Crimes of the Future (2022)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
The story
In an unspecified future, significant advances in biotechnology have led to the widespread adoption of machines and analogue computers that can directly interface with and control bodily functions. Humankind has experienced several biological changes, most notably the disappearance of physical pain and infectious disease for the majority. This allows surgeries to be performed on conscious people in ordinary settings. The story follows Saul Tenser and Caprice, a world-renowned performance artist couple. Tenser suffers from an 'accelerated evolution syndrome' causing his body to spontaneously grow new organs, which they surgically remove before a live audience as a form of performance art.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a future where pain and disease have largely vanished, Saul Tenser and Caprice are famous performance artists who surgically remove Tenser's spontaneously grown organs for an audience. Tenser is dependent on biomechanical devices to manage his condition. The couple interacts with the National Organ Registry and a government unit attempting to use Tenser to infiltrate radical evolutionists. Tenser follows a trail of performance art shows to a cell of evolutionists who have modified their bodies to consume plastics and toxic waste. The cell's leader, Lang, has a son named Brecken who can eat plastic. Lang wants Tenser to perform a public autopsy on Brecken to reveal their stance on evolution. During the autopsy, it is revealed that Brecken's organs were replaced by the government to hide the truth of human evolution. Lang is subsequently murdered by agents. Tenser eventually chooses to stop working with the police and, in a final act of defiance, consumes a bar of plastic while being filmed by Caprice.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- Canada; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David Cronenberg
- Writers
- David Cronenberg · writer
- Cast and characters
- Viggo Mortensen · Saul Tenser; Léa Seydoux · Caprice; Kristen Stewart; Scott Speedman
- Genres
- science fiction; body horror; drama
- Themes
- human evolution; body modification; biotechnology
- Tone and mood
- unsettling; provocative
- Setting
- An unspecified future where biotechnology has advanced significantly.
- Premise and plot tags
- biopunk; body horror; science fiction
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 80% · review count: 285; Metacritic · score: 68 · scale: 100 · review count: 55
- Production trivia
- The film shares its title with Cronenberg's 1970 film of the same name, but it is not a remake.; The film was shot in Athens, Greece.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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