Would You Watch Your Loved Ones Decompose? "The Shrouds" Envisions a Grim Future

David Cronenberg has a clear idea of how he wishes to be laid to rest.

In his latest film " The Shrouds ” ( nationwide release in theaters on April 25 In this scenario envisioned by the Canadian director, we see a close-to-reality futurist setting where advanced HD cameras are installed inside premium caskets. This enables individuals to monitor and view their deceased relatives through live streaming once they pass away.

It might seem gruesome to watch your loved ones' bodies slowly deteriorate over time. However, if this technology were real, Cronenberg would undoubtedly embrace it.

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"I definitely would have done that," he states during a Zoom call. "In Toronto, we have a walk of fame With plaques embedded in the sidewalk. I thought, 'I want to be laid to rest beneath one of those plaques.' Ideally, it should have a layer of plexiglass so people can peer down and watch me decomposing over time. I'm sure my followers would adore that idea."

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The film "The Shrouds" narrates a deeply personal tale of loss.

"The Shrouds" centers around Karsh (Vincent Cassel), a tormented businessman who establishes a funeral monitoring firm called GraveTech subsequent to the loss of his spouse, Becca (Diane Kruger). When her gravesite gets desecrated alongside numerous other plots one evening, Karsh embarks on a mission to apprehend those responsible and delve into the mysteries surrounding Becca’s history.

The movie holds great significance for Cronenberg, who at 82 is known as the master of body horror with films like "Scanners," "Videodrome," and "The Fly." In 2017, he mourned the loss of his longtime collaborator and spouse of 38 years, Carolyn Zeifman, who passed away due to cancer at age 66.

I filled up many notebooks during the two years I spent caring for my wife," Cronenberg states. "When scripting this film, all I needed to do was revisit my past thoughts and emotions.

During an initial encounter, Karsh elaborates for his blind date (played by Jennifer Dale) about the inception of GraveTech. As he observed Becca being laid to rest beneath the earth, he experienced a powerful desire to join her. ("The thought of her being alone down there, without me ever knowing how she fared, was unbearable," states Karsh.)

This sentiment originates from Cronenberg’s personal experience with grief.

I may not have leaped into the water, but I certainly would have dived right in," Cronenberg states. "These emotions truly caught me off guard; I hadn’t expected them at all, yet they struck me profoundly. Unconsciously, I believed myself to be her guardian. Upon her passing, I recognized my vulnerability to life and understood that she had shielded me throughout.

In the film, Kruger portrays three roles: Becca’s comforting twin sibling, Terry, as well as Karsh’s artificial intelligence aide, Hunny.

The German actress remarks, "As I read through the screenplay, there appeared to be an everlasting love story within the movie that was deeply moving and had a profound impact on me." She continues, describing her encounter with David after wards, saying, "He was quite generous in recounting numerous tales and sources of inspiration behind these characters, which added a personal touch to everything."

"Shrouds" enabled Kruger to grasp the bodily agony of losing your soulmate. She ponders how it might have been for her grandfather, who was wedded to her grandmother for seven decades prior to her passing.

The anguish of persisting without my body holds a new significance for me," states Kruger, who is 48 years old. "Reflecting on death is distressing and sorrowful; the thought of truly ceasing to exist and never encountering someone again fills me with dread. It’s not exactly an event I eagerly anticipate.

'Director David Cronenberg of "Shrouds" shares his thoughts on his mortality and legacy.'

Cronenberg, who identifies as an atheist, has consistently examined mortality and the unpleasant truths about the human body, most notably in his 2022 science fiction drama “ Crimes of the Future .”

British writer Christopher Hitchens once said that “death causes religion,” and “I think that’s the truth,” Cronenberg says. “People can’t face it. It’s very powerful for us to imagine not existing, and so to avoid imagining our own oblivion, we make up stories that say you will not really disappear; that you’ll be in heaven or get reincarnated.”

However, at its core, life is about embracing both the splendor and the ridiculousness of being alive. It is precisely this wonder that makes it agonizing to contemplate departing from it.

Cronenberg has consistently worked over six decades, helming Academy Award-nominated movies like "Eastern Promises" and "A History of Violence," despite not receiving a nomination himself. This humble director tends to understate his influence in Hollywood, yet he praises horror provocateurs such as Coralie Fargeat (" The Substance ) and Julia Ducournau ( Titane ), each of whom has acknowledged his significant impact.

They possess remarkable talent, and it’s quite heartwarming. They remind me of my cinematic daughters," Cronenberg states. "While inspiring upcoming directors is delightful, it does not cover living expenses.

He similarly shows minimal tolerance for filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, who has long declared his intention to step down following his 10th and last film. a career “mic drop.”

Who cares? Those who enjoy his movies won't recall the sequence anyway," Cronenberg remarks with a shrug. "To be honest, you're deluding yourself if you believe you have control over how you'll be remembered. You don't.

The article initially appeared on USA TODAY: Would you witness your beloveds decay? "The Shrouds" envisions a grim future.