This is Cronenberg’s take on misplaced, suffocating maternal
affection and society’s increasing tendency to turn to
quasi-religious self-help gurus for existential molly-coddling.
Oliver Reed exudes perversion with no effort at all, Samantha Eggar as
the mother is just unpleasant from the outset - and the little puffer
jacket clad progeny stay with you long after the initial viewing.
Decidedly unpleasant and unsettling, it feels a little blunt for
Cronenberg, but is still worth more attention than many other
film-makers will ever warrant.
