Body Swap Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Self/Less’ Poses Moral Conundrum

Brendan Reynolds

While the movie is about a pretty unbelievable and egocentric “rich guy using his wealth to live forever” premise, “Self/Less” promises some popcorn fun as this summer’s most high concept sci-fi thrill ride.  The plot for this psychological yarn revolves around a wealthy impresario Damian (Ben Kingsley), who is approaching his life’s last chapter when he is propositioned to undergo a high-tech clandestine procedure by a convincing and potentially nefarious scientist (Matthew Goode), to transfer his consciousness into a younger man’s body (Ryan Reynolds).

Unlike most body swap films that usually use the narrative device for comedy, “Self/Less” uses sci-fi conventions to create a parable wherein the protagonist, Young/Old Damian, is thrust into an existential crisis.  It would appear on the outset that Old Damian (Kingsley) is simply trading in his dying body for a new healthy vessel (Reynolds), only to find out after the consciousness transfer is completed that the donor body he inhabits may not have willingly volunteered itself for the procedure.

Helming his first major motion picture since “Mirror Mirror” in 2012, the Indian born director of “Self/Less” Tarsem Singh, looks to stamp his colorful and striking visual style on the film.  Ryan Reynolds, who has a penchant for eccentric dark roles when he’s not playing off his cocky “Van Wilder” shtick, has become a prolific leading man, appearing in at least three major films in the last three years, along with two more coming out in 2016.

Featured on the IMDb webpage for the film, Ryan Reynolds had this to say about his role as Young Damian, “I love the idea that a character is given a very specific moral choice, particularly a character like Damian who I think is morally flexible, who is given a choice and it propels the audience to wonder would I do that?  What would I do given that option?”

Attempting to follow the recent trend of interesting character centric sci-fi work like Spike Jonze‘ wonderful 2013 film “Her” and the mind-bending “Source Code” from 2011, “Self/Less” aims to provide another entertaining look into the potential for moral treachery posed by advanced technology.

“Self/Less” opens nationwide July 10.