Antiviral Makes Light of Celebrity Obsession: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: a Blu-ray screener of this film was provided by IFC Films.

Director/writer: Brandon Cronenberg.

Cast: Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Douglas Smith, Joe Pingue, Nicholas Campbell and Malcolm McDowell.

Antiviral is the first feature film from Brandon Cronenberg. Brandon takes much of his influence from his father and Canadian director David Cronenberg. Both directors utilize body horror and surreal settings in their horror features. Antiviral is no different. The film is set in a future, celebrity obsessed world, in which citizens will pay to be infected with the virus of their favourite celeb'. Events get even stranger thanks to Karim Hussain's cinematography, which amplifies the film's strong themes of a sick society. Antiviral is a brilliant film from Cronenberg and the story pokes fun at celebrity obsessed culture, in a sly fashion.

The story begins with Syd March (Caleb Landry Jones). Syd is a salesman; he sells the infections of celebrities. His clients will inject anything from Herpes to flus into themselves, in order to be closer to their celebrity of choice. But, a salesman job is not enough for Syd. He takes to the streets in order to sell these celebrity infections on the black market and business is booming. His mode of transport is his own body. And soon, the protagonist picks up a lethal infection from the very famous Hannah Geist (Sarah Gadon). Will he be able to find a cure, in time?

There is lots of white in this film.

The film's setting is that of a future world, not unlike this one. Except, celebrity obsession has reached feverish heights. There are several examples of celebrity interest gone overboard. For instance, cells of celebrities are propagated and sold in the form of greyish steaks. This type of food is obviously a form of cannibalism and Cronenberg's film verges on satire, often. As well, the background of the film is utilized to show clips of celebrities in a most intimate matter. Photographers focus on FLIR crotch shots and rectal exams. These shots and examples of celebrity obsession help bring out the film's compelling themes.

Hussain's cinematography also amplifies the writing. Much of the film is shot with bright lights and with austere, white backgrounds. The settings look much like a hospital. Even in the film's commentary, Hussain mentions how he wanted the film to have a very sanitary look. These bright environments help with contrast. Late in the film, blood reds smear across the whitish floors and the reds are brought out in a richer fashion because of these stark backdrops. Cronenberg's shooting style also picks up on several motifs, involving death. Dead bugs litter one shot. Several other shots photograph flowers. The flowers symbolize death, also. Where else would you see so many flowers, but at a funeral? Hussain's backdrops and Cronenberg's shots of these symbols help narrate the film on a visual level.

The film's greatest strength lies in its themes. The main themes, which this viewer noticed, involved death and celebrity obsession. There are likely more. However, Cronenberg's messages are straight-forward. The focus on celebrities, by some, and their lives creates a sick society. The film brings these themes to the forefront via a tongue-in-cheek method (examples above), which will create a few laughs. But, celebrity is obviously a dead-end pursuit as shown in the film, especially in its conclusion.

Antiviral is currently releasing on home video formats through IFC films (August 6th, 2013) and film fans are encouraged to take a look. Cronenberg brings some of his father's stylings in his first feature, with the use of gore and altered body states. Yet, Brandon is already developing his own approach to film, which involves strong themes and an interesting visual style. These film elements help create for a compelling fictional environment. And, Antiviral is consistently an entertaining viewing experience.

Overall: 7.5 out of 10 (Hannah's last name, Geist, means the spirit of an individual or group, similar to zeitgeist).

A trailer for this film is available here:

An Antiviral Trailer at 28DLA


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Posted in: 2013,future,horror,horror movie preview,movie review,sci-fi,science fiction,science fiction movie review,thriller