Richard Linklater’s cinematic interpretation of Philip K. Dick’s A Scanner Darkly features Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson and Winona Ryder covered in thick coats of animation and running around in a nightmarish world of drugs, paranoia, and conspiracy. Augmenting the tension of the story is Graham Reynolds’
dark and affecting accompanying soundtrack. Employing everything from upright bass to violins, cellos, oboes, saxophones and well-placed pedal steel, Reynolds’ compositions are a thoughtful blend of spare strings and melancholic chamber pieces, which veer from moving to ominous throughout the soundtrack. From the lonely country of “Strawberry Pie� to the wobbly loops of “Sex, Beer and Pills� to the underwater grind of “Are You Experiencing Any Difficulties?� A Scanner Darkly is a rich score that doesn’t skimp on tension or dark foreboding.
-Alex Green
(Release date: June 27, 2006)
