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[BD Review] Brad Digs ‘Antiviral’ And Two Lucky Winners Can Watch It For Free!!!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 12, 2013 @ 10:00am
Category: Movies / Contests

SundanceNOW and IFC Midnight’s Antiviral, directed by Brandon Cronenberg, opens on VOD and in limited theaters this Today, April 12th. So we figured we’d do two things, the first of which is to remind you to read Mr. Disgusting’s review (excerpted here),”The expectations may have been unfairly high (being the son of a legend demands some sort of competence), yet he surpasses them by delivering a deep, engaging, and beautifully shot art house horror film.”

The second thing is a quick mini-contest. We’re giving TWO lucky readers the chance to watch the film on SundanceNOW for free! Just email [email protected] with your favorite David Cronenberg movie. I’ll hit the winners back on Monday with their passes so they can watch the movie.

Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade all star in the film. Click here to read the review in its entirety, then write your own.

Antiviral

Posted by Bloody Disgusting Staff on April 12, 2013 @ 12:00am
Category:

Story revolves around a salesman (Jones) for a clinic that replicates celebrity diseases for public consumption. He becomes obsessed with a celebrity and injects himself with her disease, then must figure out how to cure it before time runs out.

Long: ‘Antiviral’ follows Syd March, an employee at a clinic that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to obsessed fans. Biological communion – for a price. Syd also supplies illegal samples of these viruses to piracy groups, smuggling them from the clinic in his own body. When he becomes infected with the disease that kills super sensation Hannah Geist, Syd becomes a target for collectors and rabid fans. He must unravel the mystery surrounding her death before he suffers the same fate.

Exclusive

[Interview] Caleb Landry Jones On ‘Antiviral’ And… Other Stuff

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 11, 2013 @ 5:00am
Category: Movies / Exclusives

IFC’s Antiviral, Brandon Cronenberg’s directorial debut that Mr. Disgusting loved out of the TIFF last September (review here), will be opening on VOD and in limited theaters this Friday, April 12th. With the release date looming, I figured I’d share my interview with the film’s star, Caleb Landry Jones (X-Men: First Class). We start talking about the film, but things take some interesting detours.

In the film, “Syd March (Caleb Landry) is an employee at The Lucas Clinic – a company that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to fans who wish to fulfil their obsessive desire for real intimacy with their idols. As well as working for them, Syd also supplements his income by smuggling viruses out of the clinic in his own body in order to sell them on the black market. Constantly ill and losing his edge, Syd becomes careless and infects himself with an unusual virus carried by superstar Hannah Geist (Gadon).”

Head inside for the interview. It was a long divergent conversation that I couldn’t totally understand, but I have transcribed it to the best of my ability. Even if you can’t make sense of this interview, he turns in a remarkable performance in the film. READ MORE

Worship Celebs With The U.S. Trailer For ‘Antiviral’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on March 07, 2013 @ 11:50am
Category: Movies / Trailers

We’ve landed the official U.S. trailer for IFC’s awesome Antiviral, Brandon Cronenberg’s directorial debut that we loved out of the TIFF last September (read our review).

The film will be opening on VOD and in limited theaters April 12, so mark your calendars as to not miss out on Cronenberg’s gross social commentary on celeb obsession.

In the film, “Syd March (Landry Jones) is an employee at The Lucas Clinic – a company that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to fans who wish to fulfil their obsessive desire for real intimacy with their idols. As well as working for them, Syd also supplements his income by smuggling viruses out of the clinic in his own body in order to sell them on the black market. Constantly ill and losing his edge, Syd becomes careless and infects himself with an unusual virus carried by superstar Hannah Geist (Gadon).” READ MORE

IFC Films Finally Set To Release Creepy ‘Antiviral,’ Comedic ‘Sightseers’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on February 14, 2013 @ 1:18pm
Category: Movies / News

We’re told IFC Films is taking a step back from acquiring genre films, but until then, they have quite a few to unload.

First, Brandon Cronenberg’s social commentary horror Antiviral, pictured above, gets released on April 12. Starring Caleb Landy Jones, Malcolm McDowell and Sarah Gadon, the son of David Cronenberg’s film “Revolves around a salesman (Jones) for a clinic that replicates celebrity diseases for public consumption. He becomes obsessed with a celebrity and injects himself with her disease, then must figure out how to cure it before time runs out.” I was a pretty big fan of the flick, read my review here.

Getting released on May 10 is Kill List director Ben Wheatley’s serial killer comedy Sightseers, pictured below, which I thought was pretty OK. The film is “The story is about a couple on a countryside caravan trip that goes wrong.”

Both films played strong through the festival scene and are worthy of a VOD rental. READ MORE

[2013 HORROR MOVIE PREVIEW] LEFTOVERS & INDIE

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on December 31, 2012 @ 10:52am
Category: Movies / Editorials

I can’t even believe how happy I am to enter the New Year. These 2013 horror movie preview lits were a lot of work, but well worth it. Over the past several days we’ve shared with you all of the great genre films we’ll be seeing in theaters next year, everything from a new Evil Dead to a new Sin City and Machete.

With the end comes the indie films, and the leftovers, which includes various titles from Magnet, Anchor Bay, IFC, among a few that could end up premiering at the 2013 film festivals. We look forward to catching all of them and telling you guys what to look forward to. And with that we ask you, which ones are YOU most excited for? READ MORE

[BEST & WORST '12] Corey Mitchell’s Top 15 Festival Horror Films of 2012

Movies
Posted by Corey-Mitchell on December 28, 2012 @ 1:27pm
Category: Movies / Editorials

I’m old and have two young daughters. Before kids, I used to go to the movies at least two times a week. Now, I almost never head out to the theater to catch a first-run movie. I do, however, get to attend a couple of film festivals each year.

As a result, I get to see a lot of movies that many of you won’t see for a long time. Just think of these reviews as a primer for shit you should most definitely check out whenever you can.

Some of these films have since had theatrical runs; a few with limited runs, and some are available on DVD or Netflix. Most of these though have not seen the darkness of a theater outside of their film festival runs.

Do yourself a favor and track them down. You’ll be glad you did. READ MORE

[BEST & WORST '12] Mr. Disgusting’s List of the Best Horror Films of 2012!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on December 24, 2012 @ 2:02pm
Category: Movies / Editorials

Every year I seem to have a conversation with someone about how weak the year was for horror. Reflecting back, I think it’s more so that every year there are a few gems that need plucking from a landfill of garbage. This doesn’t mean it was a “bad year,” it just means that the goodies are to be discovered and then celebrated.

My odd scenario comes in that I attend major festivals – Sundance, SXSW, TIFF and more- thus, I see quite a bit more than the average folk…and I see everything early. This isn’t me bragging, more so just a note that, like previous years, most of the films on my list have yet to be released.

I just hope that this list, which also carries the first two ever “Editor’s Choice” tags, gives you all a few films to be excited for in 2013. Shit, you may finally get to see You’re Next this year, too! READ MORE

Celeb Body Horror ‘Antiviral’ Gets UK Release

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on December 06, 2012 @ 10:14am
Category: Movies / News

One of my favorite films of the past year was Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral, a celebrity body mod horror film that certainly left a mark with me.

While IFC owns domestic rights, the flick set for a limited cinema release in the UK on February 8, before a DVD release on February 11. Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade all star.

“Syd March (Landry Jones) is an employee at The Lucas Clinic – a company that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to fans who wish to fulfil their obsessive desire for real intimacy with their idols. As well as working for them, Syd also supplements his income by smuggling viruses out of the clinic in his own body in order to sell them on the black market. Constantly ill and losing his edge, Syd becomes careless and infects himself with an unusual virus carried by superstar Hannah Geist (Gadon).

When the news breaks that Hannah has died, Syd realises that the virus running rampant in his system will soon kill him too. Hallucinating and struggling to remain in control, Syd must race to solve the mystery surrounding Hannah’s death if he has any hopes to avoid suffering the same fate.” READ MORE

[Fantastic Fest '12] Corey Mitchell’s Mini-Reviews: Day 1 – ‘Frankenweenie,’ ‘Antiviral,’ ‘Dredd,’ ‘Here Comes The Devil,’ & ‘American Mary”

Movies
Posted by Corey-Mitchell on September 21, 2012 @ 12:06pm
Category: Movies / Reviews

The 8th annual Fantastic Fest has begun its 8-day reign of chaos in Austin, Texas. The sci/fi, fantasy, martial arts, Asian fantastic, and horror film festival offers up a little something for all genre lovers.

It is my duty to bring you the most horror and/or horror-related film reviews possible. With less than 20 films considered to be true horror, I will occasionally spotlight other non-horror films that will, hopefully, appeal to our readers here at Bloody Disgusting.

Be sure to be on the lookout in Austin, Texas from October 25-27, 2013, for my very own Housecore Horror Film Festival. I will be joined by my partner and former Pantera lead singer and heavy metal legend Philip H. Anselmo. We will be bringing 100% horror and heavy metal to the Lone Star state! READ MORE

[TIFF '12 Review] Brad Thinks ‘Antiviral’ Hits More Than It Misses

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 07, 2012 @ 6:30pm
Category: Movies / News

Included in the Toronto line-up is Brandon (son of David) Cronenberg’s Antiviral, which made its North American Premiere at the fest. Brad (aka Mr. Disgusting) had a chance to check it out and he wound up liking it well enough!

“The expectations may have been unfairly high (being the son of a legend demands some sort of competence), yet he surpasses them by delivering a deep, engaging, and beautifully shot art house horror film.”

Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade all star. Click here to read the review in its entirety, then check back after the film comes out to write your own.

[BD Review] Brandon Cronenberg Leaves His Mark With ‘Antiviral’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 06, 2012 @ 7:15pm
Category: Movies / Reviews

Brandon Cronenberg, son of infamous Canadian filmmaker David, has quietly snuck onto the scene with his horror drama Antiviral, a social commentary on our culture’s obsession with celebrities. The expectations may have been unfairly high (being the son of a legend demands some sort of competence), yet he surpasses them by delivering a deep, engaging, and beautifully shot art house horror film.

Antiviral, acquired by IFC Midnight earlier this year, takes place in the unknown future where celebrity worship has reached epic levels. Besides being able to eat harvested meat from the cells of celebs, bioengineering has evolved into developing a way to infect fans with an infection carried by their favorite icon (yes, you could carry Paris Hilton’s herpes!). Caleb Landry Jones is black marketing the infections he sells, and ends up in the middle of a conspiracy to kill THE superstar of the times by injecting himself with her virus.

While the commentary is something most of us can immediately connect with, the story does lose some steam, and ultimately wears out is welcome. Once the film has clarity, instead of pacing forward, it slows to a dead stop. Jones’ outstanding performance, Karim Hussain’s stunning cinematography, and Cronenberg’s artful eye are what keep the film interesting. Antiviral is simply a stunning piece if Canadian filmmaking that puts all the local talent on display.

While I feel some viewers may find the experience tedious or exhausting, it does carry quite a few twists and turns, not to mention the much-desired “Cronenberg” imagery that will delight the hardcore horror nuts. Antiviral is quite an entrance by the young filmmaker who has one hell of a bright future.

TV: Lara Jean Chorosteck Replaces Philip Seymour Hoffman At The “Hannibal” Dining Table

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on August 14, 2012 @ 9:46pm
Category: Movies / News

Lara Jean Chorosteck (“Camelot”, Antiviral) has joined “Hannibal”, NBC’s contemporary series take on the characters from Thomas Harris’ “Red Dragon” novel, reports TVLine.

She joins Laurence Fishburne (just cast as Jack Crawford) as one of the cast’s most recent inductees. She’ll be playing tabloid reporter Freddie Lounds. The character was previously portrayed by Stephen Lang in 1986′s Manhunter and Philip Seymour Hoffman in 2002′s Red Dragon. I guess it’s kind of interesting that she’s taking on a role previously inhabited by the opposite sex, but I’m a fan of hiring the right actor for the role – regardless of gender.

The project, written and exec-produced by Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller and slated to debut at midseason, centers on the budding relationship between FBI agent Will Graham (played by Hugh Dancy) and his mentor Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) – who are re-introduced at the beginning of their budding relationship.

New Trailer And Poster For Brandon Cronenberg’s ‘Antiviral’ Go Celebrity Body Horror On Us

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on August 09, 2012 @ 10:00am
Category: Movies / Images

Included in the line-up is for the Toronto International Film Festival is Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral, which will be making its North American Premiere at the September event. Now, we have a new trailer and poster for the film.

The trailer is certainly interesting, but it seems a like a heavy-handed extrapolation of something Cronenberg might have learned in Media Studies 101. Obviously the film could be much more nuanced and, at any rate, it seems like there’s a d*mn good amount of body horror in the thing.

“‘Antiviral’ follows Syd March, an employee at a clinic that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to obsessed fans. Biological communion – for a price. Syd also supplies illegal samples of these viruses to piracy groups, smuggling them from the clinic in his own body. When he becomes infected with the disease that kills super sensation Hannah Geist, Syd becomes a target for collectors and rabid fans. He must unravel the mystery surrounding her death before he suffers the same fate.”

Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade all star. Head inside for the trailer and poster. READ MORE

[TIFF '12] Brandon Cronenberg’s ‘Antiviral’ Joins Canadian Line-Up

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 08, 2012 @ 2:03pm
Category: Movies / Images

The Toronto International Film Festival today announced the Canadian features lineup including first-time feature filmmakers Jason Buxton, Brandon Cronenberg, Igor Drljaca and Kate Melville, as well as filmmakers returning to the Festival —including Bruce Sweeney, Sarah Polley, Xavier Dolan, Michael McGowan and Bernard Émond.

Included in the line-up is Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral, which will be making its North American Premiere at the fest, which takes place this coming September.

Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade all star. Check out a new image below. READ MORE

IFC Midnight Nabs Cronenberg’s ‘Antiviral’ For The U.S.

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on June 06, 2012 @ 3:26pm
Category: Movies / News

Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral, a bizarre celebrity thriller that stars Caleb Landry Jones (Byzantium, X-Men: First Class, The Last Exorcism) made its debut at Cannes last month and has now been picked up for U.S. distribution by IFC Midnight, which I’m guessing means we can probably expect a theatrical/VOD combo release sometime in the 3rd or 4th quarter of this year

The Toronto production also stars Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade. READ MORE

Exclusive

Writer/Director Brandon Cronenberg Discusses His Feature Film Debut, ‘Antiviral’

Movies
Posted by Mike Pereira on May 30, 2012 @ 6:02am
Category: Movies / Exclusives

At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, audiences will be getting a dose of double Cronenberg. Not only is David Cronenberg’s surreal-looking Cosmopolis having its World Premiere but his son, Brandon will also be there showcasing his feature film debut, Antiviral. This sci-fi/horror tale is about a rogue medic played by Caleb Landry Jones (X-Men: First Class and The Last Exorcism) who sells sample viruses’ drawn from sick celebrities and sells it to their rabid fanbase. Brandon Cronenberg dabbles in the Body Horror subgenre; his dad’s bread and butter. Antiviral will be competing in the Un Certain Regard category which awards new talent.

I had the opportunity to chat with Brandon right before he made his way to France. I was also treated to several clips from the film. To say the least, I was extremely impressed by what I had witnessed. The footage had a wonderfully haunting quality that kept me glued to the screen. I’m particularly excited by what appears to be a starmaking turn from the utterly captivating Caleb Landry Jones. READ MORE

Take A Sample Of Cronenberg’s ‘Antiviral’ With First Ever Clip!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on May 22, 2012 @ 6:40pm
Category: Movies / Videos

Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral, a bizarre celebrity thriller that stars Caleb Landry Jones (Byzantium, X-Men: First Class, The Last Exorcism) has made its debut at the ongoing Cannes market/festival, and while a few images hit last week, we’ve now landed the first ever clip. The footage is a slow burn as Landry Jones sneaks into a woman’s room for a blood sample.

The Toronto production also stars Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade.

New Image From ‘Antiviral’ Spruces Up The Place

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on May 09, 2012 @ 11:50am
Category: Movies / Images

Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral, a bizarre celebrity thriller that stars Caleb Landry Jones (Byzantium, X-Men: First Class, The Last Exorcism) will be premiering at Cannes in just a few days. A few images hit last week, and now we have a look at a brand new image from Twitch that features what looks like an asylum room as imagined by Cosmo or Maxim.

The Toronto production also stars Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade.

Caleb Landry Jones Plays Doctor In Cronenberg’s ‘Antiviral’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on May 02, 2012 @ 9:45pm
Category: Movies / Images

Getting ready for its Cannes debut, the first three images have been release for Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral, a bizarre celebrity thriller that stars Caleb Landry Jones (Byzantium, X-Men: First Class, The Last Exorcism). The below images display Jones playing doctor. Brandon is the son of legendary director David Cronenberg.

The Toronto production also stars Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade.

What Grows in Brandon Cronenberg’s ‘Antiviral’ Jars?

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on December 06, 2011 @ 6:45pm
Category: Movies / Images

The boys over at Twitch landed the first ever image from Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral, a bizarre celebrity thriller that stars Caleb Landry Jones (Byzantium, X-Men: First Class, The Last Exorcism). The below image features Jones staring at something interesting growing in jars. Brandon is the son of legendary director David Cronenberg.

Now filming in Toronto, Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade also star. READ MORE

More Celebrities Need Celebrity Blood in ‘Antiviral’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on November 03, 2011 @ 10:34pm
Category: Movies / News

It was announced the other say that David Cronenberg’s son would be taking the helm on Antiviral, a bizarre celebrity thriller that would star Caleb Landry Jones (Byzantium, X-Men: First Class, The Last Exorcism).

THR reports that Brandon Cronenberg will be shooting in Toronto and Hamilton from November 7 to December 11, and also stars Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade.

The Canadian indie, written by Cronenberg, echoes his father’s more outrageous earlier sci-fi flicks by portraying an employee at a clinic that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to obsessed fans.

“The story revolves around a salesman (Jones) for a clinic that replicates celebrity diseases for public consumption. He becomes obsessed with a celebrity and injects himself with her disease, then must figure out how to cure it before time runs out.” READ MORE

David Cronenberg’s Son Directs Bizarre Celebrity Thriller ‘Antiviral’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on November 01, 2011 @ 3:25pm
Category: Movies / News

Brandon Cronenberg, son of director David, is getting behind the camera for Rhombus Media’s thriller Antiviral, tapping Caleb Landry Jones (Byzantium, X-Men: First Class, The Last Exorcism) to star, reports Variety.

“Story revolves around a salesman (Jones) for a clinic that replicates celebrity diseases for public consumption. He becomes obsessed with a celebrity and injects himself with her disease, then must figure out how to cure it before time runs out.”

Lensing will begin this month in Toronto. Let’s hope the young Cronenberg’s mind is as potent as his father’s was in years past. READ MORE

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