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Tell Others About This Page By Using This Button "A SCANNER DARKLY" (2006) (Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr.) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Extreme Minor Heavy Mild Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Moderate None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Mild Minor Heavy Heavy QUICK TAKE: Sci-fi: An undercover narcotics agent is assigned to spy on himself as he lives and partakes with some hardcore users of the illegal drug he's investigating. PLOT: It's the near future and Bob Arctor (KEANU REEVES), a.k.a. "Fred," is an undercover narcotics agent whose "scramble suit" prevents even his superiors from knowing his real identity or even his voice. Having infiltrated a group of users -- including Charles Freck (RORY COCHRANE), Jim Barris (ROBERT DOWNEY JR.) and Ernie Luckman (WOODY HARRELSON), the latter two who live at his house -- Bob is after their supplier who he believes might be their attractive friend Donna Hawthorne (WINONA RYDER). In order to fit in and find the source of the illegal drug known as Substance D, Bob has become a user himself, a point that's troubling those assigned to oversee his medical condition. With his addiction growing, it appears that the functioning of his brain has split, leaving him increasingly confused about his true identity and the task at hand. To complicate matters, his superiors at New Path -- not realizing he's the same person -- have ordered that "Fred" observe Bob, noting him as a user and possible dealer. With his roles becoming ever more confused, Bob tries to continue his work, all while becoming increasingly debilitated by the addictive drug as well as his growing interest in Donna who doesn't seem willing to reciprocate. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of source writer Philip K. Dick or anyone in the cast, it's a good bet they might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For drug and sexual content, language and a brief violent image. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: KEANU REEVES plays an undercover drug agent who becomes hooked on and debilitated by the drug he's investigating. Increasingly confused about his role, he tries to balance both of his lives, a task that becomes progressively difficult for him. Rejected by Donna, he has casual sex with another woman, and uses strong profanity. ROBERT DOWNEY JR. plays a paranoid drug user who lives with Bob but then secretly tries to turn him in to the authorities. He also smokes and uses strong profanity. WOODY HARRELSON plays his friend, a more laidback but occasionally paranoid drug user who also uses strong profanity. WINONA RYDER plays a supposed drug user and possible dealer (we never see her do either, although there's talk of her doing the former) who draws Bob's romantic interest. She uses strong profanity. RORY COCHRANE plays another drug user who's become so addicted that he's suffering from debilitating delusions. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick look at the content found in this R-rated sci-fi tale that's a mixture of live-action footage with animation penciled in over top of that. Profanity consists of at least 32 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also used. Sexually related dialogue is present, as is briefly seen surveillance footage of several sexual acts (from a distance, showing movement and nudity). Other nudity (bare breasts) is also present. Various characters use (and hallucinate from) various types of drugs (while related talk is present), and some alcohol and tobacco use also occur. That drug use and other material may be enticing for some kids to imitate, while various bad attitudes are present (including the protagonist being mad that a woman won't have sex with him). An imagined bit has a cop shooting a person in the head, while a person zaps another, and some guns are drawn or test-fired in other scenes. It's possibly some of that and other material could be unsettling for some viewers. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Charles is hallucinating from his drug use and imagines bugs crawling all over him and his place. He scratches, showers (nothing explicit seen beyond his bare chest and back) and even sprays himself with insecticide, but nothing works. There's talk of a drug called Substance D that many people are using and/or dealing, as well as a terrorist group that's manufacturing it. While working undercover (but also being a user), Bob wants to by some drugs from Donna. Paranoid while on drugs, Charles worries that "they cut your p*cker off." Jim and Charles talk about the cost of coke and Jim then goes through some process of separating the oil from the coke using some sort of aerosol and then putting that bag in a freezer. Ernie takes some drugs off a table. Bob uses the drug and is doing so as an undercover agent, but has become hooked on it and uses it when not on the job. Ernie has a beer. Jim gives some of the drugs, in pill form, to Ernie, and a comment is made, "Don't blame the drugs." Ernie picks up an unlit "roach" (marijuana joint) from an ashtray (leftover from someone else). When Donna arrives, Bob asks if she smoked a joint before she went to sleep and she says yes. Thinking they might have to get rid of the house that has drugs hidden everywhere, Bob sarcastically comments on the "for sale" ad mentioning the amounts and types of drugs that would convey with the house. Ernie rolls a joint and then gives it to Bob who smokes it while also having a beer. Bob hallucinates, seeing Ernie and Jim as large insects. Charles hears a radio personality talking about committing suicide via downers and wine and prepares that for himself, but then goes to the liquor store to buy a more expensive bottle of wine (since his was cheap). He then takes the pills and has the wine, but then hallucinates (seeing a human type figure with many eyes all over its head). Donna invites Bob to go back to her place, drop some "death" (Substance D), and get some tequila. We then see both of them looking and acting high after unseen drug use. When Bob tries to get romantic with her, she recoils and explains that since she does a lot of coke, she has to be careful and thus tells him to leave her body alone. He then gets mad at her for turning him down, causing her to say she doesn't shoot up as she begs for him to come back. Bob has a beer and gives some drugs to a woman. Bob pops more drug pills at work. We see Bob in rehab. Bob discovers that those running the rehab facility are also farming the drugs. BLOOD/GORE In a flashback, Bob accidentally hits his head on a kitchen cabinet door, and he has some blood on his fingers after touching his head. Bob vomits. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Despite living in his place and using his drugs, Jim tries turning in Bob to the authorities. While watching surveillance footage from the house, Bob sees Ernie get up from eating, stumble around a bit and then fall to the floor where he doesn't move. Jim sees this, but doesn't do anything for a while until he eventually calls for help, but then Ernie comes to and is okay. Bob gets mad when Donna won't have sex with him and leaves. Some viewers might not like comments about mental instability such as "I must be nuts" and "You're completely bonkers." Bob discovers that those running the rehab facility are also farming the drugs. FRIGHTENING SCENES While driving with Jim and Ernie as his passengers, Bob's accelerator gets stuck to the floor and he has to swerve through traffic before finally being able to stop. Thinking someone might be in their house, the guys slowly enter it, with Jim having his gun drawn. When Donna shows up moments later, she surprises them and Jim briefly holds his gun on her. Being paranoid, Jim comes out of the house with a hammer intended for Ernie who looks around, grabs a rock and acts like he's going to defend himself, but then nothing else happens. While watching surveillance footage from the house, Bob sees Ernie get up from eating, stumble around a bit and then fall to the floor where he doesn't move. Jim sees this, but doesn't do anything for a while until he eventually calls for help, but then Ernie comes to and is okay. GUNS/WEAPONS Charles imagines being pulled over by a cop who pulls a gun on him, then gets fed up and shoots him in the head. Jim tests a homemade silencer by firing a handgun with it, but it only amplifies the sound of the blast. Hearing that shot from his bedroom, Bob draws his gun, but nothing else happens. Thinking someone might be in their house, the guys slowly enter it, with Jim having his gun drawn. When Donna shows up moments later, she surprises them and Jim briefly holds his gun on her. Police or other authorities zap a protestor with an electric wand and then abduct him. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "F*ck this sh*t," "F*cker," "Jesus F*cking Christ," "M*therf*cker," "F*cking us up," "Is he f*cking with us?" "F*ck it," "We're f*cked," "F*ck this," "What the f*ck /is wrong with you?" "About to get f*cked up," "Shutting the f*ck up," "It's getting really f*cked up over here," "You guys are f*cked up," "Near death f*ck-up of yours," "The guy's f*cking crazy," "That's f*cking lame," "You f*ckers," "I think I have a block against this sh*t," "Bullsh*t," "Say the sh*t and get it over with," "Same sh*t, nothing new," "Start some sh*t," "Plastic dog sh*t," "Are you bullsh*tting us or not?" "I've seen some crazy sh*t tonight," "They cut your p*cker off," "Put out" (sexual), "I just got Greeked," "Jacking off," "Let's hear it for the big blur," "Dope fiend," "Chick," "Pissed off," "Shape-shifting lizard bitch," "Thanks for the mammaries" (instead of "memories"), "Get a life," "What the hell /was that/am I talking about?" "Screw up," "Don't blame the drugs," "Jeez," "How the hell would I know?" "Sucker," "Nads" (testicles), "Shut it," "C'mon hammer-head," "Screw it," "I must be nuts," "You're completely bonkers" and "Loser." Some kids may be enticed to experiment with drugs to experience such hallucinations as occurs in the film. About being taken in the purchase of a bicycle, Jim says he's been "Greeked" and makes the "f-you" gesture with his arm (about what happened to him). Jim tests a homemade silencer by firing a handgun with it, but it only amplifies the sound of the blast. Hearing that shot from his bedroom, Bob draws his gun, but nothing else happens. We see some miscellaneous tattoos. Ernie jumps up and playfully kicks Bob and Jim's butts simultaneously while between both of them. Charles hears a radio personality talking about committing suicide via downers and wine and prepares that for himself, but then goes to the liquor store to buy a more expensive bottle of wine (since his was cheap). He then takes the pills and has the wine, but then hallucinates (seeing a human type figure with many eyes all over its head). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 32 "f" words (1 used with "mother"), 22 "s" words, 1 slang term for sex ("put out"), 1 for male genitals ("p*cker"), 8 hells, 1 S.O.B., 3 uses of "Jesus," 2 of "Christ" and 1 use each of "Jesus Christ," "My God," "Oh God," "Oh Jesus," "Oh my God" and "Swear to God." SEX/NUDITY Charles is hallucinating from his drug use and imagines bugs crawling all over him and his place. He ends up showering (nothing explicit seen beyond his bare chest and back). Paranoid while on drugs, Charles worries that "they cut your p*cker off." Jim imagines a waitress being topless and thus we see her bare breasts (cartoon style). Talking about Donna and Bob, Jim says he knows for a fact that he never "gets in her pants." He goes on that junkies lose their interest in sex, talks about the swelling of organs from drugs affecting the sex drive, and that he's observed a failure in sexual arousal for her. Charles then says he can't believe she doesn't "put out." Jim then tells Charles he can show him how to sleep with her for less than three dollars, but Charles says he's not interested in that (he's only concerned with buying drugs from her). When the word "f*ck" is used, Bob sarcastically comments on not getting any of the latter in reference to Donna. Instead of singing "thanks for the memories," one of the guys jokingly amends that to "thanks for the mammaries." Donna shows some cleavage. About Jim not coming to his rescue when he earlier collapsed, Ernie sarcastically and angrily asks what Jim was doing, adding, "Jacking off?" There's narration about Charles's life, including that sixth grade was the year he discovered masturbation (we don't see anything regarding that). Donna invites Bob to go back to her place, drop some "death" (Substance D), and get some tequila. We then see both of them looking and acting high after unseen drug use. When Bob tries to get romantic with her, she recoils and explains that since she does a lot of coke, she has to be careful and thus tells him to leave her body alone. He then gets mad at her for turning him down, causing her to say she doesn't shoot up as she begs for him to come back. Bob and a woman passionately kiss, with her saying, "So you're gay," prompting him to reply, "I try not to be, that's why I called you." The woman starts to undress him and we then see both of them in bed post-sex, where she's lying asleep topless (we see her bare breasts). Bob later watches surveillance footage of their night together and we see (from a distance) sped-up footage of them having sex in various positions (showing movement and nudity, including his full frontal when he rolls over exhausted on the bed). Bob then focuses on the woman's bare torso, lifts the image from the recording, and projects it into his office (where we see more of her bare breasts). About being jailed, Jim asks that when he's locked down if he may be provided with lotion (presumably a masturbation reference). Donna shows some cleavage. SMOKING Jim smokes several times, while Bob's boss smokes once (after offering him a cigarette). Bob's boss offers him a cigarette, but Bob declines, saying he's getting off that (the boss smokes). TENSE FAMILY SCENES We see a flashback to Bob leading a normal life with his family, but being frustrated by that, stating that he hated his life in that nothing would change. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT There's talk of a drug called Substance D that many people are using and/or dealing, as well as a terrorist group that's manufacturing it. Bob uses the drug and is doing so as an undercover agent, but has become hooked on it and uses it when not on the job. We see a flashback to Bob leading a normal life with his family, but being frustrated by that, stating that he hated his life in that nothing would change. The paranoia that such drug use can bring on. There's talk of the drugs causing Bob to have a split-brain condition where one half tries to compensate for the other that's been impaired. We see Bob in rehab. VIOLENCE Charles imagines being pulled over by a cop who pulls a gun on him, then gets fed up and shoots him in the head. In a flashback, Bob accidentally hits his head on a kitchen cabinet door, and he has some blood on his fingers after touching his head. Police or other authorities zap a protestor with an electric wand and then abduct him. Reviewed June 22, 2006 / Posted July 14, 2006

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