I’ve been curious as to what David Cronenberg has been up to since last years short ‘The Nest’ (Nine minutes of uncut, GoPro style footage of a “surgeon”, preparing to surgically remove the potentially insect infested left breast, of an obviously mentally unstable woman…which you can see here). Anticipating Cronenberg’s return to body horror may have been a bit premature, but this movie isn’t without his trademark tension.
“Meet the Weiss family, who are making their way in Hollywood rife with money, fame, envy, and relentless hauntings. Stafford Weiss (John Cusack) is a famed TV self-help therapist with an A-list celebrity clientele. Meanwhile, Cristina Weiss (Olivia Williams) has her work cut out managing the career of their disaffected child-star son, Benjie (Evan Bird), a fresh graduate of rehab at age 13. Yet unbeknownst to them, another member of the Weiss family has arrived in town – mysteriously scarred and tormented Agatha (Mia Wasikowska), just released from a psych ward and ready to start again. She soon works her way into a friendship with a limo driver (Robert Pattinson) and becomes personal assistant to unraveling actress Havana Segrand (Julianne Moore), who is beset by the ghost of her legendary mother, Clarice (Sarah Gadon). But Agatha is on a quest for redemption – and even in this realm of the artificial, and the unearthly, she’s determined to find it, no matter what it takes.” – Focus
Body-horror usually involves physical transformation, and thats what he’s best known for. This film may just prove that psychological transformation can be equally as scary. In this case, Hollywood is the catalyst.
This film is amazingly cast. No one does distress face like (2015 Best Actress Award winning) Julianne Moore. Mia Wasikowska is definitely making a name for herself in highbrow genre films; this role follows wonderful performances in ‘Stoker’, & ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’, and preceding the highly anticipated ‘Crimson Peak‘. The cast should be very comfortable with each other, as Wasikowska and Moore worked together in ‘The Kids Are All Right’, which won a Golden Globe in 2010. This will also mark the second consecutive collaboration Pattinson & Cronenberg (since Cosmopolis).
Maps to the Stars is an unblinking glimpse into Tinseltown, & I can’t wait to let my eyes dry out in solidarity.
In theaters February 27th.