Brandon Cronenberg’s Body Horror Is at Its Sickest in This Movie

Before starring in Luc Besson's Dogman, Caleb Landry Jones teamed up with Brandon Cronenberg, who would go on to direct Infinity Pool and Possessor, to give us one of the best body horror performances of the 21st century. Cronenberg's debut feature Antiviral sees Jones play Syd March, an employee at a company that sells celebrity viruses to fans. He infects himself with a virus, not knowing the deadly consequences, and the movie sees the infection take hold of him. Jones' performance showcases the rapid decline of Syd's control as he contorts his body in such an unnatural manner. Following in the footsteps of his dad David Cronenberg, the director of horror classics The Fly, Scanners and Videodrome, Brandon Cronenberg utilizes body horror to showcase the shock of his transformation. He also uses set designs to fabricate a distinct environment that reflects the characteristics of the society he has created. Antiviral offers a stylish yet horrific exploration of celebrity culture and the potential dangers of developing a parasocial relationship with the famous.