Funny this movie wasn't publicized much. I only heard about it from two sources, one of which was a trailer downloaded from a stranger's web site a while back, the other in which it was referenced on a DVD director's commentary. Based on the strength of those, I knew I had to see it. Tonight, while browsing the Video Station's supreme selection, it seemed like the perfect chance. (And yes, when I saw the claim on the back of the box stating something to the effect this movie being above and beyond The Matrix, I was highly skeptical.)

Now I have seen it, and I can say that such a claim is not that much of an exaggeration. When I put this one into the player, I was not quite sure what to expect. What I got was a royal mind bender of the Nth order. This one is truly worthy of being classified as one of the modern greats, right up there with Dark City, The Matrix, and, if we are to go back a few years, Total Recall.

Almost from the very start, the tingles begin. Every moment, even when there was no "big action" taking place, I was on the edge of my seat, feverishly wondering what was going to happen next. Things just keep twisting and turning in bizarre directions. You try to guess what's about to happen, based on typical movie formula experience, and it doesn't. In fact, what does happen makes no sense whatsoever, except in the strange realm in which this movie takes place.

After, say, 20 minutes into the movie, the non sequiturs which had been piling on top of one another continuously since the beginning started to become expected. Slowly, the realization sank in. My inner narrative questioning voice which had repeatedly been screaming "WHY?" at every scene gradually got the point; this desire for rationality would never be answered by this piece of celluloid (not really celluloid, but you get the point).

The obsurd became expected. But still, the twists and turns were intoxicating. They continued to be so all the way up to the end credits. Absolutely crazy. Mindfuck.

This is probably one of those types of films where the less you know about the plot upon first viewing, the better the experience. Therefore, I will not even attempt to summarize what it's about. (Any such attempts would likely fail miserably anyway, given the elusive subject matter here.)

Wowee. I just might have to buy myself a copy of this one, even though it's just a barebones DVD with no extras. The substance of this one literally begs for a commentary track though. Oh well. I guess I'll settle for just a great film. I'm still reeling from psychological shockwave of first viewing. Whew!