DOOMED MOVIE MARATHON: ExistenZ

For the second film in my "the world is truly doomed" marathon, I chose ExistenZ. Directed by one of my heroes, David Cronenberg, ExistenZ is one of my favorite types of movies. Truly great films are those that challenge the viewer, films that literally dare us to strap ourselves in for the ride. Cronenberg, whose most recent films, History of Violence and Eastern Promises have both been Oscar nominated, is the MASTER of mind-bending, reality-warping films. He has continually smashed through the border that defines real life from film, and I cannot wait to see what his genius brings to the screen next.

Existenz features incredible performances from both Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and also includes several star cameos from the likes of Willem Dafoe, (I swear, this guy was created straight from nightmares) and Ian Holm.

Jennifer Jason Leigh plays a game designer in the near future, one where game systems have evolved into organic semi-aware beings. She has created a game, the titular ExistenZ, that is destined to bring about irreversible changes in humanity. Law plays a bumbling security guard who is entrusted with Leigh's care when an assasination attempt is made on her life. The two flee and periodically plug into the new game with disastrous results. What is reality and what is happening in the game is constantly questioned, leaving the viewer scrambling for purchse in a rapidly dissolving world.

Cronenberg is a director who is fascinated with flesh melding with science. His special effects are stunning as usual, including a sequence that takes place in a Chinese restuarant that will make you question whether you should ever dine in one of these establishments ever again. In the end, it's not too much of a leap to believe that game systems will eventually bring us the virtual reality we all thought would be here already. With new advances being unveiled at every game convention, I still believe that very soon, we may find ourselves locked in our own version of ExistenZ.