Max Renn (James Woods) serves as the president of the notorious CIVIC-TV (Channel 83, Cable 12), a sleazy television station in Toronto that focuses on sensationalized content. Dissatisfied with the channel's mundane lineup—which primarily consists of softcore pornography—Renn embarks on a relentless quest for a more provocative program that will captivate a wider audience.
One fateful morning, Renn is summoned to the secretive office of Harlan (Peter Dvorsky), who manages CIVIC-TV's illicit satellite dish. Harlan reveals a groundbreaking yet disturbing show called "Videodrome," a shocking program broadcast from Malaysia featuring graphic portrayals of torture and murder set against a surreal reddish-orange backdrop. Intrigued by the potential of this snuff-style content to revolutionize television, Renn instructs Harlan to pirate the broadcast.
During an appearance on a TV talk show hosted by Rena King, Renn engages in a heated debate about his programming choices with the enigmatic Nikki Brand (Deborah Harry), a sadomasochistic psychiatrist, and the enigmatic Professor Brian O'Blivion (Jack Creley), a philosopher entrenched in pop culture. O'Blivion delivers a prophetic warning about a future where television will come to dominate reality itself.
As Renn's relationship with Nikki deepens—she becomes increasingly turned on by the violent imagery of "Videodrome"—he learns from Harlan that the signal had been misrepresented; the broadcast actually originates from Pittsburgh, not Malaysia. Eager to partake in this sensational show, Nikki rushes to Pittsburgh for an audition, only to vanish without a trace.
Concerned for her safety, Renn seeks assistance from Masha Borowski (Lynne Gorman), a pornographer with years of connections in the industry. Through Masha, he uncovers that "Videodrome" acts as the public front for a darker political agenda. Meanwhile, he discovers that Brian O'Blivion is deeply aware of this malevolent plot.
Max hunts down O'Blivion's base of operations, known as The Cathode Ray Mission. Here, he finds that the mission caters to the homeless with food and shelter while promoting continuous television viewing. Bianca (Sonja Smits), O'Blivion's daughter, runs the mission, which she hopes will fulfill her father's vision of a society overtaken by television.
Soon, Renn experiences alarming hallucinations wherein his stomach transforms into a bloody, VCR-like opening. In a particularly haunting moment, Nikki appears to him as a hooded figure, whispering, > "Come to me." The psychological effects of "Videodrome" take a toll on him, as Bianca warns that the program emits a sinister signal that can trigger fatal brain tumors in its viewers.
The ties between "Videodrome" and a conspiracy involving the Spectacular Optical Corporation become evident. Led by Barry Convex (Leslie Carlson), this corporation masquerades as an eyeglass manufacturer while secretly fostering NATO's interests in propaganda. Convex and Harlan jointly plot to manipulate Renn into broadcasting "Videodrome," aiming to purge society of undesirable elements obsessed with violence and depravity.
As Renn succumbs to the influence of the hallucinations, he is manipulated into a quest that becomes increasingly violent. In an unexpected twist, he finds himself on the receiving end of sinister programming, ultimately tasked with murdering key individuals tied to "Videodrome." When he confronts Bianca in a state of confusion, she reveals the true horrors behind the show, and using the programming against him, she instructs him to eradicate those responsible.
At the conclusion of his violent vendetta, Renn takes aim at Convex during a major event, unleashing chaos as the ambitious executive’s body succumbs to a grotesque metamorphosis. With a chilling declaration, > "Death to Videodrome! Long live the new flesh!" Renn's actions leave his legacy and the true future of television in question.
Renn seeks solace in a derelict boat, where a projector plays images of Nikki. She asserts that while he has weakened "Videodrome," obliterating it entirely will require him to transcend his former self. Reflecting on this ultimatum, the vision of his own demise drives him to pull the trigger, sealing his fate with the grim proclamation, > "Long live the New Flesh."
