eXistenZ oozes David Cronenberg, almost literally. It features machines that are both organic and erotic. Who would have thought that the sight of the inside of a computer (or "pod" in the film) would make you want to throw up? David Cronenberg, apparently, the director of cult classics such as Scanners, Naked Lunch, and Crash. His fascination with the grotesque is well-documented, and this film is no exception.
     This low-budget sci-fi thriller follows Ted Pikul (Jude Law) as he escorts a famous video-game designer named Allegra Geller(Jennifer Jason Leigh) away from danger after an assassination attempt. "Video-game" may be the wrong term, as these games are fully realized worlds, accessed via an umbilical-like connection to the spine. Pikul is a video-game "virgin," and as such is our entry point (pun intended) into the strange virtual reality world of Allegra's game. This also provides for a nice cameo from Willem Dafoe who attempts to install a "bio-port" in Pikul's back.
     A war is raging between those who embrace such technology and those who do not, and everyone is a suspected double-agent. For much of the film, Pikul and Allegra flee across the countryside, taking breaks to journey into the new game which she has designed, all the while on the run from her would-be assassin. While being an effective thriller, the film brings up interesting ethical questions regarding technology and addiction to video-games.
     Although low-budget, Cronenberg's biggest accomplishment here may be finding a way to make the creatures/machines feel truly alive. In one disgusting scene, the wonderful-as-always Ian Holm performs surgery on a damaged pod. Yes, surgery is the correct word--this film is not for those with weak stomachs.
     Released in the same timeframe as other virtual reality films like The Matrix and The Thirteenth Floor, eXistenZ slipped through the cracks at the time, but it plays with reality in equally interesting ways. I would go as far as to say that it may be the most interesting of the group to re-watch in the future due to its powerful themes and unique vision.

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eXistenZ