A Scanner Darkly (2006)
Release Year: 2006
Nation: United States of America
Alternative Title: N/A
Director: Richard Linklater
Writer: Richard Linklater
Production & Genre
Producer(s):
Companies: 3 Arts Entertainment, Detour Filmproduction, Section Eight, Thousand Words, Warner Independent Pictures
Genre: Animation, Science Fiction, Thriller
Awards & Similar
Awards: N/A
Similar:
Keywords
Keywords: assignment, based on novel or book, california, cocaine, condition, corporation, cyberpunk, detective, dreams, drugs, dubious, dystopia, exam, future, neo-noir, schizophrenia, speculative, substance, surveillance, totalitarian, undercover
Story
In a dystopian future California, undercover police officer Bob Arctor becomes involved with an experimental drug called Substance D during his assignment to infiltrate a group of users. As he spends more time undercover and abuses the drug himself, Arctor begins experiencing hallucinations and fragmentation of his identity. This is exacerbated when his superiors order him to spy on himself for evidence collection without revealing his true role. Arctor struggles with his dual identities while trying to maintain his mission, leading to a descent into paranoia and confusion.
Summary
'A Scanner Darkly', based on Philip K. Dick's novel of the same name, is a neo-noir cyberpunk thriller set in a totalitarian dystopia where drug abuse is rampant. The film explores themes of identity loss, surveillance, and dubious governmental practices through its depiction of Arctor's assignment. It stands out for its unique animated style, achieved through motion-capture technology and rotoscope animation, which adds to the dreamlike and disorienting atmosphere that mirrors Arctor's mental state.
