A Scanner Darkly, based on Philip K.Dicks semi-autobiographical 1977 novel, is a visually stunning film that uses a cinematic process called rotoscoping. Rotoscoping takes every live-action film movement (ie. each frame in the film) and stylistically repaints it. This enables the audience to engage in a world that is partly animated, partly existing in the physical realm. The technique also serves to enhance the essence of A Scanner Darkly: paranoia, hallucination, definitions of reality, human saga, surveillance and deception.In the not so distant future, a large proportion of our society become addicted to a widely-available drug called Substance D. The repercussions are fairly obvious - breakdown in self, breakdown in social interaction, general breakdown of society. Although this sounds simplistic, the film tackles these broad ideas in a fairly interesting way, although sometimes the plot is...well, really confusing. I will say, however, that the film does not fall into your category of typical "stoner/days of lost youth" films - there is definitely more socio-political consciousness behind it than that, and a certain bleakness that feels very genuine. This is a worthwhile film despite a convoluted plot, and it definitely has its moments in dialogue. Also a 'stellar' castdo well to sustain interest. '