I’ve never really been a fan of “The Matrix” franchise. However, I recognise that the first two films did at least contain some impressive action sequences and special effects. I’m also in agreement that the third film was very disappointing. Now, we get a fourth entry and it’s one of the most bizarre mainstream films ever made. What we’re left with is a total mess.

Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves “Constantine”, “John Wick”) is a game designer, who made “The Matrix” trilogy of computer games. However, he keeps getting flashes of another life where he actually is the Neo protagonist of his games. By attending sessions with a therapist (Neil Patrick Harris “Starship Troopers”). The exact nature of reality will all be revealed.

For at least some of this film, Keanu Reeves gives a somewhat more nuanced performance than in the earlier “Matrix” pictures. The film gets very confusing in terms of who is who because in some cases, characters have been recast in real-life but due to some plot elements, this becomes convoluted. The film also uses a lot of flashbacks from the previous films. It’s hard to explain without spoiling things but it’s an issue. The action sequences are incredibly underwhelming with Neo often just waving his arms around to force blast people back like a jedi.

“The Matrix Resurrections” sometimes plays like a self-aware and psychological piece that mocks the entertainment industry’s reliance on sequels. However, it also has many moments where it descends into a typical and unimaginative sequel. At times, it’s trying to be “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare” but at other times, it’s just your standard sequel. This movie has some genuinely interesting moments (more than any of the previous films) but it’s ultimately very unsatisfying and the action here is a significant downgrade. I think this is the worst film of the franchise so far.