"Shivers", a.k.a. "They Came From Within" and "The Parasite Murders", is an early chiller from The Canadian King of Horror, David Cronenberg, about residents in a high-rise apartment complex (or block of flats as we say in England) who become infected by strange, ugly-looking parasites, turning them into violent, sex-mad maniacs.
This is quite a grisly and, at times, pretty disgusting low-budget horror film that effectively manages to shock and repulse in equal measures thanks mainly to Cronenberg's gritty, realistic style of film making. The ordinary setting could be the place where you live and the characters could be your friends or neighbours which makes the events even more chilling. Sure, the film is technically a little rough in places but this only adds to the overall look and feel of the movie and helps establish Cronenberg's reputation for being an original, raw-edged director. Let's face it, any film that features The Queen of Horror, Barbara Steele, being attacked in the bath by a turd-like creature has got to be worth a look and we are also treated to one of Cronenberg's trademark, unhappy endings.
Cronenberg's later films may be more polished and accomplished with bigger budgets, better special effects and bigger-named actors but "Shivers" remains a fresh and thought-provoking film that (quite literally, in this case) gets under the skin. If you have the stomach for yucky, low-budget horror films then this movie should be just your cup of tea.