Sundance: A Glitch in the Matrix

Director: Rodney Ascher

This documentary explores Simulation Theory, which posits that everything we know in the world and other universes is actually a simulation. Director Ascher interviews several people who are proponents of this theory and explores the theory's integration into pop culture and entertainment in films like The Matrix.

This is definitely an interesting theory and the film presents many different examples of how we might be living in a simulation. The theory has had many big supporters, Philip K Dick, Elon Musk, and even Neil DeGrasse Tyson think it's very possible.

I had never wondered what it would be like to be on drugs while watching a documentary but I think this is about as close as I'll get. Although the film does include interviews and face to faces with many scholars on the subject, it also features ones with everyday people who believe in the theory as well. In those particular interviews, the subjects have been animated over by "avatars" to cover their identity. It's jarring to listen to their stories while they look like big animated aliens or armor plated lions. It's all scored to a rousing sci-fi score and features many different computer generated simulations that accompany the stories.

The Matrix is one of my all time favorite movies so it was interesting to see how the conversation surrounding Simulation Theory really took off after that film. One such example was Joshua Cooke, who was influenced not only by its themes but by the music and clothing of the characters as well. If you don't remember who he is, you'll learn soon enough in one of the movie's most harrowing and incredibly dark chapters that inspired something that came to be known as "The Matrix Defense"

While it definitely took a darker turn than I was expecting, I still enjoyed this film that has interesting ideas. Ascher picks some very interesting subjects for his docs and this was no exception.

Grade: B