Review of Cypher (2002) by Piotr S — 18 Apr 2010
A thinking man's sci-fi film from underrated Canadian director Vincenzo Natali, who chose this as his follow up to his critically acclaimed, no-budget sci-fi debut Cube (1997). This was made on a low budget, but it looks like it was made for a lot more, and it may require more than one viewing to take it all in.
It has unemployed accountant Morgan Sullivan (Jeremy Northam), hired to work as a freelance corporate spy for Digicorp, for this, he has to take on the identity of Jack Thursby, but he soon discovers a plot Digicorp is behind, which has them destroying people's true identities, and have them living alternate lives in different parts of America.
Fearing for his life, he soon finds help in the form of spy Rita Foster (Lucy Liu). The film sounds like something Philip K. Dick would come up with, (parts of it are very similar to Total Recall, where it questions ones identity and what is reality and fantasy), it's plot might be confused here and there, but it's highly original, with some brilliant production design and some truly good moments for a low-budget sci-fi.
Vincenzo Natali should really be making more films.
This review of Cypher (2002) was written by Piotr S on 18 Apr 2010.
Cypher has generally received positive reviews.
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