Crimes of the Future (1970)

Country of Origin: Canada
Years of Production: 1969 - 1970
Running Times: 70 mins
Format: Eastmancolor     35mm
Ratio: 1.66:1
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Emergent Films
Producer: David Cronenberg

SCRIPT
Script: David Cronenberg

DIRECTION
Director: David Cronenberg

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: David Cronenberg

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: David Cronenberg

VISUAL EFFECTS
Title Designer: Jon Lidolt

OTHER CREW
Production Assistant: Stefan Nosko

LOCATIONS
Locations: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

CAST
Ronald Mlodzik (Adrian Tripod)
Jon Lidolt
Tania Zolty
Paul Mulholland
Jack Messinger
Iain Ewing
William Haslam
Ray Woodley
Stefen Czernecki
Rafe Macpherson
Willem Poolman
Don Owen
Udo Kasemets
Bruce Martin
Brian Linehan
Leland Richard
Stephen Zeifman
Norman Snider
William Wine
Kaspars Dzeguze
Sheldon Cohen
George Gibbins
William Poolman

PLOT SUMMARY

In the near future, the majority of the planet's women have been killed by Rouge's Malady, an affliction unleashed by a missing dermatologist which causes its victims to engage in acts of outrageous fetishism and sexual deviation. Only a young pre-pubescent girl survives to help repopulate the world.

A step forwards from Stereo (1969), but still too strange and uncomfortable for most viewers. Cronenberg fans will lap up the fascinating images and eccentric soundtrack and will recognise many of the ideas that would be better developed in his subsequent work. Worth the trouble it takes to track it down for those who are already convinced of Cronenberg's genius – the rest will be left as cold and perplexed as ever.

USA
Laserdisc Distributor: Criterion Collection (CC 1527L)

USA
Rating: R

1969
August
Day Unknown: Canada – filming begins

1979
February
10: Canada – filming ends

1984
August
10: USA – theatrical release

1998
June
24: USA - laserdisc release (Criterion Collection (CC 1527L))

MAGAZINES

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.38 no.454 (November 1971) pp.217-218 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review (by Tony Rayns)

end of the world, the future, paedophilia, scientists, surrealism

Last Updated: 19 October, 2008