eXistenZ (1999)
Coming Out at 14 April 1999 in theaters.
Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Existenz is science fiction horror film written, produced and directed by David Cronenberg. The plot of the film follows a game designer named Allegra Geller, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, who finds herself targeted by assassins while playing a virtual reality game of her own creation. An international co-production between Canada, the United Kingdom, and France, it also stars Jude Law, Ian Holm, Don McKellar, Callum Keith Rennie, Sarah Polley, Christopher Eccleston, Willem Dafoe, and Robert A. Silverman.
The film received mostly positive reviews upon release. Cronenberg was awarded a Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution at the 49th Berlin International Film Festival for the film.
In the near-future, biotechnological virtual reality game consoles known as “game pods” have replaced electronic ones. The pods present “UmbyCords” that attach to “bio-ports”, connectors surgically inserted into players’ spines. Two game companies, Antenna Research and Cortical Systematics, compete against each other. In addition, the Realists fight both companies to prevent the “deforming” of reality.
Antenna Research’s Allegra Geller, a world renowned game designer, is demonstrating her latest virtual reality game, eXistenZ, to a focus group. A Realist named Noel Dichter shoots Allegra in the shoulder with an organic pistol he smuggled past security. As Dichter is gunned down by the security team, security guard and publicist Ted Pikul rushes to Geller and escorts her outside.
Director: David Cronenberg
Writer: David Cronenberg
Stars: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe, Don McKellar, Callum Keith Rennie, Christopher Eccleston
Cast:
| Jennifer Jason Leigh | … | Allegra Geller |
| Jude Law | … | Ted Pikul |
| Ian Holm | … | Kiri Vinokur |
| Willem Dafoe | … | Gas |
| Don McKellar | … | Yevgeny Nourish |
| Callum Keith Rennie | … | Hugo Carlaw |
| Christopher Eccleston | … | Seminar Leader |
| Sarah Polley | … | Merle |
| Robert A. Silverman | … | D’Arcy Nader |
| Oscar Hsu | … | Chinese Waiter |
| Kris Lemche | … | Noel Dichter |
| Vik Sahay | … | Male Assistant |
| Kirsten Johnson | … | Female Assistant |
| James Kirchner | … | Landry |
| Balázs Koós | … | Male Volunteer |
| Stephanie Belding | … | Female Volunteer |
| Gerry Quigley | … | Trout Farm Worker |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia