David Cronenberg

by Brian Hickey | Published September 16, 2007

David Cronenberg has had a long and interesting career. While most of his movies have been labeled “cult” fare (and not for the general public), his most recent pictures have begun changing that image. His last film, A History of Violence, was well received and featured such non-Cronenberg staples as a straightforward narrative and no weird monsters. His latest project, Eastern Promises, will further this idea of a “new Cronenberg.”

Not that there was anything wrong with the old Cronenberg, who boasts an impressive body of work, including films like Scanners, Videodrome, The Fly and Naked Lunch. He has won 43 awards and 25 nominations from a number of organizations and festivals. His fans are rabid, and soak up every odd, existential moment in the unique films that comprise his vision.

Eastern Promises reunites Cronenberg with actor Viggo Mortensen for the second film in a row. Mortensen, playing a similar role to his character in A History of Violence, is a ruthless man working for the mob whose life changes forever when he meets Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts), a midwife who knows something she shouldn’t.

Whether you’re a fan of old or new Cronenberg, the movie, which hit theaters on September 14th, will hold something for you. Next up, Cronenberg will executive produce Drones, the story of a couple who adopts a boy with a strange obsession with bees.