Shivers
There are three very important points regarding the upcoming screening of David Cronenberg’s Shivers. First off, it’s David Cronenberg’s Shivers. The 1975 sci-fi horror flick (also known as Orgy of the Blood Parasites, The Parasite Murders, They Came from Within, and Frissons) was the Canadian director’s feature length debut. Panned for being amoral (it was produced by CINEPIX, the Quebecois stronghold of Canuxploitation), it tells the tale of those unfortunate enough to be living in a high-rise (on the little known island of Montreal) which becomes overrun with parasites; parasites that turn everyone into sex-crazed, disease spreading hosts. Basically, nearly a decade before A Nightmare on Elm Street Cronenberg was making baths terrifying.
This brings us to the second point. If that brief overview has you quivering for more information, you’re in luck: the 35mm print of Shivers will be presented as part of Chris Alexander’s Film School Confidential series. Alexander, editor-in-chief of FANGORIA, critic, and horror savant, will set up the screening with a lecture. But fear not, film-school dropouts, this is a lecture in the most enjoyable and non-academic sense of the word.
The third point, to save the best for last: the event is free.