Rouge's Malady

Monitorpop, Crippled Dick Hot Wax's DVD arm, has released David Cronenberg's early shorts "Stereo" and "Crimes of the Future." If you haven't seen any of Cronenberg's early stuff, this is a nice place to start. Used to be that David was obsessed with "body horror." His early films, like "Crimes of the Future" and "Shivers," meet at the freaky intersection of medical science and revulsion.

Here's his 1967 short "From the Drain." Sketchy transfer but try and watch for the tendril:


2 EARLY FILMS BY THE MASTER OF BODY HORROR: DAVID CRONENBERG

Stereo – In a scientific institute, a group of carefully selected subjects is submitted to experimental surgery, various drugs and longterm isolation in order to increase their potential for telepathic communication.

Crimes of the Future - Millions have died from Rouge’s Malady – a disease caused by cosmetics and discovered by mad dermatologist Antoine Rouge who has subsequently dissapeared. In his clinic, patients’ bodies start producing mysterious, functionless new organs…