Chain Reaction (1996) is a compelling sci-fi thriller that blends environmental themes with high-stakes conspiracy. Directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive), the film stars Keanu Reeves as Eddie Kasalivich, a University of Chicago researcher working on a revolutionary clean energy project using sonoluminescence. When his mentor is murdered and the lab destroyed, Eddie and colleague Dr. Lily Sinclair (Rachel Weisz) become fugitives, framed for treason by shadowy government and corporate forces.

The film effectively combines scientific intrigue with relentless action, as the duo races to prove their innocence while protecting the world-changing technology. Reeves delivers a solid performance as the everyman caught in a web of deception, supported by Morgan Freeman as a ambiguous mentor figure and Fred Ward as a persistent FBI agent. While the plot occasionally stretches credibility, the premise remains engaging and prescient in its exploration of energy politics.

Davis maintains tense pacing throughout the 107-minute runtime, with well-executed chase sequences and a palpable sense of paranoia. The Chicago locations provide atmospheric backdrops for the cat-and-mouse narrative. Though it received mixed reviews, Chain Reaction offers entertaining speculative fiction with relevant themes about innovation versus institutional control. For fans of 90s thrillers or Reeves' filmography, it's worth watching for its ambitious concept and sustained suspense.