Movie Information
Overall Rank: 3914
Average Rating: 2.7/4
# of Ratings: 181
Theatrical Release Date: 07/07/2006
Language: English
Genre: Sci-Fi, Animation
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Richard Linklater
Actors: Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Rory Cochrane, Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson, Mitch Baker
Plot: In the near future, the war on drugs is taking its toll on society. Cops are spying on everyone, including other cops, all to try and clean up drug 'D'. No one is safe from this destructive drug or each other.
Quick Movie Reviews
Rating of
2.5/4
Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 08/06/2023
I sat through "A Scanner Darkly" waiting for it to start making sense. I don't know if reading the novel grants you insight into this otherworldly vision of dystopia, but I felt I was missing vital information to fully put together this movie's plot and message.
Rating of
3.5/4
mitchellyoung - wrote on 07/15/2011
Despite the sci-fi setting, this film is essentially a heartbreaking portrait of the destructive nature of drug addiction. It's sort of a high-tech Requiem for a Dream. The rotoscoping animation style creates an other-worldly effect that makes the film more surreal and thought-provoking. One of Linklater's best films.
Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
2.5/4
"A Scanner Darkly" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 04/19/2012
Richard Linklater gives Philip K. Dick's anti-drug fable the anime treatment in this tale of an undercover narc, whose identity is kept secret from everyone (including his colleagues) leading to his becoming the subject of his own investigation. Technically, the actors all fulfill their relative niches, from Keanu's self-analysing stoner to Harrelson's wacky attention seeking and the visuals are fine if a little unsophisticated by today's standards. For me though, it was only for the last half hour, when the story FINALLY kicked in that it really grabbed my attention. The first hour of the film is exactly like being in the company of genuine druggies ie listening to a load of self-absorbed pretentious and paranoid bullshit blanketed in a psychaledic haze; it's actually so accurate it's …
Rating of
4/4
Simply amazing to watch, brilliant dialog and plot
Josh C - wrote on 06/18/2007
Wow. This movie is spectacular. As I was watching it I couldn't help but be impressed with the style of animation and how effective it was for this type of film. There were no expressions or emotions lost but instead they were enhanced in the translation from traditional film to this cartoon effect that was put on the movie afterwards.
Asides from the obvious animation, the dialog was very believable. Robert Downey Jr. and Woody Harrelson did a great job portraying paranoid druggies that were always so quick to create conspiracy theories. Kenanu Reeves was so fucked up from drugs that it kept me interested until the very end.
The idea behind this movie is simply great and I haven't seen a movie portray drug addiction like this since Trainspotting. The movie is sad and intriguing …
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