Cyberjack Reviews

This futuristic terrorist thriller contains some empty but entertaining plot twists, and an assortment of memorably nasty villains. Star Michael Dudikoff takes on all comers in a routine but energetic high-tech cautionary tale. Feeling responsible for his partner's death at the hands of anarchist/arch-criminal Nassim (Brion James), policeman Nick James (Michael Dudikoff) abandons crimestopping for a post as custodial engineer at the Quantum Building. In this high-tech center, database technologist Alex Royce (Suki Kaiser) argues with her father, Dr. Royce (Duncan Fraser), over the viability of a computer virus they've created. Intended as a safeguard against hackers, the hard-to-control virus, which is interlaced with human neurological protoplasm, is coveted equally by both tycoon Mr. Jervis (Jerry Wasserman) and archfiend Nassim, who invades the Jervis-owned lab to appropriate the Royce's invention. Unbeknownst to janitor Nick James, a phalanx of Nassim's henchmen fans out over the Quantum Building. The evildoers slay friendly security guard Johnny (Alvin Sanders), replace him with a hologram, and wipe out uncooperative Jervis. Nassim orders Alex to unlock the coded virus from its containment field; to encourage her to obey him, he murders her father and threatens her helpless co-workers. Fortunately, Nick realizes that Johnny is a hologram and begins trying to prevent the techno-takeover by Nassim's forces. With the SWAT team ready to invade, Nassim injects himself with the virus. His dream of world dominance ends, however, when Nick fatally shoots him. Subsequently, Alex finds a way to prevent Nassim's viral remains from destroying human civilization. Since the above synopsis barely covers the film's high spots, it's a wonder Dudikoff ever finds time to interrupt the plot line with hand-to-hand battles. Special effects connoisseurs may feel gypped by the movie's low-rent technical wizardry. Those in a forgiving mood will be rewarded by Nassim's sadistic actions, some nasty dialogue (including one priceless soliloquy from James about prison sex), and the sinewy Dudikoff's fight sequences. Although it is distinctly over-plotted, VIRTUAL ASSASSIN makes clever use of the building's ventilation system for the hero's innumerable escapes and incorporates a virtual reality sideshow into its mix without distracting viewers from its main event--the villain's transformation into a computer virus.(Graphic violence, extreme profanity, extensive nudity, substance abuse.)