David Cronenberg is a very interesting director, one unlike any other. Not one of my all-time favourites, but most of his work ranges from above average to outstanding. My favourites, talking about films for now, from him being 'The Fly', 'Dead Ringers', 'Eastern Promises', 'A History of Violence' and a toss up between 'The Brood' and 'Spider'. And my least favourites being 'Stereo', 'Crimes of the Future', 'Cosmopolis' and 'Maps to the Stars'.
'Transfer' is most interesting for being Cronenberg's first short film and his first work. Other than that and completest sake (wanting to see as much of his work as possible), there is not an awful lot going for it and do feel bad for saying that, being an admirer. Every Cronenberg effort is watchable, even if just the once, 'Transfer' for me is a lesser work of his and with not enough to make me want to see it again. A couple of nice thematic touches that Cronenberg introduced, but he explored them much better later.
It looks surprisingly decent for such early Cronenberg, actually looking better than a couple of his early films (i.e. 'Shivers', 'Rabid') and having a suitable amount of eeriness. The photography and editing do not look amateurish.
Some nice quirkiness here and there and the feeling of loneliness is suitably mysterious and oddly moving.
Cronenberg's direction shows inexperience however and does have the feeling of a student film that barely passes when assessed. The story, for something so short, really lacked lustre and can perplex more than intrigue. Like his lesser efforts, 'Transfer' felt very clinical and emotionally distant, one of not much of his work to not make me feel anything.
Didn't find that the dialogue flowed very well as it should and was delivered stiffly, that was when one can hear it. As one of the short's biggest problems is agreed the awful sound.
Summarising, a failure but not an unwatchable or uninteresting one. 4/10
