Review of A Scanner Darkly (2006) by Gregd. — 29 Jun 2006

Awfully intriguing bit of metatheater with a weak narrative thread. This movie has to be watched more than once, those that have read the novel may only need one viewing. [***SPOILERS***] I haven't read the novel and only hold out hope that more will be illuminated between it's covers.

Linklater is a bit too cryptic in this outing, he sets up plot points in a flash card manner. Sometimes this works, like the brief introduction to the blue flower in the beginning of the film and the field of them in the end.

What was most poor was the presentation of "Substance D". There is nothing in the film that shows the pleasant effects of the drug, why someone would use it, and what it really does. Everyone appeared to be on the drug, but everyone didn't seem to have the same symptoms.

The film does best what Linklater does best which is capture paranoid dialogue and wacked out characters, dream noir worlds and active isolation. I love Linklater's films so I have a spin on the film or maybe I'm compensating for a favorite director.

This film is metatheater, the look of the film represents the world view from a population under the influence for better or worse. This film is also a test, if you sit there and accept everything that is said without question, then welcome to that world; you've just become a member.

Can you think for yourself when the world you live in is telling you you're crazy? Do you trust your own perception or do you need the government to tell you what you're seeing and feeling? Finally, is the enemy of your enemy your friend? "What does a scanner see? Does it see darkly or clearly?" I think this film is genius in ways that make it mediocre entertainment.