Reconfigurations of Body Horror in The Shrouds by Nathaniel Carper-Young, Junior
The term “body horror” is thrown around a good deal in contemporary film spaces. It generally refers to a subgenre of horror films that eschew the various nasties (supernatural or otherwise) typically prevalent in horror in favor of terror evoked directly from images of the human body, and whatever damages or biological transformations it’s undergone. Ergo, “body horror.” Esteemed veteran of the horror genre David Cronenberg pioneered the then-burgeoning body horror cinema in the 1980s with his films The Fly and Videodrome, both of which take special interest in certain transformations that the human bodies in them undergo. Neither film is for the faint of heart; the same might be said of the whole of the body horror cinema—even in its most inchoate forms, the images offered (e.g., those of a man gradually turning into a fly) are enough to make the stomach turn. In the forty-odd years that have elapsed since those initial echoings, the subgenre has grown much more disgusting and also much more popular; last year’s The Substance (likened frequently to the work of Cronenberg) garnered a great many walkouts and post-screening throw-ups from a number of audience members as well as five Academy Award nominations and one win. Cronenberg, now 82, offers to the world a novel vision of the ever-evolving body horror cinema in his newest film, The Shrouds.
The Shrouds follows Karsh (Vincent Cassel), the CEO of rising tech company GraveTech. GraveTech offers to the bereaved a peculiar service: they may see the body of their dead at any time they’d like, decaying in real time. The manner in which this service is carried out is quite grotesque. A crude three-dimensional rendering of the body (permitted by the technologically advanced Shrouds that the dead wear in their coffins), updating in perpetuity, is displayed on a screen installed on the headstone of the dead, accessible only by those authorized. This product appears to be a pretty thoroughly niche one, though this does not matter a great deal, as for Karsh it is more a personal project than it is a commercial one — his wife, Becca, passed four years prior to the events of the film, and he’s found himself thoroughly unable to move on since. The grief Karsh feels for Becca does not appear to extend beyond her body, though. He speaks much more frequently of the specificities of its contours and different parts (often in an unceremoniously lewd fashion) than he does of his romantic relationship with Becca. In fact, he seems nothing short of possessive of her body, and conversely completely detached from her as a person Given this, the capacities of GraveTech are perfect for Karsh — he does not ever have to move on, for he can always check in on Becca, and maintain an illusion of control over her body. That is, until nine of the GraveTech headstones (Becca’s included), in their problematically tenuous construction, get vandalized and knocked over: Karsh is no longer able to check in on and/or possess Becca’s body, and so he falls into a mania. He eventually strikes up a relationship with Becca’s twin sister, claiming in essence that she “has Becca’s body.” I will admit that to call this film “body horror,” as I have done, would be something of a misnomer. It does not engage in the same easy genre pleasures that The Fly or Videodrome or The Substance do, nor does it bear the same relationship to the human body as those films do. The Shrouds, rather, is interested in dissecting that particular relationship: it is a great film on the manners in which we fetishize and other human bodies through images, whether they be those of our dearly departed or fictional ones on a film screen (as in so much of the body horror subgenre.) The real horrors of the body are not improbable growths nor facial deformities, but those of a desperate obsession with the body, so Cronenberg suggests.
MHS Greece Trip by Georgia Marshall, Assistant Editor, Sophomore
There’s a reason Greek culture has endured for thousands of years—its tales of love, betrayal, heroism, and fate still grip modern audiences. The myths reflect both the wonder and the chaos of being human. Ancient Greek civilization, with its ruins, rituals, and legends, still forms the backbone of much of Western literature and thought. Earlier this month, a group of students and teachers from the English, French, and art departments embarked on a weeklong journey through Greece—one filled with stories, ruins, and laughter.
On April 18, over thirty students, consisting of sophomores, juniors, and seniors, as well as six teachers, gathered in Logan Airport toting suitcases and backpacks to begin our flight to Athens. The first night in the city, which happened to coincide with the traditional Greek Easter celebration, was surreal. After hours of traveling, all we could do was stare with wide eyes at the mysterious and beautiful candle-lit ceremony, letting the sounds of bells chiming and the priest’s sermon swirl around us. The following week, along with our tour guide, Costas, we explored the highlights of Greece, from the bustling city center of Athens to tiny mountain-side towns like Olympia.
Mrs. Billings, one of the leaders of the trip and an English teacher at MHS, describes the experience of the trip perfectly. “Having the chance to tour Greece with 35 curious kids from Marblehead was a gift and an inspiration. Again and again, students were impressed by the majesty of the culture, the landscape, and the architecture. I think this is a trip we will all remember forever.” The itinerary was jam-packed with visits to historical sights and breathtaking ruins, including the ancient Olympic stadium, the Temple of Poseidon, Delphi, and the famed Parthenon. Experiencing the majesty of places we’d only ever read about in history books felt like stepping back in time. The trip also included an island cruise across shining Mediterranean waters, an olive oil tasting, a traditional pottery experience, and a Greek evening of dancing and food.
“Greece was so much fun!” says Teagan Freedman, a sophomore. “We got to walk around with our friends and try all kinds of food. We were able to meet different people and experience another culture.” The setting and experience of the trip provided a unique bonding experience that couldn’t be discovered in a traditional school setting. It was an excellent opportunity to form new friendships and connections while also exploring one of the world’s most revered nations.
Now that we are all back to the usual grind of schoolwork, sports, clubs, and the business of life, the excitement of the trip has faded to fleeting recollections. Though it is over, it’s safe to say that all the students and teachers who went on the trip will remember the unique experience of exploring and learning outside traditional texts, and immersing ourselves in a new culture and environment, forever. From bus ride singalongs to exploring the Acropolis to dancing on a Greek stage, there was fun to be had by all on the 2025 Greece trip.