Featured Audience Ratings

• Aditya G

  
  Director Vincenzo Natali's earlier "Cube" (1997) was a fascinating film, and that was reason enough to give "Cypher" (2002) a look. "Cypher" makes a very intriguing start; a man named Morgan Sullivan (Jeremy Northam) is being interviewed by… More
  Director Vincenzo Natali's earlier "Cube" (1997) was a fascinating film, and that was reason enough to give "Cypher" (2002) a look. "Cypher" makes a very intriguing start; a man named Morgan Sullivan (Jeremy Northam) is being interviewed by Digicorp's head of security and is being put through some neurological tests. He is being hired for corporate espionage and will soon be sent on missions to various conventions to secretly transmit corporate presentations for the benefit of Digicorp. He is given a new identity; that of Jack Thursby and his first assignment begins. It all seems fine in the beginning and Digicorp seems to be pleased with Sullivan's job. A chance encounter at the convention with a mysterious but beautiful stranger Rita (Lucy Liu) brings forth startling revelations and Sullivan finds that he could be caught in a deadly web of deceit amidst an ongoing cutthroat corporate war! [img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7afrxiQ3vns/UAmaESpQMdI/AAAAAAAACx4/cHZI1GRAVvc/s576/vlcsnap-2012-07-20-23h14m48s254.jpg[/img] Revealing more would take out whatever fun there is in watching "Cypher" for it is entirely a plot-driven film and it is the turns in the plot that keep it going. A terrific beginning doesn't always guarantee picture perfect masterpieces and "Cypher" proves just that. Further down, beneath the highly enticing exterior of brilliantly sleek cinematography, surreal camerawork and a background score that creates a sense of dread, there is great ambition that unfortunately succumbs under its own weight and finds itself settling into the comfort zone of a 'been there-done that' thriller which incorporates the essential ingredients of a typical edge-of-the-seat action/thriller. [img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A2x58_sxHt0/UAmaEOe7_eI/AAAAAAAACx0/E4XRVb9GXIA/s576/vlcsnap-2012-07-20-23h11m53s54.jpg[/img] After a promising start, the film picks up a decent amount of momentum and does build tension to a considerable extent, enough to keep you hooked throughout, in its maze of twists and turns, that sometimes catch you unawares and sometimes come across as predictable. Certain twists are just too convenient for their own good, but you find yourself excusing them as you become increasingly curious to learn where it's all going to lead. There are hi-tech contraptions and otherworldly gadgets, a glass-eyed evil looking man who has to be an antagonist by design, odd shaped choppers and underground vaults in isolated locations, to access which, you have to use some fast capsule-shaped elevators that go some several hundred feet beneath the ground! The filmmakers play with your mind. An 'alien' angle, perhaps; or just a futuristic vision of corporate security measures!? It is a very interesting representation, although an exaggerated one; maybe the intention was to make a statement about the future of the contest in the corporate world! [img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8_10OSShLwg/UAmaEW5FzUI/AAAAAAAACx8/kxtFcLXvoVw/s576/vlcsnap-2012-07-20-23h13m18s144.jpg[/img] Brian King's screenplay and the director's vision of it, definitely draws a whole lot of inspiration from past masters. Some of the set design and the overall mood of the film quickly bring to mind, Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (1982). Some of the thematic elements also remind you of John Frankenheimer 's masterpiece, "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962). Only those were ground-breaking films for their times and "Cypher" doesn't particularly create anything strikingly innovative. The oft-used gimmick of too many twists in the final act raise entirely new questions in an already befuddling narrative, making us rewind and think of the numerous holes that the film may have managed to riddle itself with. Employment of fast cut editing for showing some visions in the protagonists mind that may be distant memories or just random nightmares tends to strain the eyes. "Mission Impossible"-like athletic stunts and nick of time narrow escapes put a dent in the film's grave atmosphere and transport the viewer to the world of popcorn cinema for those brief moments! Nonetheless, a very sincere and convincing lead performance by the underrated Jeremy Northam and a steady pace that doesn't let up, make for an engaging and entertaining sci-fi noir thriller. Do not expect anything earth-shattering; then perhaps it wouldn't hurt to check "Cypher" out when you have nothing better to do. Score: 7/10 [img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s2tiqW10N8A/UAmaE1UWe4I/AAAAAAAACyI/Zlo3UpGd4os/s576/vlcsnap-2012-07-20-23h18m07s222.jpg[/img]

• Emil K

  
  Intelligent, elegant and noirish Sci-Fi-thriller that is unique with it's mind-bending concept of brainwashing and corporate spies. Director Vincenzo Natali has sure and brilliant eye for details and visuals. He is one of those directors who relies on mood rather than effects.… More
  Intelligent, elegant and noirish Sci-Fi-thriller that is unique with it's mind-bending concept of brainwashing and corporate spies. Director Vincenzo Natali has sure and brilliant eye for details and visuals. He is one of those directors who relies on mood rather than effects. Cypher is a film that creates a fully believable future-world full of Kafkaesque paranoia. But it is not without it's flaws also. With it's ambitious ideas and story, the 90-minute running time feels surprisingly too short. It is like a game opener for something much bigger and there are couple of loose ends too. But all in all this is a nice little film that could gain even some cult-status as the time goes by.

• Anthony L

  
  What a horrible poster! The one they had in England was much better! Anyway, don't let dodgy artwork deter you, this is a great piece of sci-fi noir. It's really stylish and good looking too, not bad considering the budget. Someone please give Mr Natali more money, most… More
  What a horrible poster! The one they had in England was much better! Anyway, don't let dodgy artwork deter you, this is a great piece of sci-fi noir. It's really stylish and good looking too, not bad considering the budget. Someone please give Mr Natali more money, most Hollywood blockbuster sci-fi films have nothing on his ideas!

• Ross C

  
  Very cool cyber-spy thriller that I just chanced upon. Well worth an evening's viewing. A hi-tech industrial espionage plot with many twists and one of the coolest sci-fi vehicles (helicopter) I've ever seen.

• xGary X

  
  Pulpy sci-fi espionage thriller that's so full of twists and turns you soon don't know whether you're coming or going. It often seems that the plot is unnecessarily convoluted just for the sake of appearing more clever than it really is, but Lucy Liu adds some much… More
  Pulpy sci-fi espionage thriller that's so full of twists and turns you soon don't know whether you're coming or going. It often seems that the plot is unnecessarily convoluted just for the sake of appearing more clever than it really is, but Lucy Liu adds some much welcome glamour.

• Steven V

  
  Pulpy sci-fi espionage thriller that's so full of twists and turns you soon don't know whether you're coming or going. Some nice shots and good use of effects, though, and Lucy Liu is always welcome.

• Nicolas K

  
  A fine thriller. Unexpectedly delightful to watch.

• Lauren D

  
  It was a little predictable, but I found it so enjoyable that it didn't matter. I was only 13 when I first saw this and I didn't actually guess the ending then, but on subsequent viewings it was pretty obvious. I also don't know if my enjoyment was purely based on the… More
  It was a little predictable, but I found it so enjoyable that it didn't matter. I was only 13 when I first saw this and I didn't actually guess the ending then, but on subsequent viewings it was pretty obvious. I also don't know if my enjoyment was purely based on the movie, because I was slightly enamored by Jeremy Northam ;)

• Kyle S

  
  Natali's sophmore film, and a great follow-up to Cube. Here he has a bigger budget to work with, and the main thing that hurt Cube, sub-par acting by a couple cast members, is not evident here. I can not praise this film enough. No, it's not a perfect film, but boy is it a… More
  Natali's sophmore film, and a great follow-up to Cube. Here he has a bigger budget to work with, and the main thing that hurt Cube, sub-par acting by a couple cast members, is not evident here. I can not praise this film enough. No, it's not a perfect film, but boy is it a breathe of fresh air! In my opinion, this is his best film to date. Jeremy Northam continues to prove he is one of the most under-rated actors in the business, along with David Hewlitt, who is in all of Natali's work, and really is a great actor, especially in this film! The scene he is in is by far the most compelling scene in the film, along with one of the most compelling scenes in recent memory. Lucy Liu also isn't half-bad. If you've stayed with me for this long, you are probably wondering what this film is about? Do yourself a favor: PLEASE don't research the plot. You will enjoy it so much more if you don't know what to expect. I will give you this short summary: Corporate Espionage with a twist. Jeremy Northam becomes spy for a corporation, only to find out he's in something way bigger than he thought he was, and the only way out, it to get deeper inside.

• alan j

  
  Quirky but interesting premise..plot gets more convoluted as it progresss however..some nice comedic touches..worth a watch..good male lead performance

• Nate H

  
  Solid concept, solid execution (especially considering it seems to have been on a small budget), but the "twist" was painfully predictable and the whole movie was built toward the reveal. Some nice shots and good use of effects, though, and Lucy is always welcome.

• Chris M

  
  Poor movie. Enough said.

Read all 12 featured audience ratings