Review of A Scanner Darkly (2006) by Ross B — 28 May 2013
Richard Linklater directs this intriguing and unique adaptation of one of Phillip K. Dick's most well know novels and creates a bizarre and twisted viewpoint on drugs and the war on drugs. Keanu Reeves stars as Bob Arctor, a lowlife drug user who is actually an undercover officer known as Agent Fred.
To protect the ID of undercover narcotics officers, all officers while in the station have assumed names and wear special suits that cloak what they truly look like. Bob's job is to look into the house that he shares with Jim Barris (Robert Downey Jr.
) and Ernie Luckman (Woody Harrelson) to determine if they have any connection as to who is the real producer of "Substance D", a deadly new drug. The problem is that Bob himself has started to become dangerously addicted to the substance, which is causing him to have major hallucinations.
This is also affecting his relationship with his girlfriend Donna Hawthorn (Winona Ryder). The film is done in this bizarre motion capture style animation that gives the film a sketchy look while at the same time still keep a foot grounded in reality.
While watching the film, it feels like the audience is seeing the world through the Substance D haze of Bob's mind. Keanu Reeves's spacey demeanor actually works for this film and an interesting offset to Downey's hyperactive mind in the film.
All in all, an interesting film that looks at drug addiction and how our government fights the war on drugs.
This review of A Scanner Darkly (2006) was written by Ross B on 28 May 2013.
A Scanner Darkly has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
