See David Cronenberg’s SHIVERS On The Big Screen For Free
David Cronenberg fans who happen to live in or around Toronto, Canada, this one’s for you! This Sunday, December 7, a free screening – in 35mm no less – of Cronenberg’s 1975 classic Shivers is happening to celebrate the movie’s 50th anniversary at Innis Town Hall at Innis College. Yes, you read that right. This is totally free, with tix available on a first come, first served basis. We’ve also got a poster for the event for you to check out below.
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Tickets are available now on Eventbrite and this screening is open to the public. All are welcome. The screeening is sponsored by the Cinema Studies Institute at the University of Toronto, and the University of Pittsburgh Horror Studies Center. In addition to the screening, a series of lectures will take place beforehand from the likes of George A. Romero Foundation founder Suz Romero, Adam Lowenstein (Horror Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh), director Michael Doherty (Krampus), Greg Siegle (University of Pittsburgh) and Bart Testa (University of Toronto). Lowenstein had this to say about it:
“As the founding director of the new Horror Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh, it is truly a dream come true to partner with the University of Toronto and the George A. Romero Foundation to celebrate the brilliant David Cronenberg. Without Cronenberg’s extraordinary career, the Horror Studies Center could not have come into being.”
“The GARF is ecstatic to collaborate with these two academic institutions and the newly minted Horror Studies Center which will push horror into new realms for study,” Romero added.
There will also be a panel discussion after the screening featuring Chris Alexander, Anne Dixon, Adam Lowenstein, Suz Romero, Greg Siegle and Bart Testa. The whole thing kicks off at 6 p.m. local time and is scheduled to last 3 hours and 30 minutes. Plan accordingly.
Shivers is one of Cronenberg’s earliest features, though not quite as well known as some of his later works such as The Fly and Videodrome. All the same, it’s an important work from a beloved director’s catalog, and a rare opportunity to see it on the big screen, on film. With Cronenberg still going strong well into his 80s, this feels like a great way to celebrate his work. For those who may not be familiar, here is the synopsis for the film:
“After a scientist living in a posh apartment complex slaughters a teen girl and kills himself, investigators discover that the murderer had been carrying on experiments involving deadly parasites. Roger St. Luc (Paul Hampton), a doctor living in the building, and his aide, Nurse Forsythe (Lynn Lowry), then realize that the parasites are on the loose, attacking fellow tenants. And those who become hosts turn into erotically obsessed maniacs who pass the bugs on through violent sex.”
For free tickets to the Shivers screening, head on over to the Eventbrite page.
