Antiviral 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Brandon Cronenberg’s 2012 debut feature, Antiviral, examines society’s interest in celebrity, bodily commodification, and the intersections of technology and humanity. As the son of David Cronenberg, Brandon contributes to the genre with a distinct perspective, creating a film that acknowledges his father’s influence while presenting his own vision. Antiviral provides a narrative that encourages reflection and is visually engaging. 

Plot and Themes: A Disturbing Vision of the Future

Set in a dystopian near-future, Antiviral presents a world where celebrity worship has reached its most extreme and grotesque form. The film follows Syd March (Caleb Landry Jones), an employee at a clinic that sells viruses harvested from famous individuals to obsessed fans who want to feel a physical connection to their idols. Syd also smuggles these viruses out of the clinic, injecting them into his own body to sell on the illegal market. When he becomes infected with a mysterious and deadly virus that has killed a beloved celebrity, he must unravel the truth behind the illness while his own body deteriorates. 

The film explores themes like the commodification of the human body, the dehumanizing effects of fame, and extreme fan devotion. Cronenberg’s satirical and horrifying vision critiques society’s obsession with celebrity culture and technology’s impact on our relationship with our bodies. The unsettling premise is executed with clinical precision, reflecting the sterile environments of the film’s clinics and laboratories. 

Visual Style: Clinical and Unnerving

Antiviral stands out with its unique visual style. Cronenberg and cinematographer Karim Hussain present a sleek yet repulsive world using whites, grays, and muted tones to highlight the film’s sterile, clinical settings. Close-ups on needles, skin, and bodily fluids amplify unease, forcing viewers to confront the vulnerability and grotesqueness of the human body. 

The film’s aesthetic is reminiscent of David Cronenberg’s work, particularly in its focus on the intersection of technology and biology. However, Brandon Cronenberg carves out his own identity by leaning into the cold, detached tone of the film, which mirrors the dehumanizing world he depicts. The result is a visual experience that is both mesmerizing and deeply unsettling, perfectly suited to the film’s themes. 

Performances: Caleb Landry Jones Shines 

Caleb Landry Jones delivers a standout performance as Syd March, capturing the character’s physical and emotional deterioration with haunting intensity. Jones’s gaunt appearance and pale complexion make him the perfect vessel for the film’s exploration of bodily decay, and his performance is both understated and deeply affecting. Syd is a morally ambiguous character, complicit in the very system he critiques, and Jones portrays him with a vulnerability that makes him simultaneously sympathetic and repugnant. 

The supporting cast, including Sarah Gadon (Vampires vs. the Bronx) as the enigmatic celebrity Hannah Geist and Malcolm McDowell as the sinister Dr. Abendroth, provide strong performances that add depth to the film’s world. Gadon, in particular, embodies the ethereal, almost otherworldly quality of celebrity, serving as a stark contrast to the grotesque reality of the film’s premise. 

Body Horror: A Legacy Continued

Antiviral succeeds as a body horror film, echoing David Cronenberg’s work. Brandon Cronenberg explores human body’s fragility and malleability to extreme levels with grotesque imagery like virus injections and celebrity-grown meat, highlighting themes of bodily commodification and loss of individuality. 

But body horror in Antiviral is not just about shock value; it is an integral part of the film’s themes. It forces the audience to confront the physicality of the human body, and Cronenberg highlights the ways in which our bodies can be exploited and commodified, both by others and by ourselves.

A Promising Debut

Antiviral, Brandon Cronenberg’s debut, is visually stunning and thematically rich. The film’s cold, clinical tone may not suit everyone, but fans of thought-provoking sci-fi and body horror will appreciate it. Cronenberg both continues his father’s legacy and asserts his own artistic identity. 

With its chilling premise, striking visuals, and strong performances, Antiviral is a film that demands to be seen—and one that will leave a lasting impression. It is a testament to Brandon Cronenberg’s talent apart from his father. Since Antiviral, Brandon Cronenberg has gone on to direct the equally remarkable Possessor and the less successful Infinity Pool.

The Video

Antiviral dates from 2012 and was originally shot digitally on the Arri Alexa in addition to the Canon Rebel T2i, FLIR P660, and GoPro HD Hero for some segments that appear in the film. This restoration, however, was scanned in 4K from the 35mm protection internegative supervised by Brandon Cronenberg and cinematographer Karim Hussain. This cannot add any additional resolution than what was originally captured in this somewhat early digital format, but it does impart an organic and filmic quality to the image that takes away some of the sterility. The film is presented on 4K Ultra HD in a 1.85:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodement. This Dolby Vision grading is very subtle given the MaxLL of 302 nits and MaxFALL of 225 nits shown in the HDR10 metadata and the film’s inherent cold, sterile, almost monotoned palette most of the time.

The Audio

A lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and a lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo soundtrack are included for this release of Antivirus. The 5.1 track is more atmospheric and front-loaded than it is aggressive, but it sets the right mood with clear dialogue, balanced score, and good dynamics.

The Supplements

I was sent the standard 2-disc release of Antivirus from Severin. There is also a limited edition, 3-disc version with web-only slipcover available on the Severin webite. This edition comes with the following special features:

Bonus Features:

• Audio Commentary with writer/director Brandon Cronenberg and director of photography Karim Hussain

Blu-ray Only Bonus Features:

• Broken Tulips – Short film written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg (1080p; 00:07:51)
• Anatomy of a Virus – Making-of Featurette (1080p; 00:29:44)
• Reviving a Dead Cell – Brandon Cronenberg and Karim Hussain Discuss the Restoration (1080p; 00:08:50)
• Brandon Cronenberg: A First-Time Director’s Vision (1080i; 00:02:36)
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Brandon Cronenberg and Karim Hussain (1080p; 00:05:12)
• First Meeting – With Actors Caleb Landry Jones and Sarah Gadon (1080i; 00:02:22)
• The Design of Antiviral – Interview with Production Designer Arvinder Greywal (1080i; 00:02:05)
• Manufacturing Celebrity – EPK with Cast and Crew (1080i; 00:02:02)
• Trailer (1080p; 00:01:54)

The Final Assessment

Antiviral is a strong feature debut for Brandon Cronenberg, who steps outside his father’s shadow to strike his own signature in the body horror genre. Severin also does a fantastic job bringing this film to 4K with the source they have to work with. Recommended for genre fans.

Antiviral is out on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Standard Edition March 25, 2025 from Severin Films

• Rating Certificate: Not Rated
• Studios & Distributors: Rhombus Media | Alliance | Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit | Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit | Ontario Media Development Corporation | TF1 International | Téléfilm Canada | Severin Films
• Director: Brandon Cronenberg
• Written By: Brandon Cronenberg
• Run Time: 108 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• HDR10 Metadata:
  • MaxLL: 302 nits
  • MaxFALL: 225 nits
  • Max. Luminance: 1000 nits
  • Min. Luminance: 0.0001 nits
• Primary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Secondary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo
• Subtitles: English SDH