A Scanner Darkly (2006)
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An undercover agent in a drug-addled, high-tech surveillance state struggles to maintain his identity while navigating a complex web of addiction and deception.
The story
In a near-future United States, a massive drug addiction epidemic has gripped the nation, leading to the widespread use of Substance D, which causes intense hallucinations. To combat the crisis, the government has implemented an invasive, high-tech surveillance system and a network of undercover officers. Bob Arctor, an undercover agent, is tasked with infiltrating the drug's underworld to map the supply chain. To maintain his anonymity, he wears a 'scramble suit' that masks his identity from other officers. However, Arctor finds himself increasingly entangled in the drug's influence, struggling to balance his secret role with his deteriorating personal life and the growing dangers of his double life.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a near-future United States plagued by a drug addiction epidemic, Bob Arctor is an undercover agent infiltrating the underworld of 'Substance D' using a 'scramble suit' to hide his identity. He lives with two addicts, and his deteriorating health from D is noted by his superior, 'Hank'. It is revealed that Arctor's identity was known to the police all along; they intentionally allowed him to become addicted to gather evidence against 'New-Path', the corporation secretly manufacturing the drug. Arctor is eventually sent to a New-Path labor camp where he discovers the source of the drug: fields of blue flowers. He manages to steal a flower to bring to his friends. Meanwhile, his partner 'Donna' (actually 'Audrey') works with another officer to expose New-Path's operations, while Arctor remains a pawn in their investigation of the corporation's illicit activities.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Linklater
- Writers
- Richard Linklater · writer
- Cast and characters
- Keanu Reeves · Arctor and Fred; Robert Downey Jr. · Barris; Woody Harrelson · not specified; Winona Ryder · not specified; Rory Cochrane · Freck
- Genres
- animated; science fiction; thriller
- Themes
- identity; deception; surveillance; addiction
- Tone and mood
- dystopian; hallucinatory
- Premise and plot tags
- dystopia; undercover; drug-addiction; high-tech surveillance
- Source material / true-story basis
- novel by Philip K. Dick
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews, with praise for its performances and animation, but performed poorly at the box office.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 68% · scale: percentage · review count: 189; Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 33
- Awards and nominations
- Hugo Award · Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form · 2007 · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot digitally and then animated using interpolated rotoscope.; The film was produced on a budget of $8.7 million.; The score was provided by Graham Reynolds and features over an hour of music.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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