be OK.” But I’m not convinced that that will be a general reaction. I do expect walkouts in Cannes, and that’s a very special thing.’
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