The film holds a 80% aggregate rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 54 reviews, with an average score of 7.4/10. Its consensus states, "Visually audacious, disorienting, and just plain weird, Videodrome's musings on technology, entertainment, and politics still feel fresh today."[40] It has been described as a "disturbing techno-surrealist film"[3] and "burningly intense, chaotic, indelibly surreal, absolutely like nothing else".[41]
Janet Maslin of The New York Times remarked on the film's "innovativeness", and praised Woods' performance as having a "sharply authentic edge".[42] Adam Smith of Empire gave the film 4 out of 5 possible stars, calling it a "perfect example" of body horror.[43] The staff of Variety wrote that the film "proves more fascinating than distancing", and commended the "stunning visual effects".[44] Gary Arnold of The Washington Post gave the film a negative review, calling it "simultaneously stupefying and boring".[45]
C.J. Henderson reviewed Videodrome in The Space Gamer No. 63.[46] Henderson commented that "Despite the fact that Videodrome came and went faster than Superman and his bullet, it is still an excellent picture. It is a genre film of high caliber, posing a number of important questions."[46]
Christopher John reviewed Videodrome in Ares Magazine #14 and commented that "As usual, Cronenberg has pulled no punches in getting his message across. The movie is tight, and perfectly clear for anyone willing to watch the screen and think about what they are seeing."[47]
Trace Thurman of Bloody Disgusting listed it as one of eight "horror movies that were ahead of their time".[48][49] It was also selected as one of the "23 weirdest films of all time" by Total Film.[50] Nick Schager of Esquire ranked the film at number 10 on their list of "the 50 best horror movies of the 1980s".[51]
Awards
The film won a number of awards upon its release. At the 1984 Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film, it tied with Bloodbath at the House of Death for Best Science-Fiction Film, and Mark Irwin received a CSC Award for Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature. Videodrome was also nominated for eight Genie Awards, with David Cronenberg tying Bob Clark's A Christmas Story for Best Achievement in Direction.
It was the first Genie Award that Cronenberg won.[52]
Videodrome was named the 89th-most-essential film in history by the Toronto International Film Festival.[53]
