Rating: 

The Info

Directed by: David Cronenberg
Written by: David Cronenberg
Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Ian Holm, Don McKellar, Callum Keith Rennie, Sarah Polley
Produced by: David Cronenberg, Andras Hamori, Robert Lantos

The Nutshell

In a future where virtual reality games are popular, a game designer and her bodyguard wind up on the run for their lives, taking refuge inside one of the games.

The Review

    David Cronenberg is one of the world's most intriguing filmmakers. His films have dealt with many themes and ideas that have been left untouched by the industry, such as, in eXistenZ's case, the concept of technology being part of man, and vice versa. Cronenberg's films often garner much criticism from the more mainstream critics, especially his last film, Crash. Polarizing the critics is something Cronenberg does without trying, yet in this newest effort, he may have his least controversial film in years.

    As the Western world becomes increasingly technology based, it seems to be heading towards an eventual merging of man and machine. Witness the headlines about cloning animals, artificial intelligence and virtual worlds. eXistenZ is a look at one possible future for artificial reality, a future where the game world is plugged into your body. In Cronenberg's fantastic vision, the world has not seen the rise of flying cars or space vacations, but virtual reality has become the norm. People have something called a bioport installed in their spine, an opening into which the games are plugged. They are then transported entirely into a false world. This is no gawky helmet and glove combination that offers you obvious computer graphics, but rather a perfect replica of Earth. Game players have no awareness of their real self, only their game self. In this world, virtual worlds and games have dulled the collective sense of society to the point that there is a group of terrorists called The Realists determined to destroy all virtual technology. eXistenZ is an imaginative creation that surpasses the year's other big effects-driven successes, The Matrix and Star Wars, by its restraint. Cronenberg elects to leave the Earth alone, merely taking the technology of our computer games to the next level and adding other personal touches along the way.

    The film opens with a focus group being welcomed to the first testing of the new virtual reality game, eXistenZ. Lucky members of the group get chosen to enter the game alongside the game's designer Allegra Geller (Leigh). Geller is a world-wide hero, having designed many of the best games ever. She promises everyone a wild ride and all plug in. Instantly, a member of the audience pulls out a bizarre gun and shoots Allegra and others, damaging the game and forcing employee Ted Pikul (Law) to rescue Geller and whisk her away to safety.

    Once they have driven to apparent safety, Allegra decides to enter her game (the only working model) and find out if it has been damaged, and wants Pikul to join her. Pikul lacks a bioport, and so they search out Gas (Dafoe), a gas station attendant who illegally inserts bioport. Next is a visit to Kiri (Holm), who may be able to run diagnostic tests on the game pod. From there, they enter eXistenZ and the real fun begins.

    As usual for a Cronenberg film, eXistenZ has an impressive cast. As Allegra Geller, Jennifer Jason Leigh is demure and sexy. Allegra is a bit of a recluse in the real world, but once inside one of her games, she is able to be herself. Once in eXistenZ, Allegra asserts herself and steams up every scene she is in with confidence and sexuality. Jude Law is a bit wooden as Ted Pikul, though he takes on an American accent almost flawlessly. Pikul has an entertaining and excited reaction to his first time in a virtual game, but otherwise Law remains half asleep. Ian Holm and Callum Keith Rennie have little to do in their roles, while Don McKellar and Christopher Eccleston each provide a bit of creepiness as characters in the game.

      Critics everywhere heaped praise on the shoulders of Steven Spielberg for bringing World War II to life in Saving Private Ryan, and while this was an amazing feat, it was based on events that have already happened. Cronenberg puts things on the screen that have never been seen before. The only weapon in eXistenZ is a tissue gun. It is a gun made up of the parts of different animals, using teeth as bullets. One scene in which the gun is actually constructed using the leftovers of a Chinese food meal, as the meal is being eaten, is terrific. A two-headed amphibian is another classic Cronenberg creation, as well as the games themselves. The game pod of eXistenZ looks like a giant tumour, pulsing with a sick life. It too is made of tissue and runs on the energy of the human body into which it is plugged.

    Another strength of eXistenZ is also its weakness. The story is complex and multilayered, with numerous scenes where the characters aren't sure whether they are in the game or in reality. This is confusing for both the characters and the audience. Go for a bathroom break and you will get lost. The last 20 minutes contain many quick twists that are vitally important to appreciating the story. Sarah Polley appears in a small but crucial role near the end, putting the audience's questions temporarily to rest, but to Cronenberg's credit, no one will likely be able to predict the ending.

Copyright - Tim Chandler

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