Cronenberg’s Hidden Masterpiece: ‘A Dangerous Method’ Is the Key to His Horror Genius

David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method may not have the cult status of his body-horror classics, but it’s essential viewing for anyone who wants to truly understand his work.

Despite a star-studded cast, the film remains underappreciated — yet its careful exploration of human psychology reveals the roots of Cronenberg’s signature themes. The story follows Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) as their friendship fractures over the case of Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley).

Fans expecting gore might be frustrated, but A Dangerous Method trades blood for ideas: it delves into the fragile line between the physical and the metaphysical, between sensual experience and spiritual mystery. Jung embraces the possibility of the miraculous in the human psyche, while Freud clings to a purely physical explanation for all behavior. This tension mirrors the anxieties pulsing beneath Cronenberg’s horror films.

Watching it feels like unlocking a master key to Videodrome, Dead Ringers, The Fly, Crimes of the Future, and his newest feature The Shrouds; all works where the mind, body, and soul intertwine in unstable, unsettling ways. Even without gore, the movie’s deep unease about the limits of human understanding fits squarely within Cronenberg’s legacy.

For longtime fans, or anyone drawn to psychological period dramas, A Dangerous Method offers a rare and fascinating window into the obsessions that have defined Cronenberg’s iconic career. It’s currently available to rent on Amazon.