Antiviral

 

Antiviral 2012

• Director: Brandon Cronenberg (son of David)
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcom McDowell
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Caleb Landry Jones – Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri, Get Out, God’s Pocket, X-Men First Class
• Malcolm McDowell – mostly A Clockwork Orange
• Why? Sci fi
• Seen:  16 December 2023                 

        Syd (Jones) is a viral technician who works for the Lucus Clinic where clients with obsessions for celebrities can be injected with their idol’s diseases so they can share the experience. Syd himself is addicted, suffering from several self-inflicted viruses. He also frequents the butcher shop that sells slabs of meat processed from the cells of celebrities. He becomes roped into the black market and things get dangerous.

       Bizarre? Just a tad, but also a darkly humorous satire on our own society’s obsession with celebrities.

       It’s clever, creepy, disturbing and artistic. Landry Jones gives a fascinating performance.

 4* of 5