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Cypher
2002 96 min United States of America R 18+
★6.6
Thriller, Science Fiction
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Trailers
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EN
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Description
An unsuspecting, disenchanted man finds himself working as a spy in the dangerous, high-stakes world of corporate espionage. Quickly getting way over-his-head, he teams up with a mysterious femme fatale.
Budget:
$7.5M
Worldwide:
$898,365
Starring
Jeremy Northam
Actor
Lucy Liu
Actor
Nigel Bennett
Actor
Awards
5 wins & 3 nominations
Key opinion
Cypher is a polarizing, stylish, and low-budget sci-fi thriller that excels in creating a mysterious, hypnotic atmosphere through clever cinematography. While fans appreciate its intricate, puzzle-like narrative and meditative pacing, critics find it emotionally distant, overly dialogue-heavy, and prone to losing its narrative footing in the second half.
| Cinematography | The cinematography and visual style create a striking, noir-inspired atmosphere that effectively maintains tension despite a limited budget. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay employs complex, layering narrative shifts that provide a deeply satisfying puzzle for fans of intellectual thrillers. | |
| Pacing | The film’s meditative and slow-burning pacing is either viewed as an immersive, hypnotic experience or an exhausting, dialogue-heavy slog that lacks sufficient action. | |
| Acting | Performances are viewed either as a cold, deliberate reflection of the protagonist's dehumanized state or as slack and lifeless puppet-like acting. | |
| Ending | The ending is highly divisive; some find the romantic revelation to be a brilliant, mathematically precise subversion, while others label it predictable or unoriginal. |