David Cronenberg cuddles with his own corpse in a bizarre short film. The director is widely considered the originator and the master of the subgenre known as body horror, which focuses on grotesque and other psychologically disturbing violations of the human body. Cronenberg is known for exploring these themes in Shivers (1975), Scanners (1981), Videodrome (1983), and The Fly (1986). Many of these films have polarized critics and audiences alike and have also sparked controversy for their visceral depictions of gore and violence.

Though he is best known for his entries into the body horror subgenre, Cronenberg has also worked in several other genres throughout his career. His 1996 film, Crash, was a hit at the Cannes Film Festival. He has also collaborated with actor Viggo Mortensen on several features, including A History of Violence (2005), Eastern Promises (2007), and A Dangerous Method (2011). Cronenberg's 2012 collaboration with Robert Pattinson, Cosmopolis, competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. The most recent feature film he directed was Maps to the Stars in 2014.

Related: How Cronenberg's The Fly Remake Improved On The Original Movie

Now, the director's new short film titled The Death of David Cronenberg has debuted online, (via Super Rare). The project, which runs for a total of 56 seconds, is a collaboration between Cronenberg and his daughter, Caitlin, who was just recently hired to helm her first feature-length film, Humane. The short, however, finds the titular filmmaker in a small and softly lit room as he approaches his own corpse. After gazing at his motionless self for some time, he precedes to get into bed and cuddle his own corpse. Watch the short film via the link below:

Click here to watch the video.

Star Trek Discovery David Cronenberg Section 31

While Cronenberg fans are no stranger to the eccentricities of his work, this film leans more into existentialism than his entries into the body horror genre. The objective of Cronenberg's most recent work (which is being auctioned off an an NFT) is to be a tender depiction of him coming to terms with his own mortality, as opposed to Cronenberg's horror films which are intended to shock and scare. The death of the director's wife in 2017 served as inspiration for the short film.

While this short is surely a welcome surprise for fans of the horror auteur, many are likely wondering when he will return to directing full-length features. The good news is that Cronenberg has a new horror film on the way called Crimes of the Future, which will reunite him with his frequent collaborator, Mortenesen, and also star Léa Seydoux and Kristen Stewart. Fans will also be glad to hear that the project is being described as David Cronenberg's return to his body horror roots.

Next: David Cronenberg’s Movies Ranked, Worst To Best

Source: Super Rare