Madness, Paranoia and the Government
Watching the film, "A Scanner Darkly" based on the Phillip K. Dick novel is like watching a huge drug trip. By the end it finally makes sense but from the second the film begins you are lost in a world of confusion and paranoia. With the developing surveilance technologies, terrorism and drug use this film could not be more relevant to today's world as it is to the time it was written. The film opens with a paranoid Charles Freck trying desperately to rid his body of non existent bugs crawling over his body as a result of taking the drug Substance D. And so begins the madness. We are introduced next to Fred - a spy whose identity is not even shown to his superiors who is working with the government to erradicate the drug problem. Fred is currently surveying Robert Arctor a suspected drug dealer who, unbeknown to Fred is Fred's split personality caused by his own use of the drug. The film takes the viewer through a series of events which lead Arctor/Fred further and further into madness. One interesting scene is when Arctor and his roommates Jim Barris and Ernie Luckman burst into their apartment, certain that someone has broken in and planted substance D in their home in order to incriminate them. They soon discover that it was only Arctor's girlfriend Donna Hawthorne, however the scene shows the utter paranoia not only from the drug use but from pressures from the government. Another great representation of the madness and paranoia are the suits that Fred and the other spies where in order to hide their identity. The suit shows scrambled physiques of many people thus denying the observer any idea who the person is. In the same way Fred's identity is scrambled by the drug and by the government he works for.
It is discovered by the end of the film that Fred/Arctor was deliberately put on the drug in order to lead him to the New Path recovery centre and later to the farms where they suspect the flowers that are used to create the drug are being grown. There, he becomes Bruce. It is also discovered that Arctor's girlfriend Donna Hawthorne is actually Hank, Fred's superior and it was she who helped work to get Fred/ Arctor/Bruce to the farms.
Overall it is a story about a corrupt government that sacrifices a real human being in order to save the majority. All the these things: the paranoia, the drug use and the questionable deeds of the government are relevant to today. It sure makes you think doesn't it?
that's a movie that not only creeps you out, but makes you look at the government in a whole new way!
Great post!
Take care,
Nick
Film & TV on DVD
Great review.
I loved this film too and the questions it raises. If your interested you can read my review HERE