Review of A Scanner Darkly (2006) by Rob C — 06 May 2011

Sometime in the future, approximately seven years time, a new drug called Substance D has taken hold of the US. Undercover agent Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is sent in to find and break up the operation of this debilitating drug.

He passes the time with his buddies James Barris (Robert Downey Jr.), Ernie Luckman (Woody Harrelson) and his coke-addicted supplier in Donna Hawthorn (Winona Ryder), who are also heavy drug users like him.

But what he finds is a drug that seems to take control of his life causing him to second guess a lot of things. The animation associated with the film is impressive, bringing A Scanner Darkly into full swing.

The direction is a bit hazy, but interesting; providing massive amounts of garrolous chatter from it's characters. The film relies on it's dialogue and we have copius amounts of it coming from each actor, namely Robert Downey Jr.

A Scanner Darkly leaves it's audience in a pessimistic state, dragging you down into the core of it's being, allowing you to feel the addictions that have taken each character by the throats. Director Richard Linklater gives us a stunning look into his version of Philip K.

Dick's novel of the same name.