The Lawnmower Man (1992)
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The story
Dr. Lawrence Angelo, a scientist at Virtual Space Industries, conducts experiments using psychoactive drugs and virtual reality to enhance cognitive performance in a program called "Project 5". Seeking to improve the intelligence of Jobe Smith, an intellectually disabled gardener, Angelo redesigns the treatments to eliminate aggression factors. However, the experiments grant Jobe superhuman abilities, including psychokinesis and telepathy, while also increasing his aggression. As Jobe begins to develop an obsession with evolving into a digital being, the situation spirals out of control, leading to a series of violent incidents as Jobe begins to target those who mistreated him.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Dr. Lawrence Angelo, a scientist at Virtual Space Industries (VSI), conducts experiments using psychoactive drugs and virtual reality to enhance cognitive performance in a program called "Project 5". While VSI is secretly seeking military applications, Angelo recruits Jobe Smith, an intellectually disabled gardener, promising him increased intelligence. Angelo redesigns the treatments to eliminate aggression, but Jobe instead develops psychokinesis and telepathy. After an accident halts the experiment, Sebastian Timms secretly replaces Angelo's medications with the original formula. Jobe begins killing those who mistreated him and eventually captures Angelo, revealing his plan to transform into a being of "pure energy" within the VSI computer mainframe to connect to all the world's computer systems. The Shop sends a team to capture Jobe, but he destroys them before entering the mainframe and abandoning his physical body. Angelo remotely accesses the VSI computer, encrypting its connections to trap Jobe inside. Angelo then enters virtual reality to reason with Jobe, but Jobe crucifies his digital form. When Jobe realizes a child named Peter is in danger from the building's bombs, he allows Angelo to escape the mainframe to save the boy. Jobe escapes through a maintenance line just before the building explodes. Later, as phones ring worldwide, Jobe's digital presence is signaled.
- Original title
- Stephen King's The Lawnmower Man
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; Japan
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brett Leonard
- Writers
- Brett Leonard · writer; Gimel Everett · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jeff Fahey · Jobe Smith; Pierce Brosnan · Dr. Lawrence "Larry" Angelo; Jenny Wright; Geoffrey Lewis; Austin O'Brien
- Genres
- science fiction; horror
- Themes
- technological impact; consciousness transfer; intellectual disability; evolution
- Tone and mood
- techno-thriller; horror
- Premise and plot tags
- virtual reality; psychic powers; smart drugs; cyberpunk
- Source material / true-story basis
- A 1975 short story by Stephen King
- Franchise connections
- The Lawnmower Man
- Reception
- The film received mixed or average reviews, with a 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 42/100 on Metacritic. It was a commercial success, grossing $150 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing independent film for the calendar year in the U.S. and Canada.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 35% · review count: 43; Metacritic · score: 42 · scale: 100 · review count: 17
- Production trivia
- Stephen King successfully sued to have his name removed from the film title.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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