eXistenZ is a 1999 science fiction film directed by David Cronenberg. The story follows Allegra Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a highly respected game designer who creates a new virtual reality game called eXistenZ. The game is played by plugging a bio-port directly into the player's spine, allowing them to experience the game as if it were real life.
During a demonstration of the game, Allegra is attacked by a would-be assassin and forced to flee with Ted Pikul (Jude Law), a marketing trainee at the game company. They retreat to a remote cabin where Allegra insists that, before they can determine if eXistenZ has been damaged, they must play the game together. The two enter the game world and quickly find that their reality is no longer stable.
As they progress through the game, the line between reality and the game world increasingly blurs. Allegra and Ted are unsure if they are playing the game or living in an alternate reality. They also encounter a group of fanatics who worship the designer of eXistenZ and believe the game to be a divine creation.
The film plays with themes of identity, reality, and the power of video games to affect the human psyche. As Allegra and Ted learn more about the true nature of eXistenZ, they must fight to survive both within the game and in the real world.
eXistenZ received mixed reviews upon release, but has since gained a cult following for its inventive take on the virtual reality sub-genre.