In the year 1999, David Cronenberg unleashed ‘Existenz’ upon the world, a sci-fi film that delved into the realm of unsettling virtual realities, just weeks after the release of ‘The Matrix.’ While ‘The Matrix’ captivated audiences with its thrilling kung fu fights and groundbreaking sci-fi concepts, ‘Existenz’ took a decidedly more bizarre and visceral approach.
Set in a vaguely biopunk future, ‘Existenz’ introduces us to a world where virtual reality has become a visceral experience. The game pods, resembling both fetuses and controllers, connect to players through phallic-shaped cords that plug into their spines. The film is awash in fleshy and organic imagery, with the pods taking center stage and oozing all over the place.
The sexual nature of the game pods is undeniable, and the film explores this aspect through the character of Ted Pikul (Jude Law), who struggles with a phobia of body penetration. Willem Dafoe appears as a gas station attendant named Gas, who installs a black market orifice on Pikul, leading to some highly unusual and graphic scenes between Pikul and game creator Allegra Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh).
Despite the impressive and unsettling visuals, the virtual world within ‘Existenz’ is somewhat underwhelming. While it certainly surpasses the rudimentary Metaverse of today, wandering around a gas station and trout farm fails to match the excitement and escapism of modern VR experiences. The game’s cost of 38 million dollars, once staggering, now seems like an amusing relic of the past.
The film follows Geller and Pikul as they become embroiled in a conflict between a VR game company and underground radicals seeking to destroy the industry. The plot is a bit rushed, with Pikul’s loss of self-identity occurring at an alarming pace. However, the film’s unsettling ambiguity regarding the true nature of reality provides a refreshing contrast to the often exhaustive worldbuilding of other sci-fi films.
Despite its flaws, including a somewhat predictable twist ending, ‘Existenz’ remains a singular and provocative work. While initially overshadowed by ‘The Matrix,’ it has since gained recognition as a visionary and disturbing exploration of technology, reality, and the human condition. It’s a film that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll, challenging our assumptions about the boundaries between the real and the simulated.
