Continuing his 2022 grotesque sci-fi thriller Crimes of the future, David Cronenberg turns to Prada for his next disturbing project. As part of a larger company exhibition entitled “Cere anatomiche: La Specola di Firenze | David Cronenberg, the director has been hired to direct a new short film that will be one of the centerpieces of the show. In typical Cronenberg fashion, the short plays with body horror through the use of four 18th-century wax female corpses that were originally used for medical research. The exhibition will run from March 24 to July 17.

The Prada Foundation provided some insight into the theme and purpose of Cronenberg’s film. “In his short film, David Cronenberg will present an alternative perspective on the four wax models of women on display, freeing them from their academic function as medical demonstrations and educational tools,” the official statement said. They added that the film will “reveal the vivid and unexpected dimension of female wax corpses, who until now have been known for their static and stern nature.”

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The exhibition is taking place in Milan and will feature wax figures from Europe’s famous La Specola Science Museum in Florence, including one of the most famous, the Anatomical Venus. Cronenberg noted that anatomical figures were often used by medical students who did not have access to dissections at universities and hospitals. Venus is especially unique due to the fact that it has detachable parts that look very realistic and serene with real human hair flowing down before pulling back its layers to reveal the organs, bones and muscles underneath. She initiated a scientific revolution, bringing together the art of the Medici of Florence and the study of the Enlightenment.

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Image via Paramount

Cronenberg’s claims about the short sound eerily familiar to the topics he explored through Crimes of the future. Movie, Cast Viggo Mortinson And Lea Seydoux, takes place in a future where humans have evolved to no longer feel pain, freely acting on themselves for fun and pleasure. Regarding the wax figures, he noted that even though they were made for autopsy, careful work was done to make sure they were not in pain. However, Cronenberg was unnerved that instead the creators managed to “create living characters who seemed to be in the throes of ecstasy.” He continued by adding, “It was this striking choice on the part of the sculptors of these figures that struck my fancy: what if it was the dissection itself that caused this ecstasy, this almost religious rapture?” A line comes to mind from Kristin Stewartcharacter from the movie “Surgery is the new sex”.

Cronenberg continues to show his clothes to fashion houses

Curiously, this year is the second time Cronenberg has joined forces with the famous fashion house. The father of body horror recently appeared in the Yves Saint Laurent Spring-Summer 2023 campaign, joining forces with other directors such as Jim Jarmusch, Pedro AlmodovarAnd Abel Ferrara promote the latest collection of the French luxury brand. However, with Prada, he goes beyond modeling accessories to create something in his own unique style. It’s great to see a company outside of the film industry bringing in a world-class director to do what he does best for their show.

Cronenberg has been gathering theater goers for years Fly, existenceAnd dead ringers among other classics that defined body horror. It is experiencing a renaissance thanks to Crimes of the futureA Scanners series, and dead ringers A Prime Video adaptation that recently received a new teaser. In addition to the Prada short, he also has plans for the next film. shrouds which was previously scheduled to begin filming this month.

The Cronenberg Exhibition runs from March 24 to July 17 in Milan, Italy. In the meantime, check out Collider’s previous interview with the writer/director below.