Shivers (1981 film)

Shivers, also known as They Came From Within and Frissons, is a 1975 Canadian science fiction body horror film written and directed by David Cronenberg. It was one of Cronenberg's earliest commercially successful films and is considered a key work in the body horror subgenre.

The film centers on a parasitic outbreak in a luxurious, modern apartment complex on a small island near Montreal. The parasites, artificially created by a deranged scientist aiming to eliminate inhibitions, transform their hosts into sexually ravenous beings who spread the infection through physical contact. The plot follows several residents as they grapple with the growing outbreak and attempt to survive the escalating chaos.

Shivers explores themes of sexuality, disease, social control, and the anxieties of modern living. The film's graphic depictions of sexual violence and body horror were highly controversial upon its release, sparking debate about censorship and the role of violence in art. Despite the controversy, Shivers established Cronenberg as a significant voice in horror cinema and laid the groundwork for his later explorations of the human body and its vulnerability to technological and biological threats. The film's score was composed by Fred Mollin. The film stars Paul Hampton, Joe Silver, Lynn Lowry, and Barbara Steele.