MovieChat Forums > eXistenZ (1999) Discussion > DRUGS

DRUGS

posted 14 years ago by lotsofevil
3 replies | jump to latest

First and foremost, when watching this movie I immediately thought it was all an analogy for drugs and drug use. I don't think this requires any explanation at all. The scene where Pikul pauses the game and they are laying on the bed in reality reminds me so much of moments I have experienced while using drugs, especially psychedelics. Add to that the similarities between this and Naked Lunch, another of Cronenberg's famous drug analogies, and you gain an easy insight into the deeper meaning here.

I think the videogame concept is also very relevant, and perhaps the analogy is also being made between videogames and drugs, just as we see happening with movies and EV in videodrome.

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[–] akitosohma 14 years ago

Nah, man; I don't think so. This could be a drug influenced idea, but I didn't think there were really any analogies or themes that were drug use related. The movie experience itself, however, does resemble the mind-expanding, perceptive obliteration caused by hallucinogens. I'm definitely going to watch this again but after smoking some super dank.

P.S.: I HIGHly recommend "A Family Finds Entertainment" It can be found on the internet, it's only 40 min. long.

alright, here's a link:

http://www.ubu.com/film/trecartin_family.html

[–] PrimordialDreamer 14 years ago

I agree. It made me think of Terence Mckenna and his ideas and experiences about the future, psychedelics and technology. Anyway it`s a damn good film.

Eyes pop, skin explodes, everybody dead.

[–] benettfreeman 13 years ago

I'm in complete agreement. After he pauses the game, it is underlined very well the feeling you get after waking from a drug hallucination or a lucid dream. Once you do those things reality forever feels less real, and more 'game-like', and it takes a long time and often tragedy to remind you what is truly real.

The more aware one becomes of reality, the less real it seems. Its a defence mechanism against how horrible everything actually is in the big picture.