'Expansively unsettling' and deeply personal horror film finally released in UK
David Cronenberg's latest film The Shrouds is here after being released in the US months prior – and it has been described as 'horrific' and 'fearless.'
The revered director – best known for Crash, The Fly, Dead Ringers, and many other genre films – explores death and grief to devastating effect following the story of Karsh (Vincent Cassel), a creative entrepreneur who lost his wife Becca (Diane Kruger).
He developed a technology known as The Shrouds, which allows users to monitor a deceased person's body as it decomposes via an app called GraveTech.
After graves are destroyed in a GraveTech cemetery, including Becca's, Karsh begins to question if her death was part of a larger conspiracy as he investigates the attack.
It has proved to be a deeply personal project for Cronenberg, inspired by his wife, Carolyn Cronenberg, who died of cancer at age 67 in 2017.
After being released in the US back in April, the film has finally arrived in the UK as of today – but be warned, it has been hailed 'expansively unsettling' and 'hollowing.'
It holds a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus reading: 'Ruminating on the love within loss, The Shrouds is a personal and peculiar examination of grief by director David Cronenberg.'
In their review, Empire wrote: 'It's a hypnotic descent into the darkness of grief, punctuated by perverse Cronenbergian pleasures.'
The Washington Post said The Shrouds 'throbs with raw, human, horrific honesty', while the San Jose Mercury pondered 'How lucky we are to have this boundary pusher still thinking up such bold and provocative films.'
Globe and Mail boldly stated: 'With The Shrouds, the filmmaker — not only one of Canada's greatest creations, but cinema's, too — has delivered what might be his career-defining masterpiece.'
The Ringer heaped praise on Cronenberg, adding: 'Like 2022's superb Crimes of the Future, The Shrouds serves as a reminder that, at 81 years old, Cronenberg is still one of the world's great filmmakers: bold, uncompromising, clever, and fearless.'
Speaking to Variety, Cronenberg explained how he developed the concept of The Shrouds and how the film was almost a Netflix series.
'It was pre-pandemic. I went to L.A. to pitch it to Netflix. At that point, it was a well-formed idea, but it wasn't a script yet,' he revealed.
'The people I talked to there were very receptive, and Netflix gave me the OK to start writing what they call the prototype, which was the first episode of what was then going to be a series.
'And then they liked that enough to tell me to go ahead and write the second episode. After that, they decided not to go forward for various reasons.' More Trending
Despite the subject matter of the film and its inspiration, the History of Violence director said he 'did not experience any catharsis' making it, describing grief as 'forever.'
'I don't really think of art as therapy. I don't think it works that way,' he continued.
'If you're an artist, everything you make, you work out of your life experience, no matter what that is. Whether you're rehashing something from your distant past or your present circumstances, there's always creative energy that can be mined from your life. '
The Shrouds is in cinemas now .
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Jurassic World Rebirth leaves fans with clenched stomachs after 'genuinely tense' film debuts
MORE: Eagerly anticipated horror's producer explains why '0.0 percent watchable' film flopped
MORE: Horror fans 'terrified' after disturbing VHS recordings appear in US towns
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
From Jurassic World Rebirth to Kae Tempest: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
Jurassic World RebirthOut now Forget Chris Pratt and the friendly velociraptors: this reboot of the dinofranchise returns to the premise that the beasties with the big sharp teeth are not to be trusted – and this time around we've got some mutant dinosaurs in the mix. Human stars include Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey. The ShroudsOut now The master of body horror is back – and a new David Cronenberg film is always cause for celebration. Now in his 80s, the Canadian auteur can always be relied upon to probe the deeper and darker parts of the human psyche, and his latest exploration of grief and dystopian technology, starring Vincent Cassel, is no exception. Jane Austen 250The Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford; 6 July to 20 August It is 250 years since the birth of one of the greatest comic novelists of all time. This season celebrates Austen's big-screen outings and includes Love & Friendship, Pride & Prejudice (2005), Sense & Sensibility (1995) and – yes! – the spectacular Emma riff Clueless (1995). Hot MilkOut now The Booker-shortlisted novel is adapted for the big screen by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, with Fiona Shaw and Emma Mackey playing a mother and daughter who travel to a Spanish clinic hoping for a cure for the mother's paralysis. Vicky Krieps also stars. Catherine Bray TRNSMTGlasgow Green, 11 to 13 July It makes sense that this Glasgow three-day party is sponsored by an energy drink; you'll need something to see you through the whiplash of its lineup. Rapper 50 Cent headlines on Friday, not long after Confidence Man, then Biffy Clyro helm the following day and Jade features on Sunday. Michael Cragg Sounds of the CityCastleford Bowl, Manchester, 9 July to 12 July This annual city festival continues with grizzled US rock duo the Black Keys (9 Julynesday), followed by enduring British indie party-starters Bloc Party (10 Julysday) and returning hip-hop pair Rizzle Kicks on 11 July. Bingo Bango hitmakers Basement Jaxx close the party on 12 July. MC Berlioz: Te DeumGloucester Cathedral, todayThe first major event of the Cheltenham music festival, 80 years old this year, takes place not in the spa town, but nine miles away. Gloucester Cathedral will be a suitably majestic venue for Berlioz's great setting of the Latin hymn of praise, in which Adrian Partington will be conducting the British Sinfonietta. Andrew Clements Love Supreme festivalGlynde Place, East Sussex, today4 & 5 July Now in its 12th year, the outdoor jazz festival continues to span many variations on contemporary jazz, funk, soul and electronica. Highlights include Jacob Collier's only UK performance this year, and jazz stars Branford Marsalis, Lakecia Benjamin, Chucho Valdés, Avishai Cohen and many more. John Fordham Emily Kam KngwarrayTate Modern, 10 July to 11 January This bold painter brought ancient traditions and memories to the forefront of modern art. Look at Kngwarray's paintings – their fierce colours, pulsing with dots and trackways – through a lens of modernism and they resemble abstract art, especially Jackson Pollock. But each mark relates to the ancestral history of the Dreamtime. Lindsey MendickKenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, 9 July to 31 October Queen Elizabeth I visited Kenilworth Castle 450 years ago for a lavish series of entertainments. Mendick recreates these in its great hall with her mischievous mixture of ceramics and installation art, featuring women from classical mythology alongside Anne Boleyn, mother of Elizabeth I. They warn the great Tudor queen of coming dangers. WatteauBritish Museum, to 14 September The sensual yet ethereal art of Antoine Watteau creates a unique, imaginative world where sad clowns gaze at you wistfully and lovers picnic in softly depicted woodlands. It is a poetic fiction based on observation of reality. This exhibition of Watteau's drawings takes you to the heart of his genius. ResistanceNational Galleries of Scotland: Modern Two, Edinburgh, to 4 January Steve McQueen's intense and sharp eye shapes this survey of a century of protest. Photographs of rallies, marches and other collective acts from the era of the suffragettes to the Iraq war reveal nuance and pathos, with many powerful photographers including John Deakin, Fay Godwin and Humphrey Spender bearing witness. Jonathan Jones Bebe CaveSoho theatre, London, 10sday to 12 July The out-of-work actor to character comedian pipeline can be a busy one, but Cave turns Plan B into brilliance with her pastiches of onscreen heroines: her exceptional Instagram satire of period drama protagonists, and her latest full-length show, The Screen Test, in which she plays Betsy Bitterly, an aspiring starlet in Hollywood's golden age. Rachel Aroesti Hope Hunt and the Ascension into LazarusThe Mount Without, Bristol, 9 & 10 July A brilliant solo by Belfast choreographer Oona Doherty. She used to perform it herself; now she trains up other dancers in the work's particular, transformational physicality, embodying the oft-maligned character of the working-class male, veering between overconfident swagger and tightly wound tension. A truly original piece of dance. Lyndsey Winship Till the Stars Come DownTheatre Royal Haymarket, London, to 27 September Beth Steel's meticulously observed and brilliantly funny new play is set in the East Midlands on the eve of a family wedding. What does the future hold for three sisters – and one exceptionally funny aunt – still so tightly bound to their home town's history? Miriam Gillinson Big Big SkyNew Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme, to 24 July Tom Wells's plays are always ones to savour; full of heart and sumptuous characters. His latest is set on the North Sea coastline, where the locals are shutting up shop for the winter – before one final visitor changes everything. MG Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Dexter: ResurrectionParamount+, 11 JulyLast time we saw Michael C Hall's vigilante murderer, he seemed like a goner – but this sequel reveals he actually survived the gunshot delivered by his son. Now recovered, Dexter's hunt for his child is interrupted when he is recruited by a strange billionaire (Peter Dinklage) who is attempting to arrange a serial killer symposium. Too MuchNetflix, 10 July Once upon a time, Lena Dunham met a musician in London – now the Girls creator has refashioned her real-life love story into a very promising romcom. The wildly funny Megan Stalter (Hacks) plays Jessica, a New Yorker who falls for singer-songwriter Felix (The White Lotus's Will Sharpe). Richard E Grant and Emily Ratajkowski co-star. PoisonedChannel 4, 9 July, 9pm In 2021, 22-year-old Tom Parfett died after consuming poison he'd bought online. Tipped off by Tom's bereaved father, Times journalist James Beal traced the substance to a Canadian chef – and discovered many more victims around the globe. This documentary recounts his investigation while grappling with the disturbing online suicide industry. The Trouble With Mr DoodleChannel 4, 9 July, 10pm Co-directed by Jaimie D'Cruz (Exit Through the Gift Shop), this film traces Sam Cox's staggering rise from childhood drawing obsessive to one of Britain's most lucrative artists – including the delusions and psychotic break he experienced while trying to doodle over the entirety of his Kent mansion. RA Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Out 11 July; PC, PS4/5, Xbox; Switch 1/2 Head back to the skatepark (above) with Activision's second collection of classic Tony Hawk titles from the early 2000s. All the gnarly tricks and thrash metal music you remember, plus a smattering of new skaters and arenas to make it extra radical. Missile Command Delta Out July 8; PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Atari's revered airspace defence game returns, but this time as an intriguing turn-based strategy title, where you have to carefully manage your anti-missile arsenal while exploring the bunker you're mysteriously trapped in. An unexpectedly timely cold war thriller. Keith Stuart Nilüfer Yanya – Dancing Shoes EP Out now Less than a year after her third album, the excellent My Method Actor, Nilüfer Yanya teases her next chapter via this four-track EP. Over a lo-fi drum machine and eerie guitar figures Cold Heart floats about like In Rainbows-era Radiohead, while Where to Look's atmospherics are eventually punctured by sonic implosion. Kesha – Period Out now After a protracted departure from her former label, Kesha unleashes her first album as an independent artist. Ricocheting between jacked-up pop, country EDM and, on the bonkers lead single Joyride, a hyperpop version of polka, Period feels like both a return to early Kesha and a brand new start. Double Virgo – Shakedown Out now Jezmi Tarik Fehmi and Sam Fenton, AKA two-thirds of London art-pop curios Bar Italia, return to their side-project for Shakedown, the duo's third album. While not a million miles away from the mothership in terms of sound (both share a beguiling brittleness), songs such as Bemused have a stranger melodic sensibility. Kae Tempest – Self Titled Out now South London's literary polymath – recording artist slots alongside spoken-word performer, poet, novelist and playwright – returns with the Fraser T Smith-produced Self Titled, which also features Neil Tennant, Young Fathers and Tawiah. Featuring Tempest's poetic flow, the powerful Know Yourself is a dialogue with the past. MC The Killing CallPodcast In 2022, promising Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala was murdered. Gangster Goldy Brar claimed responsibility but three years on, no one has been convicted and Brar is still on the run. This incisive five-part series (above) investigates. Baldwin Library of Historical Children's LiteratureOnline The University of Florida's Baldwin Library holds an extensive archive of charming children's books from the 18th century onwards. Browse scans of everything from a collection of mysterious 'Elfin Rhymes' to an illustrated 1871 Bible. Jaws @ 50 Disney+, 11 July Celebrating a remarkable half-century since the release of the blockbuster that has led to shark phobias around the world, this film charts the chaos of its production, as well as a surprising legacy of shark conservation. Ammar Kalia
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
WWE icon, 49, 'hasn't aged a day' in SmackDown return 25 years after debut
Trish Stratus left WWE fans stunned as she made a shock return to SmackDown. The 49-year-old Hall of Famer, who first introduced the wrestling world to Stratusfaction 25 years ago, made a comeback during last night's broadcast on Netflix, which was pre-taped earlier this week Stratus' return set the stage for an in-ring appearance at the upcoming all-women's premium live event Evolution, which airs on July 13. Fans were blown as she interrupted a segment between Queen of the Ring winner Jade Cargill and WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton to set up a title match with the latter next week. She shared photos from her comeback branding herself 'your first crush', and viewers insisted she hasn't aged since her debut back in 2000. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. 'Trish Stratus is ageless,' wrote @EJRockSolid24 on X, as @IBPRI24 said: 'Looking better than ever and ready to grace the ring once more.' 'So good to see Trish back. I don't think she aged a second,' agreed @bengal4everson, while @sigmapoet1914 added: 'You haven't aged at all Trish. Go take down Tiffy Time at #WWEEvolution.' Despite initially retiring in 2006 after winning her seventh Women's Championship, Stratus has made several comebacks over the years. In 2018, she was a surprise entrant in the inaugural women's Royal Rumble, and in October of the same year she and fellow Hall of Famer Lita teamed up to beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James at the first Evolution event. At SummerSlam 2019, she lost to Charlotte Flair in her first proper singles match since her retirement, and when she returned in 2023 Trish embarked on five-month stint feuding with the likes of Becky Lynch. She had 10 matches that year, ending the run with a loss to the current Women's Intercontinental Champion in a Steel Cage Match at Payback. That was the last fans saw of her in a wrestling capacity before her appearance in this year's Rumble on February 1. A month later, the Canadian hero would team up with Tiffany Stratton as the duo beat Candice LeRae and Nia Jax at Elimination Chamber: Toronto. Charlotte previously opened up about what it meant to face Trish back in 2019, and the pressure she was under. 'It's one of those moments that I don't think you'll ever be able to recreate,' she recalled while chatting to Metro in 2021. 'Who'd thought that you'd see Trish Stratus versus Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam? View More » 'It was just incredible, and to see her in her hometown – she didn't miss a beat. I was very honoured.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix has me hooked on this 'naughty' hidden gem Spanish period drama MORE: TNA Wrestling star 'tipped to face AJ Styles' before WWE icon's retirement MORE: Netflix fans fume over 'good shows being cancelled' after outrageous murder-mystery is axed
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
'It's all I've been watching': TV fans crown the best streaming service
Streaming services have become the go-to way of watching TV and film for most of us, which means the competition between them has never been fiercer. Viewers are spoiled for choice, and choosing which few to spend money on is not an easy decision, with both cost and quality of content to consider. When it comes to the 'best' streaming service, however, a standout platform for one viewer isn't necessarily going to be a top pick for another — it all depends on personal taste. But in an attempt to find out which is the most popular among TV and film buffs, we've scoured Reddit to see what viewers are saying — and there's one streamer that consistently came out on top. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. In news that may not surprise many, Apple TV Plus was favoured by TV fans on Reddit, with many praising the consistently high-quality content. Reddit user ImperialPotentate said: 'AppleTV+ is all I've been watching for nearly two months now, aside from The Pitt. Silo, Slow Horses, Dark Matter, Foundation, working on For All Mankind… the banger-to-filler ratio 5:0 so far.' Another user added: 'For me, having recently discovered it, it has to be Apple TV. So many good shows; Silo, Long Way Home, Severance and that's just what I have watched. I've heard there are lots of other top shows.' Xer0b0t said 'I think Apple TV has the best in quality sci-fi,' while ArchDucky added the streamer is 'pretty much unmatched at this point.' OddlyDown agreed, writing: 'Everything is well made, and it has the shows I care about most'. However, while there were no arguments about the standard of the content, some users pointed out that the smaller library on Apple TV is a drawback. User validelad said: 'It has consistently high quality, but a serious lack of depth/library compared to basically every other service.' And Ok-Character-3779 added: 'Apple has a great track record in terms of not many duds, but you can go through their whole catalogue in a couple of months.' Lollie85 also weighed in, writing: 'Apple TV+ [compared to Netflix] seems to have less total content but a much higher proportion of stuff I have enjoyed watching. If I had to pick, I'd go for Apple TV+'. It's a resounding success for the streamer, but let's find out which other platforms TV fans recommend… As the largest streaming service globally, with close to 300 million subscribers, it was inevitable that Netflix would be another favourite among TV fans. Users praised the sheer volume of content, with many saying they're always able to find something new to watch on the streamer. 'It's not perfect and they've made some bad decisions over the years, but the proof is in the watchlist. At any given time there's likely half a dozen shows on our currently watching, and another half dozen for the kids profile,' Reddit user SillyMattFace said. GuidetoRealGrilling added: 'I've been on Netflix since it released the streaming service. It has always been consistent for me,' while Normal_Cut_5386 said that Netflix licensing content from other providers is a big selling point for them. Meanwhile, Maester_Bates said: 'Netflix is the only one I use for the simple reason that all of the others are filled with American TV shows and movies, and Netflix has a huge selection of international content.' Disney+ proved to be popular with fans of cartoons as well as major franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. Tobotic said: 'If I had to keep one, it would be Disney+. It's always adding good new series, plus it's got The Simpsons as a good fallback when you just want to put something on but don't really know what.' Another user added: 'I'd say Disney at the moment. There seems to be plenty of the dross my wife likes to watch and I absolutely love American Dad.' And ShaneSkyrunner also voted for the streamer, saying: 'Star Wars, Marvel, and The Simpsons are three of my favourite things. Plus I like to revisit some of the older Disney films from my childhood from time to time as well.' Meanwhile, McSheeples revealed: 'Disney for us at the moment, but we've taken to subscribing to one service at a time and binging what's on it until we can't find anything else we want to watch.' In a big win for the completely free streaming service, which has seen its popularity soar in recent years and now boasts 97 million users, Tubi has proved popular with TV fans on Reddit. Damienkarras1973 left a glowing review, writing: 'It's not even a contest, Tubi for the win. The amount of content is just insane and that doesn't even include the live channels that I've been toying with this last week.' Patchouliii agreed, adding: 'Tubi has everything. Action, comedy, foreign TV shows and films. You can take everything else, but I'm keeping Tubi.' I Know What You Did Last Summer — the original 1997 horror was added to the streamer ahead of the remake's release this year. — the original 1997 horror was added to the streamer ahead of the remake's release this year. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies — this tongue-in-cheek retelling of Jane Austen's novel sees the Bennett sisters juggle their romantic lives with fighting zombies. — this tongue-in-cheek retelling of Jane Austen's novel sees the Bennett sisters juggle their romantic lives with fighting zombies. Invasive — a hidden gem thriller film that has been raved about by viewers online. — a hidden gem thriller film that has been raved about by viewers online. The IT Crowd — there are several classic comedy shows to enjoy on Tubi, including the Channel 4 series about a team of IT support workers. Tubi is free to watch online or through the smart TV app. Other streaming services popular with TV fans include Peacock, which UK viewers can watch with a Sky TV package or Now's entertainment membership, as well as Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus, BritBox and another free service, Pluto TV. One user said Peacock's sitcom selection is 'unbeatable', while another added 'there's always something good to watch on Peacock'. Dizzyoatmeal, meanwhile, said: 'As an anglophile, I'd have to go with Britbox. Lots of great quality content, and they don't mess you about with ads.' More Trending And Automechanic2 said: 'Probably Paramount Plus because I can't do without SpongeBob and other Nickelodeon shows,' while BelAirGuy45 countered: 'Amazon Prime. I can usually find something to watch fairly quickly. Can't say that about the others.' And there was plenty of praise for lesser-known streaming service Pluto TV, which is completely free. Neeliemich said: 'It has a majority of my favourite series on their own channels (Star Trek is on two channels, CSI, Criminal Minds, Frasier, and Murder She Wrote).' View More » Which streaming service gets your vote? Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: WWE icon, 49, 'hasn't aged a day' in SmackDown return 25 years after debut MORE: Netflix has me hooked on this 'naughty' hidden gem Spanish period drama MORE: Huge WWE SmackDown spoilers for tonight's episode as 'best ever star' returns
