MOVIE NEWS – Just how far is David Cronenberg willing to push the boundaries of darkness? The answer: pretty damn far. Janus Films has finally unveiled the long-awaited release date and a brand-new teaser trailer for The Shrouds, the latest film from the legendary director of The Fly. Premiering in competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival before making appearances at TIFF and the New York Film Festival, the film has left fans eagerly awaiting a proper theatrical release. Now, American audiences across the country will finally get to experience Cronenberg’s latest exploration of grief, technology, and the macabre.

According to Deadline, Sideshow and Janus Films will release The Shrouds in New York and Los Angeles on April 18, 2025, followed by a nationwide rollout on April 25. Starring Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger, Guy Pearce, and Sandrine Holt, the film follows “Karsh, an innovative entrepreneur and grieving widower, who invents a device that allows him to connect with the dead through their burial shrouds.” The premise alone sets the stage for Cronenberg’s signature blend of psychological horror and sci-fi surrealism.

Regarded as one of the director’s most personal projects to date, The Shrouds serves as a deeply autobiographical reflection on grief following the passing of Cronenberg’s wife, Carolyn Zeifman. The film explores Karsh’s journey as he develops GraveTech, a revolutionary system enabling him to observe his deceased wife within her burial shroud. With a current Rotten Tomatoes rating of 73% from its festival run, anticipation is high for Cronenberg’s latest venture. To mark the occasion, Janus Films has released a haunting teaser trailer. Watch the latest preview below.

David Cronenberg Balances Darkness with His Signature Absurd Humor

At Cannes, audiences were reportedly too stunned to react to the film’s dark themes, but Cronenberg took it in stride, attributing the atmosphere to the festival’s formal setting. The director, known for blending horror with biting satire, remains optimistic about how general audiences will respond. “I couldn’t imagine life without humor,” Cronenberg remarked at the film’s initial screening. As with many of his previous works, The Shrouds is expected to carry his trademark mix of grotesque horror and wry, existential humor.

Early viewers who have already witnessed Cronenberg’s deeply personal meditation on grief have shared mixed but thought-provoking reviews. One Letterboxd user, Filipe Furtado, offered a particularly evocative take without spoiling any key plot points:

“Flesh dissolving into the virtual. Mourning a world engulfed in digital uncertainty. Tragic yet deeply funny. Incredible performances (Cassel has never been better). Emotionally chilling. Feels like a less violent, more sorrowful Videodrome. Alongside Ferrara’s Zeros and Ones, it’s one of the most striking films about living in today’s world.”

Many critics and audiences agree that the film walks the fine line between sorrow and dark comedy, much like Cronenberg’s most celebrated works. Fans of the body horror auteur can experience The Shrouds when it arrives in theaters nationwide on April 25.

Source: MovieWeb