The Shrouds

2024

Action / Drama / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller

25
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 75% · 187 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 51% · 50 ratings
IMDb Rating 5.7/10 10 8003 8K

artificial intelligence (a.i.) widow cemetery toronto, canada vandalism grief

Director

David Cronenberg Photo
David Cronenberg

Top cast

Diane Kruger Photo
Diane Kruger as Becca Relikh
Vincent Cassel Photo
Vincent Cassel as Karsh Relikh
Sandrine Holt Photo
Sandrine Holt as Soo-Min Szabo
Al Sapienza Photo
Al Sapienza as Luca DiFolco
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU 1080p.BLU.x265 2160p.BLU.x265 720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
1.07 GB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles fr  us  
24 fps
1 hr 59 min
Seeds 19
2.2 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles fr  us  
24 fps
1 hr 59 min
Seeds 39
1.99 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles fr  us  
24 fps
1 hr 59 min
Seeds 24
5.39 GB
3840*2160
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles fr  us  
24 fps
1 hr 59 min
Seeds 22
1.07 GB
1280*690
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles fr  us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 59 min
Seeds 19
2.2 GB
1920*1036
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles fr  us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 59 min
Seeds 72

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by ferguson-6 6 / 10

online graves for loved ones

Greetings again from the darkness. Director David Cronenberg is renowned for his brand of 'body horror', although his canon has certainly not been limited to the genre. Some of his films across the past fifty years include CRIMES OF THE FUTURE (2022), COSMOPOLIS (2012), A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (2005), CRASH (1996), DEAD RINGERS (1988), THE FLY (1986), VIDEODROME (1983), THE DEAD ZONE (a personal favorite,1983), and SCANNERS (1981). With his latest, Cronenberg offers a taste of what he's known for, but mostly focuses on the extreme repercussions of grief.Grief is an emotion that hits us all hard at some point. Karsh (the always great Vincent Cassel) lost his wife four years ago, and his vision since has been to create a specialized, internet-based cemetery named GraveTech where grieving folks can observe the decay of lost loved ones ... all from the convenience of their iPhone app. Cronenberg regulars should prepare themselves for a film and story that has the feel of a stage production - meaning it's the dialogue and conversation that is crucial here, more so than the visual presentation (although there are a few stellar moments in that area as well).Diane Kruger plays two roles here. One is Karsh's deceased ex-wife Becca, who we (and Karsh) see in hallucinations or visions. Her other role is as Becca's surviving sister Terry, a dog groomer who is dealing with her own grief. Lastly, a significant role is played by Guy Pearce as Terry's ex-husband, Maury ... a frumpy, paranoid, techno geek. Maury's skills have created Hunny, an AI avatar meant to provide companionship and advice to Karsh. Oh, and Diane Kruger also voices Hunny.The thrust of the story revolves around the fallout of the targeted vandalism of a few of the gravesites, creating suspicion as to whether it's an international conspiracy or something less provocative. Of course, this is Cronenberg, so a traditional arc is not in the cards. Instead, he provides some stunning visuals (not violence, but definitely a shocking shift from what movies traditionally show) meant to convey the drastic changes that occur with the bodies we too often take for granted, especially when cancer is involved. Politics are touched on, and it's probably the first time you've ever heard a dentist speak the line, "Grief is rotting your teeth." Eroticism and obsession are key motivators here, so if you are willing, the psychological aspects of Cronenberg's film could fill many post-viewing debates. Whether this film strikes a chord with you or not, I remain thrilled and humbled that this octogenarian continues to do things his way.Opens in theaters on April 25, 2025.
Reviewed by Giuseppe_Silecchia 5 / 10

A chilling concept lost in excess and convolution

The Shrouds, directed by David Cronenberg, begins with a hauntingly intriguing premise: a near-future world where custom-designed tombs allow the living to view their deceased loved ones in real time. Vincent Cassel portrays Karsh, the enigmatic inventor of this macabre innovation, navigating a frozen landscape of grief, obsession, and longing. The film's opening offers a glimpse into Cronenberg's flair for unsettling, cerebral storytelling, but the promise quickly unravels into a convoluted and excessive narrative.Cassel delivers a restrained performance, perfectly capturing Karsh's detachment and obsession, while Diane Kruger as his deceased wife and Soo-Min as a potential client's blind spouse provide compelling, if underutilized, presences. However, the supporting characters, including Jennifer Dale as Karsh's former sister-in-law and love interest, are sidelined by a sprawling plotline that veers into espionage, eco-activism, and corporate conspiracy. These elements feel disconnected, detracting from the emotional core of the story.Cronenberg's signature exploration of body horror and the grotesque resurfaces here, but the graphic depictions of mutilation and surgery feel more gratuitous than meaningful, overshadowing the thematic depth the film initially hints at. The film's focus on existential musings about grief and attachment is muddled by its insistence on indulging in sensationalist visuals and a jumbled narrative.Adding to the film's shortcomings is an overuse of product placement, which distracts from the immersive atmosphere and undermines its artistic integrity. The Shrouds falters in its attempt to balance intellectual ambition with visceral spectacle, leaving audiences with a fragmented and unsatisfying experience.Rating: 5/10 - A promising concept buried under excessive spectacle and an overcomplicated plot.
Reviewed by Otkon 5 / 10

Interesting premise

But it doesn't really end. It more and less just stops. And all the stuff before that didn't have much of a resolution.A lot of the dialogue seems like it was written by high school students. Vincent Cassel is trying. I was not a fan of any of the Diane Kruger stuff. Nope. And the Guy Pearce parts got annoying when he just kept popping up to be creepy. I did like Sandrine Holt's character though. She had presence.But all these threads never came together. There was obligatory body horror aspect of course but the CGI made it goofy. And this is NOT a horror movie. The plot seemed like a cinematic episode of Bones. Then it was an international political thriller for about five minutes. Then it was none of these things. The koala bear hatred will not stand.I guess someone of Cronenberg's advanced career can make a film that meanders around an interesting idea and people are prone to love it. But I personally long for the days of Scanners, Videodrome, The Dead Zone and even eXistenZ when he blended all his mainstay themes into stellar films. This is not one of them.
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