Sound a little constrictive? Well, it is, but the filmmakers have found several intriguing outs. First, the film is apparently set ever so slightly in the future, so video and net technology is advanced enough that Thomas' on-line adventures are, for the most part, seen in real-time and involve real people. Although the first person we see in the movie is a completely artificial creation, Thomas' personal sextoon-girlfriend with whom he has 'cybersex', a fetishistic form of coupling involving elaborate tech-suits which allows two people to do the nasty from afar. Thomas isn't into it out of any particular kink in his sex drive, however...it's simply the only avenue open to him, given his condition.

Thomas' circle of acquaintances at the opening of the film is relatively small, and mostly center around his insurance company, a shadowy firm called Globale who pretty much take care of all Thomas' needs, from insuring that everything he uses in his daily routine are delivered in a timely fashion to providing an online psychologist to ostensibly try and help cure Thomas of his handicap. The only other person Thomas talks to is his Mother,and even that relationship makes him highly uncomfortable. Thomas, clearly, is damaged goods.

Attempting to broaden Thomas' horizons, or pehaps alleviate some of his growing sense of alienation, Globale make two highly portentous decisions. His psychologist, without consulting Thomas first, decides to enlist our hero in an online dating service, from which Thomas seems unable to extricate himself. Meanwhile, his insurance agent informs Thomas that his particular condition avails him of the service of government-provided prostitutes, specifically sanctioned to service the handicapped. Suddenly Thomas finds himself being deluged with calls from needy women, as well as a virtual roster of handy professionals, and soon enough finds his resolve to remain alone weakening in the face of renewed human contact.

Without revealing everything, Thomas finds himself being genuinely attracted to two individuals in particular...Melody, a video-poet he meets through the dating service, and Eva, a beautiful but curiously hostile prostitute that catches his eye. His involvement with both of them rapidly begins to challenge the limits of Thomas' self-imposed world, with more than a few dire consequences to be had by all involved.

There is a serious danger in a movie like this for the 'gimmick', in this case, our sole eye to the world being the images on Thomas' screen, to be the sole focus of the film, hoping to distract you from the fact that nothing interesting is actually going on. Happily, that doesn't happen here. Thomas' plight is a pretty endearing one, and although he has definite rough edges, I ended up seriously rooting for a happy ending for our mysterious shut-in. Whether or not he gets it, I'll leaveup to you to find out. THOMAS IN LOVE is an intelligent, quirky and touching flick, and deserves a viewing. It also really, really makes you want to get out of your apartment for a while...although cybersex DOES look like more fun than I've gotten out of my computer in, like, forever. Maybe Thomas has the right idea after all.

Review copyright 2002 The Visitor

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