SHADOWS Contactless: 8.30pm Friday May 1: ANTIVIRAL (SBS on Demand)

Syd is embezzling from his employer. So what? Normal enough crime drama stuff. Well, it's what he's stealing. He works at Lucas Clinic, a company that sells the illnesses of the rich and famous to the poor and aspirant. And he sneaks samples past the industrial security to sell for himself. The death of the star he took it from dies and Syd becomes a target.



This is not a horror film. If it were paced more tightly it might be a thriller but its interest does not lie there either. With superfans not only buying copyrighted viruses with installed digital rights management, there is a grey market in meat grown from the stars' DNA we are in the realm of heavy satire. And we must recall or be informed that satire isn't always funny.

There is elephant DNA in this film. It was written and directed by the son of someone whose surname has become an adjective in cinema history. You might think Brandon Cronenberg, if he chose to become a filmmaker at all (rather than a sand sculptor or a bud driver) would elect to prove himself an individual by not making such a ... Cronenbergian piece. Why not a sprightly rom com or a fashionable live musical? Because he had an idea and pursued it. If you look at it beyond the synopsis you will see the work of a young writer/director toiling seriously to bring his story to the screen. Besides, times being themselves, we might be in dire need of another Cronenberg walking amongst us.

Then again, cheap shoot as you will, this film does work. It feels like there's a new wow concept every five minutes in the first act and, though the second settles a little too comfortably into development and the intrigue sets in, there is a real punch waiting in the final act, served up with an image that will stay with you. This is a debut film from a young filmmaker with big shoes to fill who would not be lightly forgiven for the slightest flub. Damn me if he doesn't get away with it.

This is the first diversion from the Netflix Party format as it is available through SBS on Demand. This will take discipline and coordination. We'll use Messenger for comments. I'll leave a guide in a post on the Facebook page.