Vice (2015)
In a futuristic resort called Vice, wealthy clients live out their darkest fantasies with lifelike androids who are reset daily, erasing all memory of abuse. When one of the androids, Kelly (Ambyr Childers), becomes self-aware, she escapes — triggering a conflict with the corporation that created her. Directed by Brian A. Miller and starring Bruce Willis, the film was shot in Mobile, Alabama, on a modest budget. Although Vice received negative reviews for its execution and lack of originality, its premise — a critique of corporate commodification of artificial life — fits squarely within cyberpunk traditions. Its themes echo influences from Westworld and Blade Runner, though with a more action-driven approach.
Videodrome (1983)
Max Renn (James Woods), the president of a sleazy cable TV station, discovers a mysterious broadcast signal known as "Videodrome" — a violent program that induces hallucinations and physical changes in its viewers. As he delves deeper, reality and media begin to blur in disturbing ways. Directed by David Cronenberg, the film is a landmark of body horror and techno-surrealism. Shot in Toronto on a relatively low budget, Videodrome was initially misunderstood by critics but later became a cult classic. Its practical effects, especially those involving grotesque bodily transformations, were pioneering, and its critique of media control and technology remains eerily relevant.
Virtuosity (1995)
In a near-future Los Angeles, ex-cop Parker Barnes (Denzel Washington) is tasked with stopping SID 6.7 (Russell Crowe), a virtual reality AI composed of traits from dozens of serial killers, who has escaped into the real world using an experimental android body. Directed by Brett Leonard (The Lawnmower Man), the film was notable for being one of Russell Crowe’s early Hollywood roles before his international breakthrough. It was shot with a mix of practical effects and stylized digital visuals reflecting 1990s VR aesthetics. Though critically mixed, Virtuosity became a cult sci-fi curiosity, remembered for its high-concept villain and techno-thriller energy.