Naked Lunch (1991)

After developing an addiction to the substance he uses to kill bugs, an exterminator accidentally kills his wife, and becomes involved in a secret government plot being orchestrated by giant bugs in a port town in North Africa.

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

William S. Burroughs (novel), David Cronenberg

Stars:

Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Ian Holm

13 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Weller	...	Bill Lee
Judy Davis	...	Joan Frost / Joan Lee
Ian Holm	...	Tom Frost
Julian Sands	...	Yves Cloquet
Roy Scheider	...	Dr. Benway
Monique Mercure	...	Fadela
Nicholas Campbell	...	Hank
Michael Zelniker	...	Martin
Robert A. Silverman	...	Hans
Joseph Scoren	...	Kiki (as Joseph Scorsiani)
Peter Boretski	...	Creature Voices / Exterminator #2
Yuval Daniel	...	Hafid
John Friesen	...	Hauser
Sean McCann	...	O'Brien
Howard Jerome	...	A.J. Cohen

Storyline

Not an adaptation of beat writer William S. Burrough's novel but a mix of biography and an interpretation of his drug- induced writing processes combined with elements of his work in this paranoid fantasy about Bill Lee, a writer who accidentally shoots his wife, whose typewriter transforms into a cockroach and who becomes involved in a mysterious plot in North African port called Interzone. Wonderfully bizarre, not unlike Burrough's books.

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Plot Keywords:

secret agent | lynchian | psychological disintegration | reality vs fantasy | repressed homosexual | 

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Taglines:

David Cronenberg and William S. Burroughs invite you to lunch.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for heavy drug content, bizarre eroticism, and language

Details

Country:

Canada UK Japan

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

24 April 1992 (UK)

Also Known As:

David Cronenberg's Naked Lunch

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,541,541

Company Credits

Production Co:

Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Téléfilm Canada, Ontario Film Development Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Cronenberg wrote the screenplay on a Toshiba laptop computer during the period of time while he was acting in Clive Barker's Nightbreed (1990).

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Goofs

The glass shot off Judy Davis' head changes to a plastic glass. First instance as the glass is falling off her head after the shot and then at end of film it is a plastic glass Ms Davis balances on her head. It remains plastic until it falls to floor and changes back into glass.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bill Lee: Exterminator.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1997)

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Soundtracks

Midnight Sunrise
Composed by Ornette Coleman
Performed by Ornette Coleman and The Master Musicians of Jajouka

User Reviews

Twisted Film concerning twisted minds

Naked Lunch seems to be just totally incomprehensible upon first viewing. However, after watching it again, you start to understand more and more. Upon multiple viewings, you really get a feel for what's transpiring before your eyes. The ultimate message is that it is really just a metaphor for heroin addiction, even though it's so much more deeper than that. It's an intricate study of a man, William S. Burroughs, who was a heroin addict, and among other things one of the most significant Beat authors ever. The film delves deeply into the psyche of Burroughs and takes you on a trip in his mind and your own. There are touches of reality and many flashes of paranoia, and it is all done with style and grace. Seriously one of the best films about an author, Naked Lunch will certainly stand the test of time against other films which may seem at first entertaining, but lose their luster upon multiple viewings. Whereas, Naked Lunch, in my opinion, never will. 10 out of 10.