One of the most common adages in the modern age is that once upon a time we used to log on to the internet to escape reality. These days we now retreat in to reality to escape the internet. The internet and technology have become such an integral part of our everyday lives that most of us aren’t truly aware of how far tech and computers have been able to reach in to the very core of our everyday existence. What began as science fiction and cheesy fodder for movies became a prophetic over arching theme in pop culture and cinema. Artists and creators predicted not only our consumption of technology but the gradual control technology has had on our lives.
Director Amanda Kramer’s “So Unreal” is a fascinating and interesting look at the evolution of technology and the various concepts of technology that have become common themes in cinema from the early eighties to the early aughts. Everything is pretty much explored from the paranoia of computers, the sentience of artificial intelligence, the sensationalizing of computer hackers, and the ability of the internet to completely ruin our lives. There are also metaphysical examinations on the cognizance of computers and products of technology.
Director Kramer combing through bits of pop culture including “DARYL,” “The Terminator,” “Lawmower Man,” and the like and dissecting how computers have yet to reach their limits. They not only can provided sensory and artificial experiences, but might also be able to mimic out of body experiences and provide a variation of immortality that we’re not probably prepared for quite yet. Director Kramer approaches the material with a fascination as well as a consistent sense of warning, as she constantly uses “The Matrix” as the bases for the entire documentary. Kramer goes over an exhaustive library of tech based films and television.
Kramer features fare like “The Matrix,” “eXisTenz,” and “The Net” to more obscure fare like “Arcade” and “Ghost in the Machine” to more underground fare like “Tetsuo: The Iron Man.” All things considered, I wish Kramer had garnered more insight from interviews with respective experts on the subject, as well as perhaps some authors or whatnot. I also would have loved a livelier narration as while Debbie Harry is fine, she tends to sound lethargic during a majority of the documentary. Nonetheless, “So Unreal” is a fascinating and engaging documentary on a great corner of cinema that was quite common place during the evolution of the internet and artificial intelligence.
Fantastic Fest 2023 is taking place from September 21st to September 28th at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas.