This 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release from Severin Films will be available on March 25th.
Most horror movie fans will be familiar with the work of Canadian David Cronenberg (The Brood, Scanners, Videodrome, The Dead Zone, The Fly, Naked Lunch, Crash, eXistenZ, A History of Violence, Eastern Promises) whose many films have left an indelible mark on viewers. Two of his children are now accomplished filmmakers in their own right, including Caitlin Cronenberg (Humane) and Brandon Cronenberg, who now has three films under his belt.
His debut feature was Antiviral, a movie that does certainly share some of the body horror themes of his father’s work, but told through his own eyes. It garnered more positive notices than negative, but did turn a few stomachs as well. Over the past 13 years, the movie has aged remarkably well, and tapped into media obsession with celebrity, as well as viruses, that feel all the more convincing after the COVID-19 pandemic. Radiance Films is now presenting the movie in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack.
The first thing to note is that, since the movie was shot digitally and made on a limited budget in 2012, great effort was made to bring the best possible version of the title to disc. According to Brandon Cronenberg and cinematographer Karim Hussain, the industry was still veering between formats, and so they shot it digitally and then created a film internegative (so that the movie could have film prints made and be shown in both formats).
For those who have seen the feature, it emphasizes white, sterile environments. Cronenberg states that while the original video captured the cold images and detail perfectly, it lacked the appealing texture of a filmic image. The internegative version excelled in this area, but the colors ended up looking a little less white and more yellow than hoped for. With this new 4K Ultra HD transfer, the team took that film internegative and altered the color so that it now looks as white and icy as originally intended. It’s the best of both worlds for this transfer and looks the part, offering a top-notch transfer that perfectly represents the movie and intentions of the director.
The movie does seem ahead of its time. In a rundown world where fandom is rampant, Syd March (Caleb Landry Jones) works for a company that offers customers a special kind of intimacy with their favorite celebrity. They can purchase viruses that have passed through the star. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Hannah Geist (Sarah Gadon) is one of those individuals whom March represents. After introducing how this all works, we learn that the lead also makes money on the side by stealing pathogens and selling them on the black market to a trafficker (Joe Pingue). When March steals a pathogen (using himself as an incubator) from Geist and she dies from the illness, panic sets in. He tries to suffer through the sickness, but also finds that various parties want him for their own use in selling the virus. Things get ickier and ickier and there are a few twists as the tale progresses.
As mentioned, stories featuring illness and viruses spreading among the public feel more relevant today than ever, as does the depiction of celebrity worship and fandom staring at screens and obsessing over the lives of complete strangers. As mentioned, the images and indoor environments are distressingly clean. The performances are excellent, with Caleb Landry Jones making a compelling lead, taking a flawed individual and drawing viewers into his strange world, which ultimately takes them through some extremely dark and morbidly amusing passages. The supporting cast are excellent as well, with Malcolm McDowell, Wendy Crewson and Douglas Smith making memorable appearances.
While some may find it all too ugly, this is a fascinating movie that will leave you about how troubled and addicted to media the world is becoming. Additionally, it makes one think a little longer about viruses, and how these organisms adapt and modify themselves after passing through our bodies again and again. It makes catching a simple cold feel all the more unsettling.
The 4K Ultra HD looks fantastic and marks the best presentation of the film ever. It comes with a commentary track featuring Brnadon Cronenberg and cinematographer Karim Hussain, who go into the look of the movie and their attempt to give the film that eerie, white look. The director mentions that he was initially worried that Caleb Landry Jones might be too young for the lead role, but that he had a strong presence from the beginning and they quickly lost any concern.
They tell stories about the shoot as well, going into some of the locations and where they found the film’s grittier areas. The pair are a little rough on the city near Toronto where the movie was shot. I spent some time there and do believe that it has nice spots and plenty of charm… although as a teenager I was once stopped by a stranger and offered hash in front of an arcade close to a site used in the picture… But yes, while it has its sketchy areas, they could be a little kinder to this industrial center that helped provide a valuable backdrop to the picture. Still, at least it seems to be good-natured ribbing. Cronenberg also points out that some disturbing bits in the film are intended to be darkly funny and should be taken as such. A trailer is also included on the 4K disc.
The Blu-ray contains the film as well as more extras. This feature is based on a short film Cronenberg made called Broken Tulips and it is presented here. One of its cast members even appears in the same role in the finished film. There is an informative segment with the director and the cinematographer explaining their work on the restoration and how the picture was cleaned up. It’s an excellent bit that really helps one understand all the work that went into the image and the differences with the original digital and film versions. The still below has that yellowish tinge that was cleaned up for this release.
There is also a making-of featurette and interview with the director where he explains the genesis of the story. Apparently, he got the idea after coming down with a terrible virus and wondering about all the people it went through and mutated from before reaching him. He also notes that he was further inspired after watching a celebrity talk about being sick and having a live audience behave as if they would be thrilled to be infected by them.
There is some behind-the-scenes footage with Caleb Landry Jones talking about his excitement in working on the project and meeting with the cast and crew. Sarah Gordon is also included, who notes that she never crossed paths with Jones until late in the shoot (when they finally do interact) and that it was helpful for both parties. The disc also includes a conversation with late production designer/art director Arvinder Greywal (Land of the Dead, Lars and the Real Girl), who offers insight into creating the unusual world presented in the film.
The original EPK is also included, which features most of the cast and crew talking about their experiences working on the film. Malcolm McDowell notes how much he likes working with new directors, suggesting that for him it usually means that the onset atmosphere is dynamic and creative. The trailer is also included on the Blu-ray.
Antiviral holds up quite well and is a memorable debut from Brandon Cronenberg (who would follow this title up with Possession and Infinity Pool). While it does bear some similarities to the work of his father, it definitely has its own look and tone. The performances are fantastic, the concept is chilling and the movie stays with you long after the credits have rolled. The 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray set is exceptional as well, with an incredible picture featuring more detail and whiter tones, as well as tons of engaging bonus material. For body horror film fans, it comes highly recommended.