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James Woods, Sonja Smits, Deborah Harry, Peter Dvorsky, Les Carlson ... see more see more... , Jack Creley , Lynne Gorman , Julie Khaner , Lally Cadeau , Sam Malkin , David Bolt , Harvey Chao , Bob Church , Jayne Eastwood , Kay Hawtry , Rainer Schwartz , Henry Gomez

Hardcore pornography, sadomasochism, mind control, and living televisions all play crucial roles in Videodrome, one of director David Cronenberg's explorations of dangerous sexuality and technological... read more read more... obsession. The morally questionable hero of the tale is one Max Renn (James Woods), a television executive searching for an intense new program for his sex-oriented network. He ultimately discovers an underground program called "Videodrome," which appears to broadcast pornographic snuff films of actual murders. Horrified but perversely intrigued, Renn sets out to find the truth behind the program. During his search, he meets alluring femme fatale Nicki (Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry), technology cult leader Bianca O'Blivion, and other mysterious figures. Things become even more disturbing for Renn as his addiction grows, and the program begins to infect the outside world -- or perhaps merely destroy own his sanity. Cronenberg mingles his cerebral concerns about the nature of reality in the video age with enough visceral gore (courtesy of Rick Baker) to satisfy the film's intended horror audience. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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79% liked it

37,875 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

44 critics

R, 1 hr. 29 min.

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Release Date: February 4, 1983

Keywords: weird, horror, 80s, bizarre

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DVD Release Date: September 8, 1998

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Stats: 2,720 reviews

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'Videodrome' J. Woods as Max Renn Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome Videodrome
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Flixster Reviews (2,720)

  • fb733768972
    March 2, 2012
    fb733768972
    "Videodrome" is undeniably original and it boasts from extremely impressive visuals for it's time, but it goes way over the top and becomes almost too disgusting to watch. Max Renn (James Woods) discovers a new show called Videodrome, which has been found to create hallucinations... read more in peoples minds, eventually leading to death. The hallucinations that Max succumbs to are very very interesting for the first few times, but it becomes so disgusting that you almost turn your head and laugh at the writers. Still, overall, this film is extreme on all levels, with great witty writing, fantastic visuals for it's time, a very good cast, and a story worth telling. "Videodrome" is great!
  • fb619846742
    January 25, 2012
    fb619846742
    A well-paced, competently acted study on society's obsession with violence and sex on television, and what if catharsis was released on a more physical front, and the results that follow. David Cronenberg, the master of body horror, churns out another successful, memorable film, ... read morethanks mostly to the surreal-like atmosphere he implements that keeps the viewer constantly guessing if, like the lead character (James Woods), what you are seeing is real or a nightmare. It gets a little silly and full of itself near the conclusion, but begs a lot of interesting questions that can not be ignored. Woods' fine turn helps anchor the story to port, even in the shaky last 1/3.
  • aSpaceCowboy
    November 18, 2011
    aSpaceCowboy
    I'm not usually into this kind of cinematic filth, but this was almost tolerable.
  • fb1664868775
    October 27, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Videodrome is David Cronenberg's masterpiece. It features amazing special effects and great performances from James Woods and Debbie Harry.
  • blkbomb
    August 31, 2011
    blkbomb
    Max Renn: I'm looking for something that'll... break through. You know? 

    "First it controls your mind... then it destroys your body"

    Videodrome is quite the experience. After being less than impressed with the first two movies I saw from Cronenberg; I expected more of the same ... read morefrom this. I finally saw why Cronenberg is highly respected. This is a great concept that is incredibly well-made and doesn't make the mistake of overstaying its welcome. James Woods gives a really strong performance as Max Renn.

    The plot is really cool. It centers on Max Renn, a tv executive who is looking for the next best thing in sexual fantasy. He believes he has found it when he watches a pirated clip of Videodrome. It's violent and thinks the public will like it; so he tries to find out as much about it as he can. That's when the "normal" ends and the surreal begins. My favorite thing about this movie was how it wasn't made in a straightforward way, yet it wasn't confusing. It had its share of twists and unreal sections, but it never got to the point where it was too confusing for its own good.

    A fantastic movie from the 80's that is sure to please fans of horror and psychological thrillers. It's made with a very inspired and authentic feel to it, which just adds to the experience of it all. This movie definitely is going to make me want to watch more Cronenberg. 
  • vendettagainst
    August 27, 2011
    vendettagainst
    Okay, it's good news/bad new time again.

    The Good News: Videodrome is a flawless movie that exposes (and fuses) society's infatuation with technology, infatuation with sex, and infatuation with violence.

    The Bad News: It's being remade and modernized... And it's being writt... read moreen by the man who wrote Revenge Of The Fallen... Fuck Me.

    (I could praise the movie in greater detail... but I kiss Cronenberg's ass enough.)

    It's a perfect 100%...
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    May 21, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    The new flesh is now a reality, but it became the internet.
  • axadntpron
    March 16, 2011
    axadntpron
    Prescient, powerful, perplexing, and just plain Cronenberg. Very ahead of its time and perfect for anybody who needed a visual aid to technology's rape of humanity.
  • FilmFanatik
    March 13, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    An absolute twisted nightmare of brilliance.
  • ajv2688
    January 13, 2011
    ajv2688
    I love this movie, it's my favourite from Cronenberg, and I highly recommend it. It's so weird, gory, and freaky that it's just brilliant. I wrote a paper on it for a class once, I love it so much.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
June 6, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Film is dotted with video jargon and ideology which proves more fascinating than distancing. And Cronenberg amplifies the freaky situation with a series of stunning visual effects. Full Review

Dave Kehr
June 6, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Never coherent and frequently pretentious, the film remains an audacious attempt to place obsessive personal images before a popular audience -- a kind of Kenneth Anger version of Star Wars. Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Though Videodrome finally grows grotesque and a little confused, it begins very well and sustains its cleverness for a long while. Full Review

Philip Martin
January 16, 2011
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

...an intriguing, deeply interesting film that over the course of almost three decades has acquired a prescient quality, but it's also schlock; a kind of cyberpunk rewrite of Network that indulges Cro... Full Review

Scott Weinberg
January 9, 2011
Scott Weinberg, FEARnet

There's little denying that Cronenberg was way ahead of his time with much of Videodrome. Full Review

Sean Axmaker
October 30, 2008
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com

... Videodrome is as contemporary and relevant as ever. Full Review

Lucius Gore
June 19, 2008
Lucius Gore, ESplatter

[I]t stands out as one of Cronenberg's very best. Full Review

June 6, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

David Cronenberg's most visionary and audacious film up to the time of its making, Videodrome is a fascinating rumination on humanity, technology, entertainment, sex, and politics that is virtually in... Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
March 3, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Veers from being risible to sinister as it explores how viewers are brainwashed by TV. Full Review

Staci Layne Wilson
July 12, 2006
Staci Layne Wilson, About.com

Videodrome is arguably one of Cronenberg's best horror films, and it holds up brilliantly. Full Review

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    • Max Renn: Long live the new flesh.
    • Max Renn: I'm looking for something... tough.
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Videodrome Trivia

  • He may have a History of Violence but this director doesn't not have The Fly on him. He had a great Alias cameo despite having a Crash into the Videodrome in the Dead Zone.  Answer »
  • in which cronenberg movie does debbie harry appear  Answer »
  • What 80s pop singer played Nicki Brand in the 1983 film Videodrome?   Answer »
  • Name the 1983 film Deborah Harry stars in with James Woods.  Answer »
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