"The Lie Chair" is an episode of a Canadian TV show called "Peep Show." This short film obviously didn't cost very much, as the quality of the production shows. The sound is poor, and overall design is rather dull. It looks like a low-budget soap opera. However, the acting is very good, and the story is interesting. It's reminiscent of "The Twilight Zone." There doesn't seem to be very much of the trademark Cronenberg here, however.
This short is not easy to find in The States. I happened upon an imported DVD which was made in Japan. They released it as a double feature with another short film Cronenberg made for Canadian television the following year, called "The Italian Machine." Both shorts are worth checking out, if you can find them. "The Italian Machine" looks more like an actual film. It's also a lot more suggestive of Cronenberg's developing personality and style.
Also of interest: After "The Lie Chair," you can see a preview for another episode of "Peep Show." It stars Martin Short and Saul Rubinek, and it appears to be a drama about a homosexual (Rubinek) who picks up another homosexual (Short) on the street.
