Anon

In a world where the constant barrage of information from Biosyn implants has created a never-ending stream of data in the 'Mind's Eye', personal privacy has become a distant memory. Every individual's life is meticulously recorded, with each moment's worth of personal information uploaded to the vast database known as 'The Ether'. This digital repository allows law enforcement unfettered access to prosecute crimes, rendering anonymity all but extinct.

Against this backdrop, Sal Frieland (Clive Owen) finds himself grappling with a series of gruesome murders that seem to defy explanation. As he delves deeper into the cases, it becomes increasingly clear that these brutal acts are not isolated incidents, but rather symptoms of a far more profound crisis - a catastrophic failure in the very fabric of society.

Detective Charles Gattis (Colm Feore), Sal's boss, summons him to investigate a particularly perplexing homicide. What makes this case stand out is the chilling revelation that the killer has somehow managed to infiltrate the victim's Mind's Eye, effectively rendering their last few minutes of life a surreal, fragmented experience. The victim, alone at the time of their demise, was unaware of the impending danger until it was too late.

As Sal navigates the complexities of this baffling crime scene, he crosses paths with an enigmatic woman known only as 'The Girl' (Amanda Seyfried). Her identity remains shrouded in mystery, much like her very existence. In a move that will set off alarm bells later on, Sal sends a copy of his own Mind's Eye recording to Charles, but upon reviewing the data, he discovers that it has been inexplicably deleted.

This minor anomaly soon takes on far greater significance as Sal's investigation unfolds. It becomes clear that someone has compromised the security of 'The Mind's Eye', sending shockwaves through the very foundations of society. This realization prompts Sal to embark on a perilous quest to track down a figure who seems to exist only in the shadows, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake.

Sal's pursuit takes him to a double murder scene, where two lesbians have fallen victim to the same tactics employed by the earlier killers. With his instincts screaming that something is very wrong, Sal gives chase, but the killer proves adept at manipulating his own Mind's Eye, allowing them to escape with impunity.

As Sal delves into the twisted world of cybercrime, he hypothesizes that the elusive hacker has been hired by their unsuspecting victims to erase a portion of their digital trail, only to subsequently eliminate those customers to cover their own tracks. With this sinister motive in mind, Sal concocts a plan to lure the hacker into a trap, posing as an engaged stockbroker seeking to scrub his online presence after a clandestine encounter with a prostitute. He creates a fake profile and posts a message on a bulletin board frequented by the hacker's previous victims, hoping to entice the culprit.

The Girl takes the bait, unaware that Sal's colleague, Lester (Joe Pingue), is secretly hacking into her system while she simultaneously probes Sal's digital files. As they engage in a cat-and-mouse game, Lester attempts to uncover The Girl's true identity but ultimately proves unsuccessful. She departs, leaving behind a trail of digital breadcrumbs.

Meanwhile, Charles tasks his tech-savvy team member, Cyrus Frear (Mark O'Brien), with tracing the hacker's movements. Cyrus successfully links the Girl to her real-life records, only for the hacker to detect and sever all connections. The investigator is left questioning whether The Girl has seen Sal, Lester, or himself.

Commissioner Joseph Kenik (Iddo Goldberg) steps in, reorienting the team toward a larger threat: an undetectable crime wave that could cripple the city's digital infrastructure. Sal goes undercover once more, this time indulging in a torrid affair with The Girl. In a stunning departure from her earlier modus operandi, she does not murder Sal, instead opting to uncover his true identity as a police officer.

As Sal and The Girl consummate their passion, Lester lies wounded in the adjacent room, his trace on The Girl foiled. The Girl then hacks into Sal's live feed, superimposing a series of gruesome visions upon his perception. She manipulates his reality, conjuring up the heart-wrenching image of his son's fatal car accident, which occurred when Sal was distracted for mere seconds. His memories, both happy and sorrowful, are systematically deleted, leaving him questioning everything he sees.

The Girl frames Sal for a murder, leading to his suspension from the police force, leaving him a shell of his former self, forever wary of the digital world's treacherous landscape.

As Sal navigates the labyrinthine streets of the city, a determined gaze guides him towards the enigmatic Girl's apartment, the culmination of his investigation. Upon arrival, he finds himself face-to-face with an indignant Girl (her name still shrouded in mystery), who vehemently protests her supposed involvement in the murders. Sal's intuition, honed by years of experience, convinces him that she is telling the truth - a manipulation expert had cleverly fabricated evidence to incriminate her. With a sympathetic ear and a willingness to listen, Sal absolves her of guilt, allowing her to slip back into the shadows.

Meanwhile, Charles (his patience wearing thin) harbors resentment towards Sal for his decision to exonerate the Girl, viewing it as an affront to justice. Unbeknownst to them all, The Girl has been quietly observing Sal's apartment, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. With the police distracted by a diversion of her own design, she slips into Sal's apartment unimpeded, only to find herself facing off against the very individual she had hoped to avoid: Cyrus (his true identity hidden behind a veil of deceit).

As The Girl valiantly attempts to stall Cyrus, a cunning and ruthless serial killer, Sal awakens from his slumber, quickly regaining control. In a burst of adrenaline-fueled bravery, he takes down the real culprit, ending Cyrus's reign of terror.

In the aftermath, the truth about Cyrus's fabricated persona is revealed: he never held a position on the police force, having expertly created an entire false identity to further his sinister objectives. As Sal and The Girl cross paths for the final time, she remains resolute in her refusal to reveal her true identity to him, leaving Sal to ponder the enigma that lies before him.