“Shivers,” a 1975 chilling and provocative science fiction horror film directed by David Cronenberg, explores the nightmarish consequences of a scientific experiment gone awry, unleashing a deadly and sexually transmitted parasite upon a luxurious high-rise apartment complex.
The film is set in the luxurious Starliner Towers, a self-contained and high-tech residential complex designed to cater to its residents every need. Dr. Emil Hobbes (Fred Doederlein), a brilliant but morally ambiguous scientist, conducts a radical experiment to create a new organ that will eliminate the need for sexual desire and frustration. However, the experiment goes horribly wrong, creating a parasitic organism that turns its hosts into mindless, sex-crazed predators.
As the parasite spreads throughout the building, chaos ensues. The once-idyllic community descends into a nightmarish landscape of violence, lust, and uncontrollable impulses. Residents become infected, attacking and infecting each other as the building’s social fabric disintegrates. Residents like Dr. Roger St. Luc (Paul Hampton) and his lover Nurse Forsythe (Lynn Lowry), find themselves trapped within the building, fighting for survival against the growing tide of infected individuals.
Amidst the chaos, Dr. Hobbes struggles with the consequences of his experiment and grapples with the ethical implications of his creation. The film delves into themes of human nature, sexuality, and the dangers of unchecked scientific advancement.
“Shivers” is a landmark film that established David Cronenberg’s reputation as a master of horror and psychological tension. The film’s unsettling and visceral visual effects and exploration of taboo subjects challenged conventional horror norms. “Shivers” offers a disturbing commentary on the intersection of desire, technology, and human instincts.
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