Strange Days (film)

Strange Days is a 1995 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by James Cameron and Jay Cocks. Set in Los Angeles in the final days of 1999, the film follows Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), a former police officer turned black marketeer of "clips" – recordings of experiences captured directly from the cerebral cortex and played back into the user's brain, providing a vivid sensory experience.

The film explores themes of voyeurism, technological addiction, memory, violence, and social unrest in a near-future dystopian setting. As Lenny gets caught up in a conspiracy surrounding the murder of a prostitute and the distribution of a potentially dangerous "clip," he must navigate a world on the brink of chaos fueled by racial tensions and police brutality.

The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Michael Wincott, and Vincent D'Onofrio. Strange Days is known for its immersive and visceral depiction of its subject matter, particularly its use of POV shots to simulate the clip experience. Despite initial mixed reviews and box office performance, the film has gained a cult following over time and is now recognized for its prescience in exploring themes relevant to contemporary society and technology. The film's soundtrack also received critical acclaim.