Surrogates 2009

In a world where humans rely on remotely-controlled synthetic bodies, known as surrogates, to experience life in more attractive forms, the story unfolds in 2017. People live in near-total isolation, appreciating a society that has become largely free from the usual fears, pains, and crimes. However, the tranquil veneer is shattered when a mysterious masked figure disrupts the life of a teenage boy at a nightclub, resulting in a shocking murder that stirs the authorities.

FBI agent Tom Greer, who utilizes his own surrogate, takes on the perplexing case of the first murder in years. The victim, Jarod Canter, happens to be the son of Doctor Lionel Canter (played by James Cromwell), the very inventor of surrogates, who himself indulges in multiple surrogate experiences. As Greer, alongside his partner Peters, investigates the death, they uncover a horrifying twist: the female surrogate previously thought to be behind the murder is actually controlled by a deceased operator.

With layers of grief complicating Greer’s dedication to his job—his own son having died in an accident that led to his wife Maggie spiraling into a surrogate life—the stakes escalate dramatically. More bodies turn up, exposing a sinister link between surrogacy and real human deaths. If a surrogate is destroyed, its operator should remain safe, but conditions are turning ominous as the investigation leads Greer to the Dreads, a rebellious faction opposing the surrogate lifestyle, led by the enigmatic The Prophet.

As Greer digs deeper, he learns of a deadly weapon capable of wreaking havoc on both surrogates and their human operators. A series of confrontations with Dread operatives unveils the chilling capabilities of this weapon—programmed to eliminate surrogates while betraying their human users as collateral damage. Surviving a close encounter himself, Greer remains relentless in his quest for the truth, facing suspensions and dangerous adversaries.

The unfolding drama brings Greer to The Dread Reservation, where he confronts The Prophet and realizes that not all is as it seems; even Doctor Canter is embroiled in the unfolding chaos, leveraging surrogates in unexpected ways. As control of the weapon shifts and the military intervenes, Greer finds himself in a race against time to stop a catastrophe that could end surrogacy forever.

In an intense climax, Greer must make a monumental decision: to save the operators and let the surrogates fall or risk everything to maintain the deceptive world the surrogates created. The virus unleashed from the weapon spreads globally, resulting in the mass destruction of surrogate bodies while ironically preserving the lives of their operators, who must now face reality and their own imperfections.

Finally, Greer returns home to reconnect with Maggie, now stripped of her surrogate existence. In a bittersweet moment, they confront their real selves in a world forever altered. With reports circulating about the end of the surrogate era, the question remains: will society adapt to a life without the crutch of surrogates?