Kristen Stewart's new film Crimes of the Future is the latest victim of a walkout (as happens every year) during a press screening at the prestigious Cannes film festival.
Directed by David Cronenberg — who's no stranger to this after his 1996 controversial film Crash — Crimes of the Future is set in a not-too-distant era where the human body undergoes abnormal mutations of internal organs.
Earlier this week, the premiere saw some audience members exiting over several graphic scenes, including one of a child autopsy.
Related: Kristen Stewart explains why she turned down Scream 4 role
"Everyone loves to talk about how his movies are difficult to watch and it's fun to talk about people walking out of Cannes screenings," Stewart told Insider after the premiere.
The body-horror maestro's latest opus follows performance artist Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen) as he turns his body's metamorphosis into a sexual spectacle with his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux). Stewart's Timlin is an investigative surgeon who quickly becomes fascinated with Tenser's work and the underground culture in which he operates.
The Spencer star has also opened up on being drawn to Cronenberg's extremely graphic existentialism, despite being confused about what the movie was about at first.
Related: Kristen Stewart addresses fan campaign for her to play The Joker in Robert Pattinson's The Batman
"Every single gaping, weird bruise in his movies, it makes my mouth open. You wanna lean in toward it," she said. "And it never repulses me ever. The way I feel, it is through really visceral desire and that's the only reason we're alive. We're pleasure sacks."
Stewart has experienced Cannes' rite of passage before when her movie Personal Shopper, a ghost tale directed by Olivier Assayas, was booed in 2016 at a press screening before receiving a standing ovation the next day from the audience.
Crimes of the Future will be released in the US on June 3.
Best Entertainment and Tech Deals
Coronation Street X Joanie - Gilroy Retro Newton And Ridley Sweatshirt
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
