Brainstorm Details

Today, in films such as The Lawnmower Man and Strange Days, it's called “virtual reality”. But when 2001 special effects genius Douglas Trumbull directed this film (which turned out to be Natalie Wood's last), he termed it “telepathic engineering”. Louise Fletcher (giving a standout performance) and Christopher Walken invent a headset enabling the wearer to experience the sensory recordings of others. Then Fletcher has a coronary and leaves behind a recording of her death experience which the military seizes for its own misuse. Although flawed and naive, Trumbull's metaphysical odyssey is a technically dazzling triumph packing the same pseudo-religious punch as Close Encounters.

Scientific mumbo jumbo which went far too far as an attack on the audience's senses, and was jinxed by the death of its star during production.