Here is one bit of trivia from that site that shall not be named:

"David Cronenberg once called this the most frustrating film he'd ever made. The film was rushed through production - filming had to begin without a finished script and end within roughly two months so the financing would qualify as a tax write-off, forcing Cronenberg to write and shoot at the same time. Cronenberg also cited difficulty with and antagonism between the leads, particularly Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill."

And if you want to read more:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081455/trivia

@bratface said:

Here is one bit of trivia from that site that shall not be named:

"David Cronenberg once called this the most frustrating film he'd ever made. The film was rushed through production - filming had to begin without a finished script and end within roughly two months so the financing would qualify as a tax write-off, forcing Cronenberg to write and shoot at the same time. Cronenberg also cited difficulty with and antagonism between the leads, particularly Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill."

And if you want to read more:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081455/trivia

It totally makes sense. You can actually feel it whilst watching the film. I didn't pick it up as much as with O'Neill. Probably because she didn't have as many scenes as McGoohan but the tension definitely comes through. I'd say Cronenberg did an excellent job if he was writing and shooting at the same time.

@movie_nazi said:

@bratface said:

Here is one bit of trivia from that site that shall not be named:

"David Cronenberg once called this the most frustrating film he'd ever made. The film was rushed through production - filming had to begin without a finished script and end within roughly two months so the financing would qualify as a tax write-off, forcing Cronenberg to write and shoot at the same time. Cronenberg also cited difficulty with and antagonism between the leads, particularly Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill."

And if you want to read more:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081455/trivia

It totally makes sense. You can actually feel it whilst watching the film. I didn't pick it up as much as with O'Neill. Probably because she didn't have as many scenes as McGoohan but the tension definitely comes through. I'd say Cronenberg did an excellent job if he was writing and shooting at the same time.

I've never seen it (not into gore).

@bratface said:

@movie_nazi said:

@bratface said:

Here is one bit of trivia from that site that shall not be named:

"David Cronenberg once called this the most frustrating film he'd ever made. The film was rushed through production - filming had to begin without a finished script and end within roughly two months so the financing would qualify as a tax write-off, forcing Cronenberg to write and shoot at the same time. Cronenberg also cited difficulty with and antagonism between the leads, particularly Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill."

And if you want to read more:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081455/trivia

It totally makes sense. You can actually feel it whilst watching the film. I didn't pick it up as much as with O'Neill. Probably because she didn't have as many scenes as McGoohan but the tension definitely comes through. I'd say Cronenberg did an excellent job if he was writing and shooting at the same time.

I've never seen it (not into gore).

Yeah, I guess it is kinda gory but the dated special effects make it seem not so bad. But I guess you can say a lot of Cronenberg's films have some sort of gross out factor to them.

@movie_nazi said:

@bratface said:

@movie_nazi said:

@bratface said:

Here is one bit of trivia from that site that shall not be named:

"David Cronenberg once called this the most frustrating film he'd ever made. The film was rushed through production - filming had to begin without a finished script and end within roughly two months so the financing would qualify as a tax write-off, forcing Cronenberg to write and shoot at the same time. Cronenberg also cited difficulty with and antagonism between the leads, particularly Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill."

And if you want to read more:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081455/trivia

It totally makes sense. You can actually feel it whilst watching the film. I didn't pick it up as much as with O'Neill. Probably because she didn't have as many scenes as McGoohan but the tension definitely comes through. I'd say Cronenberg did an excellent job if he was writing and shooting at the same time.

I've never seen it (not into gore).

Yeah, I guess it is kinda gory but the dated special effects make it seem not so bad. But I guess you can say a lot of Cronenberg's films have some sort of gross out factor to them.

That's one of the main reasons I do not like 'modern' horror/slasher movies. They do not scare me but I feel every blow. It's like lactic acid rushing through my body. I like horror films to be suspenseful. Chasing someone through the woods, a house, etc. with a chainsaw, knife, or an ax isn't scary.

@movie_nazi said:

Yeah, I guess it is kinda gory but the dated special effects make it seem not so bad. But I guess you can say a lot of Cronenberg's films have some sort of gross out factor to them.

I do feel with rewatches that this is one of Cronenberg's lesser efforts. Thanks for the info.

However, the exploding head effect (and some others I recall) seem to look just as effective today as they were in the eighties....