A mixture of body horror and science fiction, David Cronenberg's eXistenZ will cure that itch for something weird, gruesome, and original. Set in the near future where biotechnological video game consoles are dominating the market, a game designer must go into her virtual reality software to escape from assassins and test the integrity of her software.
The execution is sublime, and eXistenZ wastes no time getting into its narrative momentum, taking the characters and the audience into a warped version of future technology. The game ports themselves are like slimy organs that are seemingly alive. There are no wires, but an umbilical cord that plugs into the user's spine. These visuals of bodily invasion are suitably uncomfortable as you get up close and personal with these biological penetrations, and Cronenberg knows how to instil unease in the viewer.
The concepts are outlandish but clever, and the story is mind-bending but engrossing. While there is almost a few too many twists in the final act, eXistenZ never stops challenging the viewer - or its characters - into questioning what is real and what isn't. David Cronenberg delivers another gory and disturbing entry to his filmography, with enough organic substance to stand out and be different with its gooey ideas.
The execution is sublime, and eXistenZ wastes no time getting into its narrative momentum, taking the characters and the audience into a warped version of future technology. The game ports themselves are like slimy organs that are seemingly alive. There are no wires, but an umbilical cord that plugs into the user's spine. These visuals of bodily invasion are suitably uncomfortable as you get up close and personal with these biological penetrations, and Cronenberg knows how to instil unease in the viewer.
The concepts are outlandish but clever, and the story is mind-bending but engrossing. While there is almost a few too many twists in the final act, eXistenZ never stops challenging the viewer - or its characters - into questioning what is real and what isn't. David Cronenberg delivers another gory and disturbing entry to his filmography, with enough organic substance to stand out and be different with its gooey ideas.