Crash 1995

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Crash ★★ 1995 (NC-17)

You can always expect surreal kinkiness from Cronenberg and this film, awarded a Special Jury Prize at Cannes for “daring, originality, and audacity,” won't prove the exception. It's “auto” erotica taken to the max, with car crashes and bodily injury turned into fetishes. James (Spader) lands in the hospital after an accident, which injured Helen (Hunter), a passenger in the other car. Helen and James' shared experience soon leads to a sexual relationship, which doesn't bother James' wife, Catherine (Unger). Then there's Vaughan (Koteas) and his group, who like to reenact famous auto crashes (like those of James Dean and Jayne Mansfield). Oh yes, there's lots more sex (in various combinations). Based on J.G. Ballard's 1973 cult novel. An Rrated version clocks in at 90 minutes. 98m/C VHS, DVD . CA James Spader, Holly Hunter, Elias Koteas, Deborah Kara Unger, Rosanna Arquette, Peter MacNeill; D: David Cronenberg; W: David Cronenberg; C: Peter Suschitzky; M: Howard Shore. Cannes '96: Special Jury Prize; Genie '96: Adapt. Screenplay, Cinematog., Director (Cronenberg), Film Editing.