In this corner, well-groomed and wearing the funny little glasses, is Michael Fassbender. And in this corner, sternly chewing on a cigar while judging you, is Viggo Mortensen. In the middle of this psychoanalytical cage match is Keira Knightley and her heaps of daddy issues. And running around the ring with his dick joyfully flopping around is Vincent Cassel. Essentially this is the set-up for master director David Cronenberg‘s new film of human duality, rough sex, and the birth of psychoanalysis, A Dangerous Method.

Based on the Christopher Hampton play of the same name (that’s based on the John Kerr book of the same name from 1994), A Dangerous Method follows several years in the lives of psychoanalysts Carl Jung (Fassbender) and Sigmund Freud (Mortensen) – before what they were doing was really called “psychoanalysis.” Psychoanalysis Origin Story! Jung’s pish-posh ways are challenged when he takes on patient Sabina Spielrein (Knightley), a young woman suffering from body-twisting seizures caused by years of humiliation and abuse by her father. Knightley isn’t the most capable actress alive, but she does have smashing tits and when acting a seizure can extend her jaw out to a length that doesn’t seem humanly possible.

Thrown in the mix is fellow analyst and cocaine addict Otto Gross, played by one of my favorite dudes ever, Vincent Cassel. I love Cassel in everything I’ve ever seen him in (The Mesrine films are on Netflix Watch Instantly right now – do it!) and in Method he steals scenes like his name was the “Sceneburglar” (feel free to put that on your promotional materials, Sony Pictures Classics!). His motto is “Never repress anything,” and it’s Gross that gives Jung the little persuasive push to question why people spend so much time suppressing their natural instincts. In particular, why the hell shouldn’t he sleep with Sabina?! His talks with Gross goad him enough into taking Sabina’s virginity in a most “ferocious” manner.

Jung agonizes over his suppression and his moral beliefs as a husband and Catholic. One of Cronenberg’s most examined themes is that of the dualities in humans – especially when it comes to the primordial subject of sex. He analyzes this subject most bluntly in Method, without the aid of body-horror visuals or Viggo Mortenson’s bare ass. The dialogue between Jung and Freud is always engaging and while Mortensen’s screen time is minor, Cronenberg allows equal weight to both sides of the “sleep with her because you want to” vs “don’t sleep with her, dream you did” argument.

The entire makeup of this film is precise from the unexpected but great casting to the stimulating production design. “The Baron of Blood” proves once again that he deserves to be tiered in the upper echelons of legendary film directors, not just those within the “ghetto” genre of horror. Although, I wouldn’t be averse if Cronenberg made another gross-out body horror extravaganza again. One that examines the complexities of human duality, of course.

A Dangerous Method hits theaters November 23rd

- Oh Mars