TIFF 2024: The Shrouds Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

Writer and director David Cronenberg has made a career out of going out there with much of his films, diving audiences and developing a loyal fanbase. Premiering earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, The Shrouds is no difference. Perhaps more subtle compared to his last film, 2022’s Crimes of the Future, his latest is unlikely to convert anyone who isn’t already a fan of his. Featuring a lot of the same flourishes Cronenberg is known for, they don’t distract from the story which is a contemplative tale about grief and loss with a twist. Centered around a businessman named Kersh (Cassel) who, grieving the loss of his wife Becca (Kruger), built a high tech cemetery where mourners can connect with the dead through a specially-designed burial shroud. As the years passed, he had yet to move on, continuing to visit Becca’s grave and viewing her decomposing body. Despite his current circumstances, Kersh still couldn’t stand being apart from her and that made it difficult for him to connect with new people. Leaning on his sister-in-law and Becca’s twin sister Terry (Kruger) and her husband and business associate Maury (Pearce), his relationship with them quickly evolved into something more.

Not giving up on her, or not wanting to, Kersh noticed something was wrong with Becca’s decomposing skeleton. Growing concerned, he found himself descending into a rabbit hole as he attempted to retrace the last stage of her life to determine what was happening to her now. Through a series of sultry flashbacks, expanded upon Kersh and Becca’s relationship as her health deteriorated. Uncovering a conspiracy that may be tied to some friction with his expanding business in the present, his life became a tough balancing act that was made more complicated after meeting a woman named Soo-Min (Sandrine Holt), the wife of a prospective investor. In the end, it was up to him to figure out where he want to go moving forward but suffice it to say, that audiences can expect plenty of twists and turns among other surprises in getting there.

Cassel and Kruger are strong together and are easily the best part of The Shrouds. Resting firmly on their shoulders, they take everything coming their way in stride. Embracing the oddness and awkwardness of their characters, as the film plays it for laughs, they rise above and draw out their humanity. Meanwhile, in limited roles, Pearce is a delight as the sleazy and neurotic Maury and Holt makes the underwritten Soo-Min somewhat compelling to watch.

Ultimately, The Shrouds is a strong character study with plenty of Cronenberg-isms that will entertain his fans but they don’t overwhelm his narrative.

still courtesy of Sphere Films

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.