Kristen Stewart’s New Movie Is So Gross That Audience Members Walk Out
Maybe they can just make the popcorn buckets dual-use?
When it comes to interesting film roles, Kristen Stewart usually knows how to wow an audience. From the successful Twilight franchise to her recent Academy Award nominated performance in last year’s Spencer, Stewart isn’t typically one to shy away from taking risks as a performer. Her latest films are also no indication that she’s slowing down in her career, as she is set to debut several projects in the next few years. However, her upcoming contribution to Crimes of the Future may have caused some controversy already, as well as some illness for many of those that had a chance to see the movie early on.
According to reports by the New York Post, Crimes of the Future premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last week to a large audience where some members supposedly walked out after the first five minutes of the film. Apparently sick from some graphic scenes at the beginning of the movie that were too grotesque for some to handle, the bulk of people leaving the screening happened within minutes of the movie starting. In addition, others fled the theater during a particular scene in which actor Lea Seydoux is seen licking an open wound later on. There haven’t been reports yet if any of the scenes involved Kristen Stewart, but Crimes of the Future is directed by noted horror fan David Cronenberg, so much of this news could possibly be expected.
Exceedingly aware of the mass exodus during the film’s screening, David Cronenberg and Kristen Stewart may be having the last laugh after all. Cronenberg noted in an interview with Deadline prior to the screening that, “There are some very strong scenes. I mean, I’m sure that we will have walkouts within the first five minutes of the movie. I’m sure of that.” Famous for his graphic films The Fly, Dead Ringers, A History of Violence, and Eastern Promises, Cronenberg is known to push the envelope when it comes to sparking fear and disgust with viewers.
Despite the bad press concerning walkouts, Crimes of the Future ended up receiving a six minute standing ovation after the screening ended, according to The Hollywood Reporter. As IMDB details, the film stars Viggo Mortensen, Lea Seydoux, and Kristen Stewart as they navigate a world where a performance artist goes to extremes to demonstrate the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. The film is currently competing for the coveted Palme d’Or, which is seen by many as the ultimate honor at the Cannes Film Festival.
For those fans who might be morbidly interested in watching Crimes of the Future to see just how sickening many of the scenes in question actually are, some theaters will be showing the film very soon. Wider audiences will have a chance to watch it themselves when the film is released on June 2, 2022, and the mixed reactions to the early screening may be reason enough to try it out. Regardless of the apparent exits and gory scenes almost sure to turn some stomachs, IndieWire notes that the film is an early Oscar contender, particularly in part because of the performances by Cronenberg’s frequent leading man Viggo Mortensen, as well as Lea Seydoux and Kristen Stewart.
