A Scanner Darkly

Richard Linklater’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s classic novel is a challenging experience that cautions about the dangers of excessive drug use as well as the government’s capacity to abuse power. Set in the not-too-distant future where a new drug, substance D, has created an epidemic, A SCANNER DARKLY charts the mental unraveling of Bob Arctor. Arctor is an undercover cop who has been assigned to track a group of individuals who include the hyper-intense Luckman, and the beautiful Donna…, Linklater’s adaptation of Dick’s classic novel is a challenging, mind-bending experience that cautions about the dangers of excessive drug use as well as the government’s capacity to abuse power. Set in the not-too-distant future where a new drug has created an epidemic, A SCANNER DARKLY charts the mental unraveling of Bob Arctor. Arctor is an undercover cop who has been assigned to track a group of individuals…, Live-action footage is strikingly overlaid with animation in this adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s futuristic tale of government surveillance and drug addiction., The war on drugs has been lost, and when a reluctant undercover cop is ordered to spy on those he is closest to, the toll that the mission takes on his sanity is too great to comprehend in director Richard Linklater’s rotoscoped take on Philip K. Dick’s classic novel. With stratospheric concern over national security prompting paranoid government officials to begin spying on citizens, trust is a luxury and everyone is a suspected criminal until proven otherwise. Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is a narcotics officer who is issued an order to spy on his friends and report back to headquarters. In addition to being a cop, though, Arctor is also an addict. His drug of choice is a ubiquitous street drug called Substance D, a drug known well for producing split personalities in its users., Live-action footage is strikingly overlaid with animation in this visually dazzling adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s twisted tale of government surveillance and drug addiction in the not-too-distant future. Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder. Directed by Richard Linklater.