If The Lawnmower Man has taught us anything, it is the sad truth that Jeff Fahey and virtual reality films don't mix very well. Unfortunately, that was lesson not learned by the authors of Virtual Seduction, 1995 science fiction drama directed by Paul Ziller.
Protagonist of the film is Liam Bass (played by Jeff Fahey), man who can't get over brutal murder of his girlfriend Paris (played by Cary Genzel). He is so tortured by grief and guilt that he can't find comfort even in the arms of her attractive best friend Laura (played by Ami Dolenz). In such state he agrees to work as human guinea pig for company developing virtual reality machines. During the tests he is completely unaware that the computer program has used his subconscious desires in order to create virtual reality and made character of "Paris" as an integral part of it. Liam is spending more and more time in virtual reality, becomes addicted to the machine, loses interest for outside world and comes close to death.
Since Roger Corman was among producers of this project, it is hardly surprising to find the usual ingredients of low budget exploitation movie - some cheap action, some cheap sex and nudity and some humour. However, the script by Michelle Gamble-Risley, William Widmaier and Paul Ziller in the same time explores some serious issues and the film gives quite realistic portrayal of technology- induced alienation - the phenomenon many in early 1990s attributed to virtual reality, unaware that the more prosaic Internet would do it instead. The ending of the film is also somewhat unconventional, but those two elements seem to be only interesting stuff in this film. Low budget and unconvincing performances quickly destroy any illusions of reality - virtual and otherwise. As a result, Virtual Seduction is watchable, but nevertheless leaves impression of being much worse film that it could have been.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on April 2nd 2003)
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