Videodrome 1983
Jaded Max Renn (James Woods) heads up a tiny, independent cable TV station that specializes in edgy softcore erotica and disturbing violence. Max is always on the lookout for the next piece of provocative sleaze, hunting the airwaves with his technical assistant Harlan (Peter Dvorsky) and searching the globe with the help of video freelancers like Masha (Lynne Gorman). When, with the help of Harlan, he stumbles on a fuzzy broadcast of something called Videodrome, which seems to feature graphic depictions of torture and murder, Max believes he's found something significant, the type of aggressively offensive video that's perfect for his station. As he pitches forward into his investigation of Videodrome's origin, he becomes involved with self-help maven Nicki Brand (Deborah Harry), and we find, as their relationship develops, that both share sadomasochistic desires that feed directly into Videodrome's allure. After Nicki disappears on her own quest to find Videodrome, Max finds himself experiencing increasingly bizarre hallucinations involving his stomach and his TV. By the time he meets Videodrome's Barry Convex (Les Carlson) and the elusive Brian O'Blivion (Jack Creely), Max is at the epicenter of a horrifying dreamscape, under the sway of some kind of video-borne mind control...


Director: David Cronenberg
Cast: James Woods, Debbie Harry, Sonja Smits, Julie Khaner
Country: Canada
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Videodrome (1983) Criterion Collection
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BD50, DVD9 + DVD5 | NTSC 16:9 | 01:28:46 | 44.1 Gb, 5.24 Gb + 4.23 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

DVD One:

Commentaries:
-- David Cronenberg and Mark Irwin - recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2004, this is an outstanding audio commentary, on par with the fantastic commentary by Michael Cimino found on The Deer Hunter Blu-ray release. David Cronenberg offers a terrific analysis of Videodrome, discusses its production history, and addresses the various obstacles his team had to overcome before, during and after the shooting of the film.
-- James Woods and Deborah Harry - this audio commentary was also recorded for Criterion in 2004.

Camera - a short film which David Cronenberg directed in 2000. The film, photographed on digital video, was commissioned by the Toronto International Film Festival. The focus of attention in Camera is on the relationship between aging, death and acting. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

DVD Two:

Forging the Flesh - in this documentary film, special effects supervisor Michael Lennick discusses the production history and different makeup and video effects seen throughout Videodrome. The film contains various commentaries by makeup effects crew member Bill Sturgeon, makeup effects supervisor Rick Baker, James Woods, etc. In English, not subtitled. (28 min).

Effects Men - in this audio piece, Rick Baker, creator of Videodrome's special makeup effects, and Michael Lennick, special effects supervisor, recall their collaboration with director David Cronenberg, their first impressions of the script for Videodrome, the technical challenges they had to overcome, etc. (20 min).
-- The golden age
-- James Woods
-- Collaboration
-- David's stories

Bootleg Video - three short video sequences, shot by David Cronenberg, portions of which could be seen in Videodrome.
-- Samurai Dreams - with optional commentaries by David Cronenberg, and Mark Irwin and Michael Lennick. (5 min).
-- Transmissions from "Videodrome" - with optional commentary by Mark Irwin and Michael Lennick. (8 min).
-- Helmet-cam Test - with commentary by Michael Lennick

Fear on Film - a roundtable discussion with David Cronenberg, John Landis, and John Carpenter, produced and hosted by Mick Garris (director of TV miniseries The Stand and The Shining). In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

Marketing:
-- Trailer 1 - in English, not subtitled. (2 min).
-- Trailer 2 - in English, not subtitled. (3 min).
-- Trailer 3 - in English, not subtitled. (2 min).
-- The Making of Videodrome - produced by Mick Garris in 1982, this featurette includes excerpts of interviews with James Woods, David Cronenberg, Deborah Harry, and Rick Baker. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

Stills Galleries:
-- Cast and crew - a collection of promotional materials and cast and crew photographs.
-- Special effects - a collection of stills, taken between 1981 and 1982 by Donna Lucas and Robert Uth from Cinefatastique magazine, from the production of Videodrome.
-- Marketing gallery
-- Publicity stills

Videodrome (1983) Arrow Video
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2 x DVD9 | PAL 16:9 | 01:25:01 | 7.79 Gb + 7.56 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

DVD One:

Audio Commentary - in this audio commentary, film critic Tim Lucas deconstructs Videodrome and discusses the production history of the film.

Documentaries and Feaurettes:

-- Cinema of the Extreme - this archival documentary takes a closer look at the unique style of David Cronenberg's films and some of the more controversial observations a few of them have produced. Included in it are clips from interviews with the Canadian director, George Romero (Dawn of the Dead), and Alex Cox (Sid and Nancy). The documentary was produced by Nick Freand and was originally broadcast by the BBC in 1997. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

-- Forging the New Flesh - in this documentary film, special effects supervisor Michael Lennick discusses the production history and different makeup and video effects seen in Videodrome. The film contains various commentaries by makeup effects crew member Bill Sturgeon, makeup effects supervisor Rick Baker, James Woods, etc. In English, not subtitled. In English, not subtitled. (28 min).

-- Fear on Film - a roundtable discussion with David Cronenberg, John Landis, and John Carpenter, produced and hosted by Mick Garris (director of TV miniseries The Stand and The Shining). In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

-- Samurai Dreams - presented here is the Samurai Dreams sequence with audio commentary by special effects supervisor Michael Lennick. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

-- Helmet Camera Test - with commentary by Michael Lennick. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

-- Why Betamax? - a short piece with comments by Michael Lennick. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

-- Promotional Featurette - an archival featurette with short comments by James Woods, David Cronenberg, Deborah Harry, and makeup effects supervisor Rick Baker. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

Interviews:

-- Mark Irwin - in this new video interview, cinematographer Mark Irwin discusses his career and professional relationship with director David Cronenberg. The two collaborated on such films as Videodrome, Scanners, and The Fly, among others. The interview was conducted exclusively for Arrow Video in April 2015. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).

-- Pierre David - in this new video interview, producer Pierre David discusses the production history of Videodrome and his collaborations with David Cronenberg. The interview was recorded exclusively for Arrow Video in April 2015. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

-- Dennis Etchison - in this new video interview, author Dennis Etchison discusses his initial impressions of the script for Videodrome (with some excellent comments about the unique literally descriptions that were included) and his novelization of the film. The interview was recorded exclusively for Arrow Video in March 2015. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

Camera - a short film which David Cronenberg directed in 2000. The film, photographed on digital video, was commissioned by the Toronto International Film Festival. The focus of attention in Camera is on the relationship between aging, death and acting. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

Trailers - original trailers for Videodrome. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

Pirated Signals: The Lost Broadcast - presented here are deleted scenes that were found only in TV broadcasts of Videodrome. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

DVD Two (David Cronenberg's Early Works):

Transfer the Future - in this new video piece, author and critic Kim Newman discusses the early films of David Cronenberg and the creative environment in which they emerged. The piece was produced exclusively for Arrow Video. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

Short Films:

-- Transfer (1966) - presented here is David Cronenberg's first short film, Transfer, which was restored by the Toronto International Film Festival. Color. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (7 min).

-- From the Drain (1967) - presented here is David Cronenberg's second short film, which was restored by the Toronto International Film Festival. Color. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (13 min).

-- Stereo (1969) - David Cronenberg completed his first feature, Stereo, in 1969. It is about experiments in artificially created telepathy, and stars Ronald Mlodzik, Jack Messinger, and Iain Ewing. The film was restored by the Criterion Collection from a 35mm composite fine grain element. B&W. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (63 min).

-- Crimes of the Future (1970) - presented here is David Cronenberg's second feature film, Crimes of the Future, which was restored by Arrow Video from a new 4K scan of the original 35mm negative. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (63 min).