Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996)

My interest in cyberpunk/VR cinema was reawakened by how much I enjoyed watching The Lawnmower Man, just how nasty and wacky it was, and the artistry in the cyberspace sequences. With the sequel, Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996; or as its called in the actual film, Lawnmower Man 2: Jobe’s War, always a good […]

Virtuosity (1995)

The wackiest aspect about Virtuosity (1995) is that SID 6.0 (Russell Crowe), a deadly computer program for virtual police training, is a composite of 183 serial killers. Only 183? It’s a bit like the number of multi-verses in The One – it could be a round number like 200, but that’s too neat. 183 sounds […]

Virtual Assassin (1995)

Jacking into any sci-fi thriller with a cyberpunk vibe takes me further down the direct-to-video wormhole with Virtual Assassin (1995) aka Cyberjack, which would have a fixture on video shelves and in DVD bargain bins, and now thanks to YouTube and Tubi, it lives on to watch for free. Basically it’s a Die Hard knock-off […]

Strange Days (1995)

Prowling through the dangerous streets of Los Angeles in the dead of night, sidewalks vibrating with people, partying, violence, confetti and smoke, Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes) changes the radio station of his BMW, bouncing across music styles and radio chatter – everything is played out and already been done. An ex-cop turned drug dealer, Nero’s […]

Hackers (1995)

I never saw Hackers (1995) when it came out in cinemas. The first time I properly watched it was with friends to make fun of it, a studio picture that tried to market one sub culture (internet hackers) to another (teens). To represent hacking as cool and punk seemed naff and silly, particularly with attractive […]