Existenz
1999
Set in the near-future, eXistenZ depicts a society in which game designers are worshipped as superstars and players can organically enter inside the games. At the center of the story is Allegra Geller whose latest games system eXistenZ taps so deeply into its users fears and desires that it blurs the boundaries between reality .. Read more
| Starring | Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Ian Holm |
|---|---|
| Director | David Cronenberg |
| Genres | Sci-Fi/Fantasy |
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Existenz
Set in the near-future, eXistenZ depicts a society in which game designers are worshipped as superstars and players can organically enter inside the games. At the center of the story is Allegra Geller whose latest games system eXistenZ taps so deeply into its users fears and desires that it blurs the boundaries between reality and escapism. When fanatics attempt to assassinate Allegra, she is forced to flee. Her sole ally is Ted Pikul (Law), a novice security guard who is sworn to protect her. Persuading Ted into playing the game, Allegra draws them both into a phantasmagoric world where existence ends and eXistenZ begins.
| Starring | Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Ian Holm, Christopher Eccleston, Don McKellar, Callum Keith Rennie, Sarah Polley, Kristopher Lemche |
|---|---|
| Director | David Cronenberg |
| Studio | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 33 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Sci-Fi/Fantasy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: None |
| Released | DVD: 25 Mar 2002 Production year: 1999 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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It seems that David Cronenberg cannot shake off his obsession with “body horror”. Though this futuristic virtual-reality thriller sidesteps the more explicit visceral gore of The Fly and Videodrome, it nonetheless involves pulsating computer-game consoles and handsets that plug directly into the flesh. Despite the usual high degree of visual invention (a gun is created using gristle and bones left over from a meal) and good lead performances from Jude Law (as a security guard) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (as creator of the eponymous game), the movie is not quite up there with Cronenberg's best. But the “is-it-or-isn't-it-reality” question keeps the pace up, and the supporting cast, featuring Willem Dafoe, Ian Holm and Christopher Eccleston, is strong. However, it's hard to escape the nagging feeling that virtual reality is slightly old hat. Besides, we've got The Matrix now and that has kung fu and everything.
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The problem here is that the video game is one that you can imagine only Cronenberg wanting to play, and underneath the hi-tech trimmings, which look like leftovers from his Naked Lunch, are themes on the relativity of truth that were handled rathe
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Most helpful member's review
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16 out of 16 people found this review helpful
Question reality
eXistenZ is the twisted fruit of writer/director David Cronenberg. From the opening title sequence the viewer is exposed to layered images of what looks to be organic matter; a hint of the ambiguity ahead.
The story opens on the first public test of the new game eXistenZ by globally worshipped uber-designer Allegra Geller. We're introduced to Geller and her bodyguard Ted Pykel in a strange assassination attempt which forces the two protagonists to flee into the even stranger countryside.
Nagging Pykel into playing eXistenZ with her creates level after level of false reality, echoed by the game levels. The tension escalates as romantic chemistry between them is revealed and complex double-crossing agents make appearances.
The cinematography is deliberately ambigous, again creating tension as the viewer and the characters become mired in confusion. Violence seems the only resort as their world descends into chaos. The SFX are smooth, clever and endlessly disgusting despite budget constraints.
Overall, I consider this to be a brilliantly constructed companion to The Matrix, expanding on the themes of reality versus virtuality and highlighting the ethical problems of living in such worlds. -
Most recent members' review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Virtually excellent
Existenz is another venture into the twisted mind of David Cronenberg. The usual themes of sex, death and disease all feature prominently and are delivered with the usual lashings of gore, guts and a dash of dark humour. Essentially a futuristic story about a hyper realistic virtual reality computer game that leaves both us and the characters constantly questioning what is real and what is not.
Jude Law and Jennifer Jason-Leigh are both good in the central roles and display real chemistry. Jude Law is particularly funny, possibly unintentionally but funny none the less. Law plays a first time gamer and it is essentially his virginal experience that makes you feel on edge and disorientated as if you are a part of the mind bending journey .
Amidst the tense action the film also succeeds in raising some pertinent themes regarding today's society which spends more time staring at screens than real life...which is exactly what you are doing right now.... -
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