Cronenberg’s Shivers is an early, grubby glimpse into the body horror maestro he’d later become. However, fans of his cooler, more cerebral work may struggle to stomach this one. It’s lo-fi, low-budget, and unashamedly schlocky—more exploitation flick than art-house sci-fi.
The first act is weak, and the tone often veers into the deeply dodgy, with disturbing sexual violence and dodgy gender politics that feel especially grim today. It’s the kind of film you can’t quite believe ever got made, let alone by someone destined for the cultural canon. And yet… by the final act, Cronenberg’s direction finds a grisly rhythm.
Beneath the sleaze lies something uncomfortably fascinating: an unfiltered vision that’s uncompromising, ambitious, and squirm-inducing. It may not be his finest hour, but it’s undeniably Cronenbergian—ugly, raw, and eerily prophetic. An unsettling oddity that’s hard to recommend but harder to dismiss. You don’t watch Shivers so much as survive it.
Not the greatest film
But somehow it holds your attention and is an enjoyable film ..
I kinda like Cronenberg's films - they work - even when the story line is silly..
Watch it and see.Good film..
Check out his other films as well...