Virtuosity (1995)

Plot of Virtuality: It is the near future in Los Angeles, and a commercial organisation has developed a virtual reality system to train people in law enforcement. In the virtual world the law enforcers have to take on SID 6.7 a virtual villain who is an amalgam of many serial killers. The developer of SID sets up a scam which results in the criminal character being brought to life in a synthetic body. SID immediately kills people and goes off on a killing spree. Maybe the only person capable of taking on SID is Parker Barnes, a police officer jailed for killing a serial killer who had blown up his family, but also shot some tourists. Barnes teams up with psychologist Madison Carter, and together they go on the trail of SID who, out in the world, is creating mayhem. To make their task more difficult SID can’t be killed since he can regenerate as long as he can absorb glass. The stake are raised when SID kidnaps Madison’s daughter.

Content: No sex or nudity apart from the appearance, virtually, of Sheila 3.2 in her underwear. No drinking or smoking or drug taking. Barnes has to fight another prisoner in prison, easily winning. He and another prisoner take part in an exercise where they take on SID, virtually. Barnes is given the job of tracking SID, but is injected with a module which allows people to track him, and to kill him if they want. Later, out there in the world Barnes and SID face up to each other on  numerous occasions. Barnes shoots SID a lot, but SID regenerates. A lot of innocent bystanders die. Dr Carter’s daughter is seen tied up, but where is she?

A View: When the film opens we see a couple of police chasing a suspect, it looks very shaky and you might turn off at this time, but it’s the virtual scene. This seems like quite a good idea, and if you can accept that it is possible for a virtual character to be turned into a real one, the film rolls along.  Russell Crowe is suitably villainous as SID 6.7 but that’s what he is good at. Its not great, but maybe a film to have on while doing your knitting.

Fun Fact: Madison’s kidnapped daughter Karin is played by Kaley Cuoco aged about 10, now famous as Penny in Big Bang.