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Shivers

Shivers

1975
Sci-fi, Horror
1h 27m
The residents of a suburban high-rise apartment building are being infected by a strain of parasites which turn them into mindless, sex-crazed, fiends out to infect others by the slightest sexual contact. (imdb)
Your probable score
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Shivers

1975
Sci-fi, Horror
1h 27m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 48.25% from 856 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(856)
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Rated 10 Sep 2014
75
65th
Every 70s Canadian was dorky as all hell.
Rated 04 Dec 2010
75
74th
The first half hour is pretty slow, but also filmed in a such a way that makes you wonder what the fuck is going on, so it keeps your attention well until you figure things out and the action picks up. A very cool concept (essentially sex zombies), but sadly weakened by a handful of poor acting performances. Still, very creepy and effective with a couple of genuinely disturbing images.
Rated 13 Dec 2017
68
52nd
This just about survives some fairly amateurish performances and dodgy effects to deliver something quite interesting and unsettling. An early marker for themes and style that Cronenberg would explore with markedly more success in later work. Joe Silver has an awesome voice, doesn't he? He's in Rabid as well, so I'll need to see that.
Rated 17 Apr 2009
86
84th
The themes of this movie, like the Shivers themselves, get under your skin. Filmed at the end of the "free love" movement, you definitely get the impression of an outsider trying to make sense of a new flippant sexuality. Completely nightmarish in its descent at the end. It has the porn/b-movie aesthetic combined with Cronenberg's disturbing sensibility, which doesn't make it a great film, it just makes it more peculiar. And does anyone else think it's funny Scott's 'Alien' came from this?
Rated 30 Oct 2010
55
39th
Terrible, with shades of brilliance. Definitely worth checking out to see where many of the Cronenbergisms began. Only, you should be prepared for Amateur Night on the technical level. Some will write it off as ridiculous (which it is); others will dig the hell out of the bad taste sensibility which Cronenberg obviously relishes fully here.
Rated 12 Oct 2020
70
52nd
This film is incredibly horny, but filtered through 1970s Canada. Men in the 1970s were hairy in a way you don't see anymore.
Rated 30 Jan 2012
84
75th
Cronenberg puts a sexual twist on the zombie genre and pulls it off like only he could. When most other zombie films of this period focused mainly on the gore, Shivers takes it many steps further and uses the zombie as a metaphor for our baser sexual desires. The zombie has never felt more close to home, which is what makes this movie so effective. Its production values leave something to be desired, but this is a refreshingly unique creation by a talented, deep-thinking filmmaker.
Rated 05 Apr 2012
50
25th
Amateur night.
Rated 03 Aug 2013
80
75th
An outside force with an explicit ideological motivation transforms people into disgusting decadent swingers. I could not shake the feeling that it was They Live by way of the 1970s and 80s desire cultivation self-actualization political shift discussed in Adam Curtis's The Century of the Self.
Rated 21 Dec 2013
64
36th
Takes a while to get into it's stride but there comes a point when you realise 'Wait a second, this has become a film about Fuck Zombies.' After you have this epiphany the pacing picks up and that concept is explored through to the finale of the film. I would have enjoyed an elongated occasionally violent Perfume-esque orgy sequence as a climax. Instead, we get a subdued alternative with harrowing implications for the people of Canada.
Rated 28 Oct 2023
60
53rd
Low-budget Canadian 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' where the aliens are rape zombies. On the negative side the effects are shoddy, the characters cheesy and an uncomfortable pedo vibe rears its head from time to time. But the cinematography shines, and the seeds for themes better explored in later Cronenberg films are definitely present. The last 20 minutes are 'The Shining'-esque. So verdict: Dated, offensive, and thus memorable. Recommended for the Cronen-aste only.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
55
53rd
It is so long since I saw these early Cronenbergs (SHIVERS, THE BROOD, RABID, SCANNERS) that I can't really be too confident of the scores. More specifically: another viewing could conceivably lead me to give them higher scores relative to some of Cronenberg's more recent dramas. My memory of this one, apart from the bath scene, is that Joe Silver was great.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
64
21st
The idea of a parasite crawling into your drain and getting under your skin is pretty damn gross. So is this movie. Full of wild sex, crazy creatures and scientific subtext. True to Cronenberg fashion, though, the down time is really boring.
Rated 22 Mar 2008
70
56th
Cronenberg (a Canadian) should know better than to film an English movie in a French city -- but that's my only gripe with this, his first feature. "Shivers" is actually quite enjoyable at times and picks up the pace after the first 30 minutes or so.
Rated 14 Jul 2010
38
23rd
Disgusting creatures crawling into and out of people's every orifice? Gradually turns into Night of the Living Rapists? Yes, I would apply such descriptions. But Shivers, I guess the most notorious example of Cronenberg's so-called "venereal horror", is nowhere near as interesting as it sounds. In fact, it is very average, not really scary and doesn't really say anything smart socially, and can safely be skipped.
Rated 18 Nov 2011
85
92nd
CRONENBERG: So alien slugs take over the inhabitants of a perfect, well-ordered, polite, social democratic Canadian community and turn everyone into sex-crazed zombies. PRODUCERS: Oh dear. Is there a happy ending? CRONENBERG: Oh yes. PRODUCERS: Phew. So how do they defeat the zombies? CRONENBERG: Defeat...? Oh, I see. No, the zombies are the good guys.
Rated 29 Feb 2012
50
28th
Sort of zombie-like movie but instead of eating they want to "fuck" (well... kiss really) and instead of contagion by bite, they do by some sort of a shit-alike slug. The part of the terror is not specially good (he did better later in Rabid), and the sci-fi is less than I would like, though I get the message, is not such a big deal in the movie, and I also find quite stupid all the movie the "sex-crazyness" is mostly just kissing, what a sex liberation yeah. But I thank the influence in Alien.
Rated 01 Oct 2012
74
77th
Quite effective and daring sexploitation flick by Cronenberg, that has aged pretty well in its crazy but vibrant allegories of biological war and Aids. There are also lots of funny moments, like the old lady shouting "I'm hungry for love!" and other nice lines.
Rated 12 Aug 2014
80
50th
"Did a turd penis just fuck her to death?" is a question I could only ever ask myself while watching a David Cronenberg film. And it has a muted immediacy about it that makes the aberrant deviation of its sterile settings all the more disturbing.
Rated 04 Oct 2014
82
78th
Great. Now I never want to have sex again. Thanks a lot, Cronenberg... (asshole)
Rated 13 Apr 2015
7
67th
Amateur hour for the first 50 or so minutes until a hallucinatory shift occurs and the movie becomes orgiastic and surreal and a lot of stupid fun. It's easy to see how this sort of thing could jumpstart a career.
Rated 12 Sep 2015
76
47th
Yup, this is a Cronenberg film. Body horror, sex and some passing social commentary. It feels a bit amateurish and drawn out at times, but has plenty of interesting stuff to make up for it.
Rated 24 Oct 2017
70
46th
Shivers is one of the sluttiest examples of Cronenberg's fascination with body horror. While it is no less terrifying, this early work is much less subtle in the exploration of the main themes. There are better films from the famed director, but this is definitely a cringe-worthy (for the right reasons) addition to his canon.
Rated 04 Aug 2018
72
80th
This movie has a great ending. To me Shivers is like an infection film crossed with Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It's weird, bloody and fun with lots of WTF moments.
Rated 16 Oct 2018
55
47th
Sex Zombies: The Movie. Not only is it unexpectedly humorous, which I appreciated, but the humour is quite restrained and sophisticated; it is occasionally uncomfortabley jokey about rape and sexual assault but that discomfort's the point of the movie. Unfortunately, there's lots of unintentionally unsexy lewdness, and the special effects are unconvincing. Between the mix and the foley, the sound is really bad, too. Shivers is worth a watch as a curio that captures the 1970s but that's about it.
Rated 17 Oct 2023
68
53rd
Nothing says "Cronenberg" like two dudes playing pass the pickle while a shirtless old man talks about how he finds it sexy to push around the parasite lumps in a woman's stomach
Rated 19 Feb 2007
45
25th
Passes the time.
Rated 10 Apr 2007
87
59th
Behold... Genius at work! From the very beginning, Cronenberg gave his movies his own distinctive mark. Of course, the influence of "Night of the Living Dead" or "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is present - but the director twisted the phormula to fit his private obsessions.
Rated 26 Feb 2008
79
67th
Sex-crazed zombies... What's up now Romero.
Rated 30 Sep 2008
90
95th
Early cronenberg shows the promise he would later so live up to.
Rated 14 Nov 2008
67
71st
good movie
Rated 27 Apr 2009
79
47th
Early Cronenberg movie with a really interesting idea that he pulls off well.
Rated 04 Jul 2009
1
0th
That was really stupid.
Rated 16 Jul 2009
95
70th
cronenberg's zombie movie ! YAY!
Rated 08 Nov 2010
85
87th
10/10 for the punch.
Rated 24 Dec 2010
71
73rd
Cronenberg's first feature is like a venereal disease remake of _Night of the Living Dead_. Tasteless in a good-humored sort of way, this has impressive low-budget Joe Blasco makeup effects and some good shocks, like the phallic parasite attacking scream queen Steele in her bathtub or bursting from Kolman's stomach.
Rated 06 Jul 2011
87
73rd
The nurse in this movie is so fucking ugly-hot.
Rated 30 Dec 2011
61
9th
Cronenberg's first feature is hammy and silly but does show us what he would get up to over the next few years.
Rated 15 Jun 2012
60
68th
I just saw this again, and am about to watch 'Rabid', then 'Stereo' and 'Crimes of the Future'. A festival of early Cronenberg. It is hard for movies about dangerous sexual disinhibition to avoid looking conservative at first glance - homophobic, for instance - but nonetheless this is interesting and entertaining enough. Maybe somewhat lacks impact now. Joe Silver was great.
Rated 13 Aug 2012
15
2nd
This early horror film by David Cronenberg put me off sex for TWO WEEKS. I can never forget how much it grossed me out though sometimes I wish I could. The Exorcist has nothing on Shivers. Queasy stomachs, avoid.
Rated 24 Aug 2012
40
93rd
Doesn't quite live up to its premise. Many of the themes prevalent in Cronenberg's later work seem undeveloped here. It's not bad and has a good ending, but much of it feels a bit empty and generic.
Rated 02 Oct 2012
80
37th
I liked it. It's kind of typical Cronenberg, because it starts out kind of funny (sex zombies, yeah) and then at the end it gets uncomfortable and scary.
Rated 16 Mar 2013
73
55th
Take that hippies.
Rated 07 Oct 2013
75
51st
74.500
Rated 07 Dec 2013
25
1st
I think I stopped watching this one part way through it was so awful for me.
Rated 05 Jun 2014
84
84th
A wonderful sci-fi story with the presentation of a Trucker Stop Special porno. Turns out looking like a dingy snuff film can actually help sometimes. I feel like this is very much the movie The Crazies wanted to be, which is funny because they both share Lynn Lowry. Worth your time if you enjoy some expoitation in your body horror like I do.
Rated 04 Oct 2014
62
19th
Glacial pacing, but ramps up to a pretty good ending.
Rated 15 Oct 2014
69
21st
A.K.A. Cronenberg really hates hippies.
Rated 17 Oct 2014
64
49th
This probably would have been a much better movie if Cronenberg made it at the midpoint in his career where he had a higher budget and was able to make his films as disgusting as possible. There is a ton to like here, but it doesn't make it due to budgetary reasons.
Rated 02 Jan 2015
50
0th
David Cronenberg #1
Rated 05 Feb 2017
6
47th
Meanders an awful lot, but those last 15-20 minutes or so are completely bonkers in the best way possible.
Rated 30 Aug 2018
70
35th
Establishes a lot of themes for Cronenburg but is very rough around the edges.
Rated 08 Oct 2018
4
59th
I really like the specific low budget look and feel of these early Cronenberg movies
Rated 25 Oct 2018
59
27th
Interesting premise combined with a few flashes of brilliance from young Cronenberg, but the amateur execution leaves it ineffective.
Rated 30 Oct 2018
68
35th
Original variant of the zombie-genre in which a parasite turns people in sex-craved maniacs. There are already signs of Cronenberg's style. But the amateurish acting drags this down a lot.
Rated 01 Aug 2019
47
20th
Love uh... conquers all I guess?
Rated 31 Jan 2020
70
51st
One of the most disturbing things I've ever seen. I find it very well made but have to bring this down some for becoming nearly a porno for gross men. Sexy nurse serving doctor's sexual needs? Check. Rape? Lots of it. Incest? Yes. Little girls on a leash barking like dogs? That one really put things over the top.
Rated 01 Feb 2020
85
70th
Really livens up by the end!
Rated 20 Mar 2020
71
47th
Filmes da pandemia #3. Épico pesadelo freudiano que fica mais na teoria do que na prática, mas juro que na cena da piscina achei que eles começariam a cantar "Don't dream it, be it". BlurayRip no MakingOff.
Rated 23 Apr 2020
82
49th
Still a powerful horror film, you can see a filmmaker still learning his craft but already far above most of his peers in ideas. Some great visual nightmares that really stick with you.
Rated 22 Oct 2020
50
22nd
Elokuvateknisesti kehno, näyttelijäsuorituksiltaan vielä kehnompi. Bodyhorror paikoittain ihan ok
Rated 01 Dec 2020
83
88th
The special effects aren't as spectacular as some of Cronenberg's later movies, but this is still a thoroughly enjoyable horror movie. It plays somewhat similarly to a zombie/infection movie, but with its own twist, and with a neat little commentary on human nature.
Rated 14 Mar 2021
65
45th
Not quite my cup of tea. Lots of interesting ideas, impressive effects for the time & budget Cronenberg was working with, & a rock solid premise, but the script is so messy & the pacing is so off. The rules of the evil sex parasites & what exactly they do seems to fluctuate scene to scene, there are too many characters running around without enough personality, & it just feels really repetitive after about an hour. Decent, especially for a first feature, but not one I'll be dying to rewatch.
Rated 02 May 2021
84
65th
A young Cronenberg doesn't have a lot of time or money and so he throws everything slimy, disturbing or otherwise bizarre at the wall to see what sticks--which turns out to be most of it, surprisingly enough. The final "baptism" is especially memorable, with low-budget splatter feature regular Lynn Lowry cutting a striking figure. There are, of course, patches of amateurism and datedness, but they mostly enhance the overall effect of the film.
Rated 27 May 2021
66
68th
Often brilliantly disgusting though the build-up is the best part.

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