David Cronenberg (“Videodrome”) delivers his most personal film, centered on a technological entrepreneur named Karsh (Vincent Cassel), who grapples with the loss of his wife. This deeply emotional narrative reflects Cronenberg’s own grief following the passing of his wife, Carolyn, in 2017.
Set in a haunting near-future, Karsh has created software that allows the bereaved to witness the decay of their deceased loved ones. While mourning his wife (Diane Kruger), he becomes involved with her sister (also Kruger), just as his enterprise faces threats from vandalized graves linked to his “shroud” technology.
In this noir-tinged dystopia filled with self-driving cars and A.I., “The Shrouds” balances malevolence and wit, offering a profound exploration of grief and the intersection of the corporeal and the digital. Though it recalls Cronenberg’s previous works, it stands alone as a unique, artful examination of human fragility, deeply informed by the director’s personal experiences.