“The revolution did happen. Just not the way people thought it would.” One of the things that I love about Sci-Fi films of the ‘80s and ‘90s is that it focused on the dystopian nature of our future as a species. Because it is unknowable, the future was depicted as dirty, grungy and run down. In Guy-Roger Duvert’s “Virtual Revolution,” he explores a world in which a large portion of the population is ‘connected,’ meaning that they spend all their time in the virtual world and that connectedness was a drug of sorts. The minority populous was either a hybrid, someone who spends part of their time in reality and part of their time in virtual reality.
In this rain-soaked future, Nash (Mike Dopud) is brought by Synternis Corporation to determine who is behind the deaths of several users. Nash uses his guile, his cunning skills and a hacker, Morel (Maximilien Poullein), to outwit the Necromancers, both in the real world and the virtual world. His handiwork draws the ire of Special Agent Stilson (Jochen Hagele) of INTERPOL, while it frustrates his superior, Dina (Jane Badler). All of this is to the mutual pleasure of Camylle (Kaya Blocksage).
Mr. Duvert’s script makes brilliant use of his characters as he interweaves a futuristic detective story, giving it a noir quality while adapting modern themes of corporate and government control. There are some familiar topes in the ensuing investigation. But, it is Mr. Dopud’s gravitas that makes the character, the situations and the futuristic environment believable. His take on the character is a cross between Rick Deckard and Jack Deth with elements of Neo. Mr. Dopud infuses all three characters into his own.
The government vs corporate control, or the ‘we’ versus ‘us’ theme is extremely well-worn. It is Mr. Duvert’s use of his characters and the nuances of the environment that make the story work. Every character has a well-defined function in the story, which made the journey worth taking.
It also helps that the environment is as richly textured as it was. Mr. Duvert went to great lengths to create his environment. While the special effects eventually overstay their welcome, they convincingly tell their story in both reality and the virtual world.
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-Ben Cahlamer