If Only David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds Weren’t So Lifeless

by

Originally published on May 20, 2025 at the Cannes Film Festival, we’re sharing this review again to coincide with the theatrical debut of “The Shrouds” this coming week.

In David Cronenberg’s chilling masterpiece, “The Shrouds”, the director brilliantly explores how emotions physically transform the human form. For instance, I found myself squirming in my seat as a character bled profusely due to his palpable anxiety. The sorrow-stricken characters exhibited rotten teeth, a haunting visual metaphor for their profound grief. And one of the film’s most striking sequences shows love mirroring the devastating effects of an advanced terminal illness.

The film delves into religious discourse, yet its lead character, played masterfully by Vincent Cassel as Karsh Relikh – who bears a startling resemblance to Cronenberg himself – vehemently denies any faith. However, Karsh does subscribe to an alternate belief system: he fervently maintains that there is life after death. Or perhaps, a more fitting description would be life after demise: Karsh has invented a groundbreaking technology that enables him to witness his cherished late wife’s corpse decomposing in her grave, and he yearns to make this revelation accessible to all.

If our feelings equate to our bodies, then maybe, by witnessing the decomposition of our bodies, we can unveil a secular interpretation of the soul.

It’s evident that “The Shrouds” holds a deeply personal significance for Cronenberg, as he has candidly discussed the anguish of losing his wife to cancer some years back. Interestingly, Cronenberg is known for creating films that are very much a reflection of himself. Films like “A Dangerous Method” and “Crimes of the Future” aren’t made with the intention of making a profit; instead, they represent Cronenberg following his unique artistic vision. Although I may not be a fan of his later works, it’s heartening to see him continue creating films, even when they lead him down unconventional paths guided by his intriguing muse.

In Cronenberg’s film, “The Shrouds,” control is a central theme that is delved into deeply. At the start, the protagonist, Karsh, encounters a woman on a date arranged by his dentist, yet it transpires that he himself owns the restaurant where they meet, which is situated within a cemetery he partly owns too. As the story unfolds, Karsh’s troubled brother-in-law, Maury, played by Guy Pearce, endeavors to assert his own control over the plotline. Additionally, the character of Kruger portrays both the voice of Hunny, an intelligent AI within Karsh’s phone, and Terry, Karsh’s sister-in-law who has recently divorced. Hunny appears to be capable of altering her attitudes and forms based on Karsh’s emotions, but it remains unclear whether he is controlling her or vice versa. Finally, when Karsh rediscovers feelings akin to love, doubts linger: Who orchestrated this? Was this sentiment engineered too? Interestingly enough, even non-believers grapple with the concept of free will.

Unfortunately, “The Shrouds” appears more like a collection of intriguing ideas for a movie rather than a fully-formed feature. The narrative follows Karsh’s efforts, in conjunction with Maury, to investigate a vandalism incident in his futuristic cemetery. Additionally, it delves into the mysterious growths discovered on his wife’s remains, raising questions about whether they were deliberately planted or naturally occurred. The storyline also touches upon industrial espionage, potential uses of shroud technology for widespread surveillance, and doubts about Bekka’s cause of death. Infidelity, suspicion of infidelity, doubles, and other classic Cronenbergian themes are present. However, these elements seem disjointed, and the majority of the film — with the exception of one gripping sex scene — is dialogue that feels overly explicit, lacking the artistic finesse. In essence, much of “The Shrouds” could be a scholarly analysis video about a fascinating Cronenberg film titled “The Shrouds.

In simpler terms, the parts of the story that make sense and seem real-life based are like vivid metaphors plucked from reality. In scenes where Karsh remembers his past with Bekka as she was sick and losing her body, an embrace could lead to a bone fracture, showing how their love was both tender and painful. Cronenberg challenges us to question what we mean by love, suggesting that it’s often associated with tenderness but also fragility. He takes this concept to its extreme limits using aging, illness, and loss as his tools. This is likely because these experiences are inevitable for many people.

Cronenberg seems to be speaking from the edge of death, amidst unending sorrow. Despite the movie’s dark themes, Cronenberg’s mind remains active and vibrant. However, the film eventually becomes too somber and melancholic, making it difficult for us to fully engage with it. Unfortunately, the overall mood becomes somewhat lifeless, which is not quite the right word I want to use, but I must say it nonetheless. Regrettably, this lack of energy eventually becomes overwhelming.

Read More

2025-04-17 15:54