David Cronenberg Doesn’t Consider the Cinema Experience Impressive

David Cronenberg doesn’t much enjoy the conventional movie-going experience, thus he rarely attends new releases.

 In a recent interview with Jim Jarmusch for Interview Magazine, the celebrated director, who is well-known for his body horror flicks, said that he has always enjoyed seeing movies at home instead of in a theatre.  He clarified that some of this is due to pragmatic considerations, such as the need for subtitles because of hearing impairments and the difficulty of parking in Toronto.  More importantly, though, he hasn’t been a frequent moviegoer in years since he just doesn’t connect with the social component of moviegoing.

According to Cronenberg, the only times he sees a movie in a theatre are during festivals, and even then, the projection quality can be subpar.  Cronenberg joked about seeing ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on his smartwatch and yet being able to see every detail, highlighting his belief that the opulence of the theatre experience may be exaggerated. He recalled an incident onstage in Venice with Spike Lee, who compared movies to a sort of church.  He simply doesn’t experience the same emotional resonance that other people do in that shared environment.

Image Courtesy: The Talks

Additionally, he praised the move to digital filming and streaming, pointing out that contemporary technology has allowed filmmakers more creative freedom than the constraints of using film stock.  He compared people’s current enthusiasm for streaming conversations to the kind of fervour that was previously only found during post-movie conversations in theatres.  According to Cronenberg, he enjoys the power that digital tools provide and doesn’t miss the outdated editing method, which he felt was constrictive. This is particularly significant for directors, who he believes are naturally control-oriented.

 He enjoys seeing old movies, but unlike some of his contemporaries, including Steven Spielberg, he doesn’t feel pressured to shoot on film.  Cronenberg finds the medium’s progression to be more freeing than sentimental.

–Farheen Ali