
In the realm of thrillers, David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds” isn’t typically impressive: the plot seems to be an afterthought, hastily resolved with a lackadaisical shrug at the end. A recent rewatch in a New York City theater found me overhearing two young Cronenberg fans criticizing its quality. However, this enigmatic, poignant film—a tale of grief and potential rebirth—resonates powerfully and lingers. Vincent Cassel portrays Karsh, a man grappling with the recent demise of his wife (Diane Kruger in several dream sequences). Karsh has developed a unique shroud that allows the living to witness decay in the dead, a means to bring physical closeness to the grave; he also commercialized this technology by opening a cemetery equipped with these special shroud-enabled tombs. A high-end restaurant is another amenity on-site, a Cronenbergian touch of elegance and darkness. One evening, the cemetery is ransacked; graves are overturned, their Wi-Fi connections compromised. Karsh’s sister-in-law (also played by Diane Kruger) and ex-brother-in-law (Guy Pearce) attempt to solve the mystery behind the theft, while Karsh seeks solace in reclaiming his life. “The Shrouds” is primarily defined by Cassel’s captivating performance. He embodies grief as a restless electrical energy that seems to resonate through every fiber of his lean, agile body.