Cyber Vengeance Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Cyber Vengeance Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 6, 2022

The exploration of virtual reality during the early 1990s opened a lot of opportunities for Hollywood to use the technology for storytelling purposes. At the time, little was understood about the practical uses of VR, giving moviemakers a chance to exaggerate technological might. We had big screen efforts such as “The Lawnmower Man,” “Disclosure,” and “Virtuosity.” Many other titles pursued the same level of in-the-moment advances with sci-fi touches, which supplied viewers with extreme visuals but not a lot of dramatic power. The video store was also stocked with swings at VR-themed adventuring, with 1995’s “Cyber Vengeance” going the low-budget route with its vision of digital destruction. Director J. Christian Ingvordsen and writer Josh Weiner turn to “The Most Dangerous Game” formula to support their endeavor, which pits a team of convicts against a pack of hunters in a battle through history. It’s an ambitious take on time travel and action cinema, with Ingvordsen managing to provide periodic excitement as the characters jump around time periods, but he’s less capable when summoning tension. “Cyber Vengeance” is a bottom-heavy film that takes too long to get going, and when VR mayhem finally arrives, monetary limitations repeatedly throttle the natural pace of what’s trying to be an epic battle across centuries.

Will (J. Gregory Smith) is an employee at a VR company run by Crowley (Robert Davi), working as a guard in a virtual prison. In this space, Will befriends Stu (Josh Mosby), an intelligent inmate trying to communicate his fears about the situation with someone also aware that something isn’t right about his job and Crowley. Dealing with his angry girlfriend, Tory (Susan Misner), and an addiction to VR fight games, where he faces off against opponents such as Thor (Matthias Hues), Will begins to pick at the details of his employment, irritating Crowley. Instead of firing the team, the boss places Will, Stu, and Niki (Susan Rollman) in various virtual environments that replicate battles from history, creating hunters out of Traven (John Weiner), Valentine (Terry Serpico), and Dietrich (J. Christian Ingvordsen), who are tasked with killing their prey while working through numerous time periods that present unique survival challenges.

“Cyber Vengeance” likes to play games with its audience, with Will’s visit to VR realms creating a sense of disorientation in the opening act of the film. He’s introduced as a warrior battling to rescue a princess, coming up against Thor and his physical might. He’s also happy to have alone time with a virtual girlfriend (Amy Lynn Baxter), enjoying some sexual play away from Tory, his habitually disappointed partner. It’s not entirely clear what’s going on in “Cyber Vengeance,” which initially seems like an intentional storytelling approach from the production, toying with realities and characters to best summarize the VR experience, which allows for great escape to anywhere the user chooses. And there’s Will, who believes in speaking his mind, complaining to the game company about illegal moves from his opponents, and he’s cautious at his job, recognizing that something isn’t right with Crowley’s vision for virtual incarceration.

Logic isn’t a friend to “Cyber Vengeance,” with brains best left shut down during the viewing experience. Crowley has created a prison in VR, maintaining control of various inmates, including Baracas (Rick Washburn), the traditional nutcase of the group. Will makes a connection to Stu, with the pair playing thinking games to help pass the time, and this friendship angers Crowley, but it’s not immediately clear what’s going on in this environment with these people. “Cyber Vengeance” takes 40 minutes of screen time to fully explore the set-up with Crowley and his hunters, which is far too long a waiting period for this kind of entertainment, especially when the acting leaves much to be desired.

“Cyber Vengeance” eventually gets into chase mode, with the gimmick here being the battle across time. VR allows Crowley to place his prisoners in the thick of combat, sending Traven, Heinz, and Valentine after them, generating a premise with tremendous potential for varied locations and different sources of threat. Action scenes visit the Vietnam War, the French and Indian War, and the Civil War, which are all captured in a typical low- budget fashion, favoring cheap costumes and limited scope. However, Ingvordsen attempts to go bigger with the pursuit, taking the conflict into the sky for a World War I biplane shoot-out, and a visit to the Old West adds Nikki to the hunt, with the woman a bit more skittish about the details of VR hell than the others for a specific reason. Intensity isn’t always present, but there’s motivation to break away from the bottom shelf routine with “Cyber Vengeance,” giving the endeavor a few compelling sequences that do well with the time-hopping nature of the plot.

Cyber Vengeance Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is a 4K scan of the original camera negative, offering a fresh, inviting look at the limited production achievements of "Cyber Vengeance." Faces are reasonably crisp (focus issues are present), with close-ups delivering terrific skin textures, exploring fine hairs and Robert Davi's distinct appearance. Costuming is fibrous, preserving period outfits and the sheerness of ceremonial robes. Exteriors are dimensional, examining battlefields and open skies. Interiors retain a sharp view of decorative additions. Colors are exact, with bright primaries to help amplify VR realms and identify combat uniforms. Skin tones are natural. Greenery is vivid. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in strong condition.

Cyber Vengeance Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides reasonably clear dialogue exchanges, which are occasionally challenged by equipment limitations and balance with scoring cues. Music preserves its distinct synth sound, supporting suspense and action events, along with dramatic interactions. Sound effects register as intended.

Cyber Vengeance Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Making 'Cyber Vengeance'" (22:26, HD) features interviews with writer/director J. Christian Ingvordsen, cinematographer Matthew Howe, writer/producer Josh Weiner, and actor Rich Washburn. Ingvordsen explores his rise during the VHS gold rush of the late 1980s, juggling numerous productions every year, learning how to make multiple movies at the same time. For "Cyber Vengeance," a low-budget shoot was planned, but the material was "overly ambitious in the right ways," challenging the production team to figure out how to complete period sequences featuring vehicles and locations. Casting is explored, with the interviewees sharing their thoughts on Robert Davi (who was new to the Ingvordsen experience and not entirely prepared for it) and J. Gregory Smith. A few anecdotes concerning stunt work and airplane safety are offered.

• A Trailer is not included on this release.

Cyber Vengeance Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you're a big fan of endings, it's best to pass on "Cyber Vengeance." Weiner and Ingvordsen don't actually have a conclusion for their picture, which fades out mid-scene instead of reaching some sort of climax. The production doesn't respect its audience, but this feature certainly looks like it ran into money troubles at some point, doing away with details and a resolution before it was crudely assembled for a release. "Cyber Vengeance" retains some entertainment value, and there's oodles of potential in the plot, but it's not a complete film, best left for those interested in the use of VR in movie storytelling and the misguided futurism of the 1990s.