Naked Lunch Reviews

(BluR) Fertile Cronenberg imagination matches with Burroughs, even if his bug obsession/imagery is fra from Borroughs imagery. But converting bug powder in frugs gives a sense an even a structure to the film. Weller is ok, Davis is better, support from Holm and Sands and the gay boys too...

It had been a while since I had seen a movie directed by David Cronenberg and the concept of Cronenberg directing an adaptation of the most famous book written by William S. Burroughs was quite intriguing. Well, I’m not sure if I should recommend it but it was still something ‘else’. The point is that 90% of the movie is basically the feverish dream of a junkie but, somehow, you could still make up what was actually going on. I also did appreciate the fact that the main character (basically Burroughs himself) was pretty far out but still rather aware that he was pretty much hallucinating the whole thing. Eventually, the guy did shot his wife, apparently Burroughs really did the same thing with his own wife so that wasn’t an hallucination. On top of that, Cronenberg had basically a blast creating those weird creatures and the whole thing was pretty unsettling to watch, that’s for sure. I wonder if it's a movie you should be watching while being under the influence of any substance because it is filled with paranoid tension and I’m rather glad I watched the damned thing sober. The other main element was the ambiguous sexual choices made by the main character who doesn’t really know if he is gay or if he should be gay at all. Anyway, to conclude, it was a rather tough watch but I still liked it and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you are interested in David Cronenberg’s work.

I had added this film to my 'want to watch' list. What I do is I go to netflix, and find which movies on my list are on netflix. This one happened to be avalible.

I had no idea what this film was about all I knew was it was trippy. I was instantly enthralled with the story as soon as I found out what the drug of choice was. I thought it was hilarious, and quite disgusting to say the least.

Everytime I saw them eat, inject, snort this bug powder I would cringe. ugh.

As for the hallucination (which is most of the film) the bugs and alien looking things (typewriters) were on key. It truely convinced me that this guy had lost his mind and was never coming back. Peter Weller's acting, I should note, was very well done and had me drawn to his character throughout the entire film as well.

Another thing I must note, I absoluetly LOVED how it was set in the 1950's. I love the era's clothing, ideals and class. Place this kind of concept in an era like the 1950's and it's surely going to be amazing.

The only flaw about this film is it can get confusing. There was hardly any explanation of Interzone. All we know is it's in a middle east scenery, and a lot of writers go there to write 'reports', it's a place you can go to if your in trouble, and everyone there is down with some pretty disgusting ways to get high. Is it an imaginary place manifested from his hallucinations? (which are my thoughts about it) or is it really a place he escapes to due to the murder of his wife? On another note you get a lot out of the main character, who you connect with very well (other than the fact that he's completely bonkers, unless of course you are too :p), but as for most of the other characters you don't really connect with them. I noticed all of the characters despite if they are trying to help Bill or not have a dark side to them as well.

The ending was understandable, but to an untrained eye, could be very confusing.

Overall I loved the entire film, even if my roomates (who are not film studiers like myself) found it to be drawn out and confusing/ way to far out for their tastes.
I really want to read the book.