THE SHROUDS (2024)

New in select theaters!
Directed/Written by David Cronenberg.
Check out the trailer here!!

As with most Cronenberg films, THE SHROUDS takes place in a not-so-distant future where technology is a step or two ahead and slightly askew from what we are working with today. After his wife Becca (Diane Kruger) died of a lengthy stint with cancer, industrial documentarian Karsh (played by Vincent Cassel) played part in developing the Shrouds, a new technology which envelops a recently departed loved one in a 3-D mapping cloak which allows those the deceased left behind to see the body under the ground going through the natural decaying process. Karsh then expanded this technology, offering it up to others and eventually developing his own cemetery featuring the Shrouds viewing system, specifically coded to only be seen by the departed’s loved ones. But after the cemetery is vandalized, Karsh begins to suspect there is some kind of conspiracy afoot involving mechanical implants placed inside his wife during her cancer treatment that he discovered while obsessing over his wife’s decaying body. This conspiracy is furthered by Becca’s sister Terry (also played by Diane Kruger), her ex-husband and co-creator of the Shrouds tech Maury (played by Guy Pearce) and Soo-Min (played by Sandrine Holt) who is the wife of one of the doctors who worked on Becca and the Shrouds technology. So therein lays the mystery of whether or not a conspiracy exists, who may be behind it, and whether or not Karsh should give a shit about any of it and just get on with his life.

Morbid? Yes, you betcha. THE SHROUDS is a thorough examination of death, dying, what happens after death, and the grief one goes through having buried a loved one. Cronenberg has been asked if this film was a reaction to the death of his wife by cancer and while he says that this was the inspiration for the film, it took on a life of its own and is not some kind of autobiographical piece. It also is not quite horror, though it does deal with the way we all face that great unknown in our own twisted ways. For Kersh, he never really gets over his wife’s death, so much so that he gazes at her rotting corpse every day, watching it succumb to the elements deep under the ground. I’m sure there are those who might think this to be a step into crazy town, I have to admit, the idea is an intriguing one.

This film hit me. I encountered death at quite a young age as my own father lost his battle with cancer when I was twelve. And while there are some moments I don’t remember since it was a considerable amount of time ago, the description Kersch gives about how he felt when his wife died resonated with me on a level I wasn’t expecting. Not only was Cronenberg able to put it into words and actor Vincent Cassel able to bring that emotion to life, but this story really touched me in the delicate way it probes into man’s greatest fear. In the end, this is one of the more uplifting films Cronenberg has ever made, coming to a very mature, yet optimistic end, despite how morbid the final images are.

As usual, Cronenberg drops this very human story in a world that is maybe a few years, but more likely is just a few months away. I could see this manner of burial actually becoming a real thing. Kersch drives around in a Tesla, which in itself has become funny in an ironic way. Kersch has an avatar on his phone that basically acts as his personal assistant, a His Girl Friday or a Moneypenny if you will, who digs for information, investigates these various conspiracies for him, and basically manages Kersch’s day to day business. As usual, Cronenberg identifies the absurd aspects of our technology today and takes it a half a step further. Honestly, I want one of those for my phone to help me keep all my things in order and most likely, someone is going to see THE SHROUDS and make this very thing a reality soon enough.

On top of all of that, THE SHROUDS is quite funny. Not in an overt way, but the film is filled with gallows humor, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurd way Kersch bumbles through his life, rather cluelessly and following the advice of everyone around him—each of them having their own strange conspiratorial laden explanation as to what is going on. I do feel this darkly jovial tone was intended as not just a means to let loose some of the tension and darkness in this morose subject matter, but also to highlight how humans use humor as a coping mechanism when faced with dire circumstances.

THE SHROUDS leaves a lot unexplained. I feel that those looking for a complete story with all of the answers are going to feel a bit befuddled when the credits roll after the abrupt final scene. I found myself wondering, “Is that it?” by the end, but still, I am bouncing this film around my brain long after it is over. It hit me on a visceral level. Cassel’s refined and almost monotone delivery, not unlike Cronenberg’s distinct delivery itself, makes for a protagonist you can basically project anything onto. He is nothing but grief, preferring to gaze at his rotting wife rather than move on. Still, behind that stone, almost alien-like exterior, Cassel is able to communicate the fear and fascination death embodies so well, that you can’t help but sympathize with him.

The bulk of the heavy lifting in THE SHROUDS goes to Diane Kruger who plays three roles: that of Kersch’s dead wife Becca, her sister Terry, and finally, Hunny, the avatar on Kersch’s phone. Each role is distinct. Each role is sensual and sexy in their own way. And each role is equally tragic. Yes, even the story of the avatar has a deeper meaning that acting simply as a digital personal assistant. Kruger is unbelievable versatile in these roles and while I knew these parts were all played by the same actress going on, on sight, I doubt many will notice it’s all the same actress. And while his role is much less attractive and downright despicable at times, Guy Pearce gets a chance to show his creepier side and creepy it is.

With THE SHROUDS, Cronenberg’s still got that gift for peeking into the future that dazzled us with VIDEODROME back in the day. Thankfully, we are not seeing Cronenberg’s massive talent fade away as we sadly see with every Argento film he puts out. I love the guy, but man, I hate to say it, but Argento’s lost his touch. Happily, Cronenberg still feels on the cusp of uncomfortable subject matter, unafraid to venture into places people are afraid to talk about, and willing to look at today’s society and where we are in our intimate relationship with technology and bring forth a highly emotional story about it.

But is THE SHROUDS horror? Well, we do get to see what being in the grave does to a body. Honestly, there have been times I have wondered about that after all of this time, what my father looks like down there underneath all of that earth. That’s a pretty morbid thought that I don’t think I would have acknowledged had I not watched THE SHROUDS. So, there are some quite horrifying themes this film plays with. There also is some patented body horror in terms of how Becca’s body is being destroyed piece by piece from cancer that is downright terrible to watch. There’s an especially intimate scene between Becca and Kersch that honestly almost broke me at how viscerally real is was. While body horror has an elusive meaning, I feel what Cronenberg really is a master of is how he illustrates the utter and absolute horror of having one’s body become a stranger and in one particular scene he illustrates that point perfectly in THE SHROUDS. And of course, there’s the overlying blanket of conspiracy that Kersch delves throughout the story. So, put all of that together and squint and I think you could make a horror movie out of all of THE SHROUDS, though thriller is probably the most accurate genre it falls into.

All that said, I feel that THE SHROUDS is more of an intriguing film delving into ideas, feelings, and societal trends. It’s a though provoker. A conversation starter. Something you discuss with others when things get quiet, intellectual, and deep. All the while, I feel the sudden ending, the answers left undealt with, and the ethereal meaning of the whole damn movie is going to turn off a lot of folks. I don’t know if I would label THE SHROUDS as entertaining as there are quite a few lulls in this morose yet beautiful story, but man, is it a film made by a filmmaker that got my brain working in ways few other movie and movie-makers can.

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