For those who are unaware of writer William S. Burroughs previous work or writing style in general may be shocked to find after watching Naked Lunch that the film is so close an adaptation to the book that the only difference is the creative imagery predominant in the direction of David Cronenberg. This to some may seem like a match made in heaven. Cronenbergs gift for gruesome special effects and dark twisted plots fit like a glove onto the hand of writing genius Burroughs, famous for previous works Junkie and Queer. However things took an even stranger turn with the creation of Naked Lunch which further investigation reveals that the book is almost autobiographical, with Burroughs taking many hallucinogenic drugs during the writing process which further warped his since of reality. David Cronenberg adapted the book in a literal sense and with a gripping performance from Peter Weller as protagonist Bill Lee, the story (however nonsensical it may seem) is enthralling. Set in the 50’s Weller starts out playing an Exterminator using a type of powder to extinguish termites and cockroaches. The powder starts going missing and it is revealed that his wife Joan (Judy Davis) has been freebasing it as a drug similar to heroin. As they are both recovering drug addicts they succumb to the urges of this new high and Bill is eventually arrested. While being interrogated by Police he is left alone with what he sees as a giant insect. The Insect tells him that his wife is a spy for a company called Interzone Incorporated and must be killed, all of which is entirely too implausible for Bill to accommodate as he comes to the conclusion that the powder is making him hallucinate. He escapes and returns home, completely dismissing the insect’s accusations. But after a tragic and fatal accident involving his wife Bill is forced to flee to a fictional port town in Africa known as Interzone (the supposed headquarters of the previously mentioned espionage organization). While hiding here he begins to write reports on his following missions, one of which is to find a Doctor Benway by seducing a woman known as Joan Frost, who is a carbon copy of his now deceased wife Joan Lee. The story begins to unravel eccentrically has Bill experiments with more drugs and is caught up in a conspiracies involving typewriters which transform into giant insects and alien heads that are used to extract a potent drug known as Mugwump Gism. The film is quite graphic due in no small part to the imaginative and visually descriptive mind of David Cronenberg, and times may make little sense to the viewer. At many stages you are almost expected to piece together the storyline yourself, however scattered it mat be. There are references and metaphors through out the film, sometimes subtle and other times blatantly obvious (notably the Insect in command who quite literally talks from his anus) and even though the story may seem to spiral off into tangents, its theme and morals are clear from beginning to end. For those not used to either the style of the director or the writing of William S. Burroughs, then this film may be one to avoid. However, if you love nothing more than to sit down an a Sunday evening with your favorite collection of Cronenberg and even David Lynch movies, than this should be top of the pile. The book has caused more controversy than any other of its time, especially since the scenarios vaguely describe Burroughs own life. He had many problems with drugs and even shot and killed his wife “Joan” in a drunken game of William Tell. Many of the other characters are also based on real life acquaintances and the book can almost be looked at as Burroughs biography, or at least a chapter of it. But with controversy comes inspiration and most notably are writers like Hunter S. Thompson and Irvine Welsh. To read the book before watching the film is quite clichéd in today’s modern society when the writers themselves are happy with the screen adaptation and this is a perfect example of there being no obligation to follow one with the other. This film will jump out at you regardless of you expecting it or not and may not be liked at all. Take this as preparation and make your own judgment, if it sounds appealing than it may be something for your personal collection. To fully prepare yourself for this film you may need to get into a certain frame of mind, so start off by watching Scanners, Videodrome and Erasurehead. After a three tier insanity cake like that, Naked Lunch should be a walk.
* * * (3 out of 5)
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