This week’s retro trailer is for the 1983 sci-fi film Brainstorm, which stars Christopher Walken and Natalie Wood in her final film role.

In the film, “Researchers Michael Brace (Walken) and Lillian Reynolds (Louise Fletcher) develop a system that allows the recording and playback of a person’s thoughts onto videotape. The project spins dangerously out of control when Brace and his colleagues begin using the technology to explore intense sexual and near-death experiences. When the military moves to hijack the project for their own nefarious purposes, Brace tries to outwit them with help from his estranged wife (Wood).”

Directed by Douglas Trumbull, the film gained a reputation for being a unique and strange cinematic experience due to its intriguing storyline and the circumstances surrounding its production.

Wood tragically passed away during the film’s production, which led to significant delays and alterations to the script. To complete the movie, the filmmakers utilized body doubles and voice impersonators to complete Wood’s remaining scenes, which added an eerie undertone to the overall atmosphere of the film.

Brainstorm was one of the earliest films to explore the potential of virtual reality and its impact on human perception. The film explored the idea that recorded experiences could be so immersive that they became indistinguishable from reality itself.

Check out the trailer below, and I included the full movie for you to watch as well if you want!