Crimes of the Future (2022 film)

Crimes of the Future (2022 film) is a science fiction body horror film written and directed by David Cronenberg, starring Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, and Kristen Stewart. It premiered in competition at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and received mixed to positive reviews. It marks Cronenberg's return to body horror after a lengthy period exploring other genres.

The film explores a dystopian future where humankind has adapted to a synthetic environment, experiencing bodily transformations and mutations. Performance artist Saul Tenser (Mortensen) publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances with his partner Caprice (Seydoux). They navigate a world where surgery is the new sex, and a subversive group is attempting to accelerate evolution by altering the human body.

The film delves into themes of transhumanism, the relationship between technology and the body, the nature of art, and governmental control over bodily autonomy. A key element of the plot involves the discovery of a group eating a synthetic candy bar, implying an adaptation to consuming plastics, which draws the attention of the "National Organ Registry," an organization tasked with cataloging and regulating new organ growths.

Stewart portrays Timlin, an investigator from the National Organ Registry who becomes fascinated by Saul and Caprice's art. The film follows the trio as they grapple with the ethical and existential implications of accelerating evolution, and the potential consequences for humanity.