An investor in a VR startup discovers that the reality the company provides isn’t virtual.

The blurb above is kind of a spoiler, but most of the movie happens after the reveal, and it’s honestly pretty transparent as twists go. Joel (Zack Robidas) is a down-on-his luck investor trying to get back on his feet when he comes across a new startup int he realm of VR, called Empathy, Inc. The premise is that wealthy people will live a moment in the life of those less well off, and will return to their own lives invigorated and empathetic to others.

The realism of the situation is unprecedented, and Joel gets his inlaws to invest. But after his trial run he becomes a little obsessed and does a run on his own. And he soon discovers that the experience is so real because it is real. It is not a VR simulation at all, but a personality swap. And some of the clients are using it as the chance to get away with murder.

People are going to mention Being John Malkovich. It is arty and quirky and involves a sort of unexplained phenomenon that puts you into the body of another. And most of the movie is about Joel coming to terms with the news and trying to get the money back for his inlaws before the whole enterprise gets shut down for criminal activity.

Robidas is a perfect protagonist for this ashe is an utterly generic person — at least in American cinema. Plain, white male. But the swapping requires some skill in acting from the participants, and this is done well and doesn’t come across as gimmicky.

Empathy, Inc. is a good ride. Fun, interesting and relatable, it’s a worthwhile watch.