I feel like it is my duty to start tackling a few of my favorite directors as well. I know I mostly speak about films that are on the outskirts of normal viewing but I swear I like good films as well. And with that said one of my favorite directors is David Cronenberg. I won’t go crazy on the intro of this article because I know I will mention more about him below, but I pretty much adore everything he has made. Like most people, I think there is always one flick that people gloss over; let’s jump into one I think is underrated and often skipped.
Let’s set the scene. In the future, video game designers are rockstars and gaming is not played with a console or headset, but with a fleshy, ball-like bio-port that plugs into your spine. Body horror as only this genius director can. Okay back at this. Allegra Geller (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh) is the most famous game designer in the world and her newest game, eXistenZ, is so immersive and real that it is kind of warping reality. But when an assassination attempt forces her on the run with a marketing assistant named Ted Pikul (played by Jude Law), the two dive into the game to test it—and that’s when things really spiral. Is this the real world they are in? Maybe. Are you watching them play the game? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe both. Welcome to eXistenZ. I hope that helps articulate the puzzle this flick presents.
Let’s speak glowingly of the cast. Allegra Geller is played by the insanely talented Jennifer Jason Leigh. Where do I start with her? First film was Fast Times at Ridgemont Hill, plays the daughter in Easy Money (Faniculi Fanicula, Faniculi Fanicula, Joy is everywhere!!!), I love that movie. She is amazing in Flesh + Blood, amazing in Miami Blues. Damn, this list is going to get crazy. I think her best performance ever is in Single White Female, with a close second in the Hateful Eight. Okay, I will stop there. Let’s just say if she appears in your flick, you are getting amazing acting. Her co-star in this is Jude Law, in one of his earlier, breakout roles. I knew he was going to be a huge star when I saw him in Shopping, which is Paul Andersen’s first film. You could tell he was a great actor, even then. I should probably write about that flick. Great 1994 underrated gem. Okay, Jude Law. He is in The Talented Mr. Ripley I think the same year and then he blows up. Enemy at the Gates, and A.I. Artificial Intelligence the next year or so. And then in 2009 he started playing Dr. Watson in the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes films. And as someone that consumed all Sherlock stuff, including reading almost every book, he is perfect. Let’s also throw in playing Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beast movies. He is the man. I will honestly watch anything he is in. Let’s talk about some of the rest of the cast. Geller’s old mentor is played by the late Ian Holm. Ash in Alien and Bilbo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings. Enough said. The Gas Station Black Marketeer is played by Willem Dafoe and is great in his cameo. What do I call out about him? You know that actor. Christopher Eccleston is in the flick. The ninth Doctor. Okay, here is a cool person in it. And apologize for the rabbit hole, but… experience how my brain works. The actor’s name is Robert Silverman. Actually I think he uses Robert A. Silverman. Anyway, he is a Canadian actor that has worked with Cronenberg throughout his entire career. He is The Brood, Scanners, Naked Lunch, and also Rabid, but here is where it gets cool. He also starred in the episodes of Friday the 13th: The Series that Cronenberg directed. Bet you didn’t know Cronenberg directed Friday the 13th episodes. Well, only one, but it was cool. Oh, and Sarah Polley is in it as well. Sorry; that was long.
Behind the camera, of course, is David Cronenberg, like I mentioned twenty times already. And this is pure Cronenberg—flesh, metal, organic tech, and just a sense of unease. Let’s name my favorites in order. Scanners, Videodrome, The History of Violence, Eastern Promises, Crash, then Dead Ringers. Oh, I loved Crimes of the Future, and already getting in line for The Shrouds. Cronenberg also wrote this movie and somehow is able to make the whole film feel like you are not in the right place. Tough to explain, but you will get the sense as you watch. Also first one of his flicks he wrote since Videodrome, which you can see similarities to. The score, composed by Howard Shore, who also did The Lord of the Rings, brings a menace through sound to the flick. Love that added touch. Like I tried to articulate earlier, everything looks wet, alive, and just… eww. The game consoles look like a mix between a kidney and a squid. There’s a gun made of bone that shoots human teeth. I love it.
Let’s talk quotes which you know I love:
- “You have to PLAY the game to find out WHY you’re playing the game.”
- “eXistenZ is paused!”
- “I have this thing about my body being penetrated.”
- “He wanted to kill you. That’s two people in one day who wanted to actually kill you.” “I’ve never been more popular.”
- “I suppose a smaller-caliber pistol would have to fire baby teeth.”
- “Death to the demoness Allegra Geller!”
Yup, it’s that kind of movie. This movie came out the same weekend at The Matrix. So, yeah, I didn’t see it that first weekend but I did see it the following week. And I have enjoyed watching it multiple times over the years. I believe there is a comic book or graphic novel associated to this, which I should hunt down one of these days. Let’s just say I have always dug this film. Cronenberg is not for everyone, but if you want to dip your toe in the weirdness pond, this one has some stairs in the shallow end. I think it is on Prime for free, but I could be wrong. I looked when I started writing this, but some of the weird ones disappear without notice. You hate it, I owe you a couple bucks.
