I won't lie and tell you that this is a gripping short film. Being a devoted Cronenberg fan, it's hard for me to comment objectively on anything he's made. But on this film I believe I can.
It's very obviously a student film, and while there is an interesting visual style being cultivated here, nothing is developed or matured enough to constitute much praise--from the script to the "acting" to the cinematography. While none of these aspects are bad, they aren't particularly noteworthy either.
What it boils down to is that this short is an indulgent piece for Cronenberg. There is no dialogue and very little action (and by action I don't mean gunfights or car chases or even horrific venereal sequences). It's a cold, calculating, scientific investigation of god-knows-what. Something Cronenberg had on his mind, I suppose. Granted, the script is an extended metaphor and has some nuances that I'm sure are very clever, and in that regard it's interesting to consider what is being said in the voice-over that drives the film, but it is not near as effective as, for example, his wrath-children in The Brood or the reality-blurring Videodrome, etc. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Still, for my money I don't regret the purchase. If you're a Cronenberg fan, you'll want to check this out and have it in your collection. At this point in his career he simply didn't have the writing ability to expand upon his ideas to create interesting situations or plots; but it's still the Cronenberg we know and love. His visual style is definitely present here, and there are some breathtaking shots and beautiful cinematography at points.
It's very obviously a student film, and while there is an interesting visual style being cultivated here, nothing is developed or matured enough to constitute much praise--from the script to the "acting" to the cinematography. While none of these aspects are bad, they aren't particularly noteworthy either.
What it boils down to is that this short is an indulgent piece for Cronenberg. There is no dialogue and very little action (and by action I don't mean gunfights or car chases or even horrific venereal sequences). It's a cold, calculating, scientific investigation of god-knows-what. Something Cronenberg had on his mind, I suppose. Granted, the script is an extended metaphor and has some nuances that I'm sure are very clever, and in that regard it's interesting to consider what is being said in the voice-over that drives the film, but it is not near as effective as, for example, his wrath-children in The Brood or the reality-blurring Videodrome, etc. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Still, for my money I don't regret the purchase. If you're a Cronenberg fan, you'll want to check this out and have it in your collection. At this point in his career he simply didn't have the writing ability to expand upon his ideas to create interesting situations or plots; but it's still the Cronenberg we know and love. His visual style is definitely present here, and there are some breathtaking shots and beautiful cinematography at points.