David Cronenberg | |
|---|---|
 Cronenberg in 2012 | |
| Born | David Paul Cronenberg March 15, 1943 |
| Other names | The Baron of Blood King of Venereal Horror |
| Education | University of Toronto (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Spouses | Margaret Hindson
(m. 1972; div. 1979)Carolyn Zeifman
(m. 1979; died 2017) |
| Children | 3, including Brandon and Caitlin |
| Relatives | Denise Cronenberg (sister) Aaron Woodley (nephew) |
David Paul Cronenberg CC OOnt (born March 15, 1943) is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor.[1] He is a principal originator of the body horror genre, with his films exploring visceral bodily transformation, infectious diseases, and the intertwining of the psychological, physical, and technological. Cronenberg is best known for exploring these themes through sci-fi horror films such as Shivers (1975), Scanners (1981), Videodrome (1983) and The Fly (1986), though he has also directed dramas, psychological thrillers and gangster films.[2]
Cronenberg's films have polarized critics and audiences alike; he has earned critical acclaim and has sparked controversy for his depictions of gore and violence.[3][4] The Village Voice called him "the most audacious and challenging narrative director in the English-speaking world".[5] His films have won numerous awards, including the Special Jury Prize for Crash at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, a unique award that is distinct from the Jury Prize as it is not given annually, but only at the request of the official jury, who in this case gave the award "for originality, for daring, and for audacity".[6]
From the 2000s to the 2020s, Cronenberg collaborated on several films with Viggo Mortensen, including A History of Violence (2005), Eastern Promises (2007), A Dangerous Method (2011) and Crimes of the Future (2022). Seven of his films were selected to compete for the Palme d'Or, the most recent being The Shrouds (2024), which was screened at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
- ^ Cronenberg 1992, p. 1.
- ^ "David Cronenberg: 10 essential films". British Film Institute. March 14, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ "Cronenberg defends movie's naked bathhouse scene". CTVNews. September 11, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "Director David Cronenberg: Responsible violence?". CNN. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ J. Hoberman (May 17, 2005). "Historical Oversight". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (May 21, 1996). "Secrets and Lies' Wins the Top Prize at Cannes". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2018.