Tockinit
not horrible nor great
Glucedee
It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.
Deanna
There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Stevieboy666
In the near future a lucrative business allows celebrities to sell their illnesses to obsessed fans. Interesting idea which I am sure could actually catch on in today's society, shocking & stupid as it sounds.
This is the directional debut of Brandon Cronenberg, son of the great David. I think he's bitten off more than he can chew here. I think that the main character played by Caleb Landry Jones was a poor choice, not because of his acting skills, but he just too flat, devoid of interest. The other major flaw is that the film is slow. I was struggling with the last 20 minutes, to the point when the ending came I had lost interest. On the plus side the director does show some skill, no doubt there will be more - and better - to come from him.
gothiclemonade
Antiviral is one of the best movies I've seen my entire life, and this is why... For a first movie from a first-time director, this is pulled off very impressively. Brandon Cronenberg may have had good influence from his infamous father, but it's obvious he has a natural flair for this line of work. The script, plot, casting, camera work... everything is brilliant! It's got a very unique and unsettling feel to it, too, which is something I love as a horror fan. Don't be fooled, though - this is not your average horror flick! Caleb Landry Jones is an amazing actor, and his talent is portrayed perfectly in this movie. The cold, detached personality of Syd March is something that he really latches on to, and I knew even before watching and reading interviews about the film that he'd gotten himself fully sucked into this character while filming. Of course, his thin frame, absurdly pale skin, red hair and sickly-looking freckles all play a part in how well he suits this role, but I believe he would've done it just as well without looking the way he does. The premise itself is something that, while it may seem ridiculous to some people, I find completely believable. The bizarre levels of celebrity obsession that are explored in Antiviral don't seem that far off from the world we live in today, especially in America. While I can understand that some people would brush off the idea as 'too weird' - after all, what sane person would inject a disease into their own body just to feel close to someone? - I think the entire point of it is that they AREN'T sane any more. There's so much more I could go on about, but I really have to end the review here, or I'll end up writing an entire ten-page essay about how much I adore this movie. From the empty, clean, disturbingly quiet scenes of the Lucas Clinic to the dirty and panicked moments of mental instability and bloodiness that Syd experiences, this is so close to perfect it's untrue. If you don't mind disturbing content, a slow-moving plot and a LOT of needles and cannibalism, this movie is definitely for you.
mstewart35
If you are willing to believe that any kind of dystopian future could produce a society of celebrity fans so enthralled with their idols that they are willing to pay dearly to contract even the fatal diseases of said celebrities, this movie could be worth your while. Unfortunately, I am neither willing nor able to swallow this premise, which is utterly ludicrous. Lots of crazy things constitute the real phenomena of mass idol worship, but none of them come close, or are ever likely to approach, worship in the form this movie bases its story on. Eating steaks produced by the cloning of a star's genetic material? COME ON!Therefore, this very commendable effort, utilizing some state of the art magic and talent, has a fatal flaw, which none of that magic or talent can overcome. I could not escape the feeling of utter ridiculousness and disbelief, and I don't believe the movie-going public is likely to either.In short, Antivirus says nothing to us of any value to us, either as we are, or as we are ever likely to be.
OJT
As I've seen thousands if films, I love to see something completely different. This is! It's a sci-fi horror drama thriller with inspirations from lots of other films, still this story is quite different from anything also.Imagine taking the best visuals of films like A clockwork orange, Ametican Psycho, 1984, Sliver, One flew over the coo-coos nest, Sleepng beauty, Blade runner and The host, combined with the best white movies of Michael Haneke (Amour, Funny games, The white ribbon) early Cronenberg movies like eXistenZ, Crash, Dead ringers, Scanners, Videodrome and Shivers, as well as inspiration from some great zombie movies.This film ticks the following boxes: stylish, pretty, cold, bloody, disgusting, beautiful, sexy, horrifying, sadistic, unexpected, satirical, cynic, innovative... I could go on. I found it very interesting, and kept my interest all way through. Clearly inspired by dad David Cronenberg, Brandon Cronenberg will be a gold mine for Canadian film making, as his father have been. Being his debut film, this is more interesting than most debut films I've seen."- I hope that people will see this film and think that I'm a genius. And they'll be right to think that! Hahahaha". This is a quite from "Anathomy of a virus", the making of Antiviral featured on the newly real eased DVD/Blu-Ray. Well, isn't he just right about that!?!Yeah, it's sick, disgusting and full of insane ideas, but still it puts things in a cynical perspective. Based on an idea which very few would have come up with, this is not for the faint of heart. Still, it's not worse than we know from this genre.It's still far from perfect. I'd like it to be longer (!) and to have a more pointed ending. But it's still worth praise for being different and fresh. It's challenging in more ways than one. You could watch it over and over, getting new thoughts. And I must say I'm not sure what to get out of it. But the stunning visuals, the perfect sterile environment, combined with the dirty rotten elements of a sick future world is fascinating. The slow use of steady am is beautiful, and the film is made on a small budget, giving tremendous value for money.The script is fresh writing, like what Hollywood should kill for these days. I think the acting is astonishing, especially from Caleb Landry Jones, which is electric and balances between super sexy, scary and disgusting. I think this role is really going to establish him as a character actor. The acting also from Malcolm McDowell and the rest of the cast is first class.I find the idea of extreme celebrity obsession getting out of hand, do much that we will do anything to disease ourselves with viruses from their bodies, and eat flesh and meat cloned from our obsessions is both sick and scary. I find it's not far from what we could imagine if possible. Imagine if you could get anything you want, even parts if the likes of Madonna, Michael Jackson or Neldon Mandela.Only for it's aesthetic, clinical, white, clean, sharp, and empty atmosphere the movie us astonishing, and combined with the filthy ideas and red and blackish blood and black suits which disgustingly enough makes the film quite sexy.It's also interesting that it is impossible to read into the film what's up next, but many will hate this for the same reasons I was fascinated. Not everyone will agree, and see beyond the gore and sick ideas. If you agree, you're in for a blast!
