David Cronenberg’s ‘The Shrouds’: Grief Unraveled in Baffling Directions

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It’s worth noting that David Cronenberg’s recent film, titled “The Shrouds“, draws heavily from the passing of his wife of 38 years, Carolyn, due to cancer in 2017. This deeply personal event lends a unique perspective to the movie, making it a poignant exploration of grief. While watching the film, one may not immediately grasp its depth, but upon reflection, it becomes clear that it encapsulates the complexities and unpredictabilities of the grieving process. Each person experiences grief differently, yet Cronenberg masterfully touches on some universally felt aspects – the messiness, illogicality, harsh indifference, and lingering questions that are often left unanswered in the face of loss. Interestingly enough, much like grief itself, “The Shrouds” is chaotic, enigmatic, and filled with unresolved queries.

The narrative of this film, while intellectually justifiable given our tendency to find meaning in tragic events following the loss of a loved one, is complex and convoluted, veering into strange, conspiratorial tangents. However, these darkly humorous concepts fail to form a cohesive whole that meets the usual standards set by Cronenberg. Instead, it seems to suggest that grief is a shape-shifting and ongoing entity. Although this is intentional, it makes the film challenging to connect with beyond an auteur’s perspective.

The Shrouds seems to embody the kind of movie an 82-year-old master might create about this subject. It’s a deeply personal playlist that reflects his lifelong fascinations with technology and biology, but its emotional depth is only understandable by those who share his unique, darkly comical, enigmatic, and occasionally unsettling perspective.

Vincent Cassel Plays David Cronenberg… Kind Of

In case there remains any question about Cronenberg’s involvement with the subject matter, it becomes clear when you see Vincent Cassel, who has worked with Cronenberg before in films like “Eastern Promises” and “A Dangerous Method.” With his gaunt face, silver hair, and stylishly somber attire, Cassel embodies a strong resemblance to the film’s lead character, which seems remarkably similar to Cronenberg himself. However, it should be noted that Cassel portrays Karsh, a creator of industrial videos, whose wife Rebecca (skillfully played by Diane Kruger) passed away from cancer four years earlier.

In reaction, Karsh created a high-tech burial wrap adorned with cameras, which covers the body of the deceased before burial. This allows mourners to see their departed loved ones at the gravesite or through a cellphone app as they undergo decomposition. Known as GraveTech, it has gained such popularity that there are plans for its global distribution.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but empathize with Karsh when he defends his invention by asserting, “Being with Rebecca in her decaying form brings me joy.” Although there’s a tinge of melancholy to this statement, it underscores the fact that holding onto our loved ones keeps the pain of loss ever-present. It also suggests that Karsh might cling to unconventional beliefs, such as conspiracy theories, to find solace in understanding an event as seemingly haphazard as Rebecca’s passing.

The storyline commences after an unknown group of hammer-brandishing intruders damage GraveTech’s cemetery, possibly linked to the Chinese, Russians, or environmental extremists. This event adds a touch of enigma to the events unfolding, serving more as a hidden narrative thread than a primary one. In this movie, which is deeply rooted in subtext, the main plot becomes so obscured that it’s hard to distinguish and never fully materializes.

‘The Shrouds’ References Cronenberg Classics Like ‘Dead Ringers’ and ‘Crash’

In “The Shrouds,” filmmaker Cronenberg, whose impact continues to resonate, particularly in recent projects like “The Substance, revisits personal matters and infuses them with ideas from his past films. A hint of the 1988 movie “Dead Ringers” is present, with Rebecca’s twin sister Terry (played by Kruger) making an appearance. Terry, who has transitioned from a veterinarian to a dog groomer, finds sexual pleasure in conspiracy theories. Karsh, her ex-brother-in-law, has maintained a close bond with Terry, despite the fact that Rebecca’s body can only be seen and not physically interacted with. Given this unique circumstance, Terry is best suited to satisfy Karsh’s twisted sexual desires. The film also references Cronenberg’s provocative 1996 drama “Crash” by incorporating disturbing dream sequences where Rebecca, scarred and sutured due to her advanced cancer, appears. Her frail body, so brittle from the disease, is almost impossible to embrace.

From my perspective as a film enthusiast, if Terry embodies Rebecca’s physical presence, her intellectual spirit is portrayed by Hunny, an AI assistant modeled after Karsh’s deceased wife, complete with Karuger’s voice. Hunny can alter its virtual form to lift Karsh’s spirits. The concept of Karsh creating a replica of his late wife, reminiscent of the film Vertigo, using technology and genetically compatible flesh seems plausible as a dramatic premise. However, it doesn’t unfold in a way that resonates as such.

As thoughts flit by, the movie feels like a grueling trudge, with Cronenberg layering on dead ends. Among these are the terminally ill Hungarian woman (portrayed by Sandrine Holt) who is blind, and Maury (played by Guy Pearce in the film’s most engaging performance), Terry’s sweaty, anxious ex-spouse, who aids Karsh in probing the cemetery vandalism. The puzzles keep piling up as Cronenberg momentarily leads us to question the strange growths sprouting from Rebecca’s deteriorating bones, whether GraveTech might be the start of a worldwide surveillance network, and even if Rebecca’s doctor could have been her former teacher and lover.

‘The Shrouds’ Is a Disappointment But It’ll Stay With You

Contributions made off-camera, such as Christopher Donaldson’s careful editing and Douglas Koch’s dim cinematography, enhance the film’s detached atmosphere. Furthermore, the character played by Paris-born Cassel struggles to fit in with Cronenberg’s minimalist, frequently explanatory dialogue, given his accented English.

Despite wrapping the experience in layers of mystery, it’s plausible that “The Shrouds” will linger in your mind following its conclusion, as the vague clarity of its ending gradually gives way to an understanding of why Cronenberg chose to narrate this tale in such a manner. Essentially, Cronenberg has granted us the privilege of witnessing him apply his exceptional skills to grapple with his unfathomable sorrow. Regrettably, this gift is enveloped within many intricate layers.

Beginning April 18 in New York and Los Angeles, followed by a nationwide release on April 25, ‘The Shrouds’ – a collaboration between Prospero Pictures, SBS International, and Saint Productions, and distributed by Sideshow and Janus Films – will make its debut.

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2025-04-17 14:04