Set in the near-future, eXistenZ depicts a society in which game designers are worshipped as superstars and players can organically enter inside the games. At the center of the story is Allegra Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh) whose latest games system, eXistenZ, taps so deeply into its users' fears and desires that it blurs the boundaries between reality and escapism. When fanatics attempt to assassinate her, Allegra is forced to flee. Her sole ally is Ted Pikul (Jude Law), a novice security guard who is sworn to protect her. Persuading Ted into playing the game, Allegra draws them both into a phantasmagoric world where existence ends and eXistenZ begins.
Director
David Cronenberg
A Companion of the Order of Canada, Cronenberg is a legendary filmmaker and pioneer of the body horror genre. His directing credits include iconic films such as Scanners, Dead Ringers, Videodrome, and Crash, for which he won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. He also directed eXistenZ, Crimes of the Future, The Shrouds, and others. He has won over 80 awards, including the Golden Coach at Cannes, and lifetime achievement awards from TIFF and the DGC.
Writer
David Cronenberg
Cast
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe, Don McKellar
Producers
David Cronenberg, Andras Hamori, Robert Lantos
Genres
Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interest
Cult & Offbeat Cinema
Original Languages
English, French