eXistenZ (1999)

The 3rd 'virtual reality' thriller of that year (after The Matrix and The Thirteenth Floor), this time courtesy of David Cronenberg, who works in his usual fixation with the possibilities of mutilating the flesh to enhance its functions. Here, game-players actually hook into game modules via bio-plugs built into their spines - nice. The game modules are 'living' pulsing pods of flesh - Cronenberg is getting tiresome with these recurrent themes. And, it's all too clever for its own good as the repetitive 'is-it-real-or-virtual?' motif crumbles under its own onslaught by the climactic surprise, which undoes the whole progress of the film. Many of the images seem designed to disgust - and they do - to what end? (The scene where Law builds a gun out of his foul food comes to mind). The whole thing comes across as a big joke - on the audience. But, you may be intrigued by a 1st viewing. BoG's Score: 5 out of 10