Videodrome

(aka 'Network of Blood' or 'Zonekiller' ')

directed by David Cronenberg
USA 1983

When Max Renn goes looking for edgy new shows for his sleazy cable TV station, he stumbles across the pirate broadcast of a hyperviolent torture show called Videodrome. As he unearths the origins of the program, he embarks on a hallucinatory journey into a shadow world of right-wing conspiracies, sadomasochistic sex games, and bodily transformation. Renn’s ordinary life dissolves around him, he finds himself at the center of a conflict between opposing factions in the struggle to control the truth behind the radical human future of “the New Flesh.” Starring James Woods and Deborah Harry in one of her first film roles, Videodrome is one of writer/director David Cronenberg’s most original and provocative works, fusing social commentary with shocking elements of sex and violence. With groundbreaking special effects makeup by Academy Award-winner Rick Baker, Videodrome has come to be regarded as one of the most influential and mind-bending science fiction films of the 1980s.

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Theatrical Release: January 29th, 1983

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DVD Review: Criterion (2 disc) - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Criterion Collection - Spine # 248
Runtime	1:28:42
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio - 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.39 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Collection / Home Vision Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • New high-definition digital transfer of the unrated version, with restored image and sound and enhanced for widescreen televisions • Two audio commentaries: David Cronenberg and director of photography Mark Irwin, and actors James Woods and Deborah Harry • Camera (2000), a short film starring Videodrome’s Les Carlson, written and directed by Cronenberg • Forging the New Flesh, a new half-hour documentary featurette by filmmaker Michael Lennick about the creation of Videodrome’s video and prosthetic makeup effects • Effects Men, a new audio interview with special makeup effects creator Baker and video effects supervisor Lennick • Bootleg Video: the complete footage of Samurai Dreams and seven minutes of transmissions from “Videodrome,” presented in their original, unedited form with filmmaker commentary • Fear on Film, a 26-minute roundtable discussion from 1982 between filmmakers Cronenberg, John Carpenter, John Landis, and Mick Garris • Original theatrical trailers and promotional featurette • Stills galleries featuring hundreds of rare behind-the-scenes production photos, special effects makeup tests, and publicity photos English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired • 40-page booklet featuring an essay by film critic Carrie Rickey, excerpts from an unpublished book on Videodrome by film critic and publisher Tim Lucas, and a new essay by novelist and culture critic Gary Indiana DVD Release Date: August 31st, 2004 Firm cardboard slip box Chapters: 24

Comments:

Bring out the new rating scale! I guess to say this 2 disc, director approved DVD package is stacked might be an understatement. The Extras seem to go on and on. The image appears to be perfect - tight lines, vibrant colors, super contrast etc. Subtitles are, as usual, the best in the business. Original audio with no boost. There is a Universal Studios Region 1 DVD version out, but I have not seen it. I assume we will be comparing it soon, if one of our contributors has it.

And finally, the packaging is the coolest (see pictures directly below) - new for Criterion - a firm cardboard slipbox that resembles a BETAMAX case.out of