Review of Naked Lunch (1991) by Pete L — 04 Aug 2011

"Nothing is true; everything is permitted.".

Extremely bizarre,but that is what is expected of Cronenberg's films.

Plot: Taking place in 1953, a failed writer turned exterminator becomes addicted to the powder he uses to kill bugs. While in a police station, a giant bug tells him that his wife is an agent for an organization called Interzone Incorporated. Believing this to be nothing more than a hallucination, he goes home and accidentally kills his wife who is also addicted to the powder. At a bar he meets a bug-like creature that tells him he has completed his mission. It also tells him to flee to an African port town where the organization is based. There he realizes that his an operative for the organization and becomes involved in a vast government conspiracy.

Directed by David Cronenberg(Videodrome, The Fly, A History of Violence), Naked Lunch is by far one of the most confusing drug movies of all time. There were times when I had absolutely no idea what was going on. Looking back on it, I think I understand it but I'm not entirely sure. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Peter Weller is one of my favorite actors and even though he spends most of the movie mumbling, he still does fantastic. Roy Scheider and Ian Holm also star. They do fantastic as well. This isn't as good as Cronenberg's other films but if you want a weird movies then this is it. Total Score: 6.4/10.