MOVIE
$7, Plus Popcorn
21st-century Twilight Zone
Andy Grove's dream of a ubiquitous Internet twists into a nightmare of technological alienation in Virtual Insanity.
Filmmakers Cynthia Knight and Simon Webb spin a tale around Daniel, a self-absorbed Web jockey who simply wants to introduce his fiancée to the parents. Like in Rod Serling's more effective Twilight Zone episodes, Virtual Insanity begins in a seemingly normal town. Of course, all is not as normal as it seems. In Des Pins, everything has literally gone virtual. Instead of sitting in a tavern filled with his beer-swilling bros, Daniel gets an email asking him to log on and buy a round at www.local-drinking-buddies.com.
The Twilight Zone worked because it kept the moral obscure. Virtual Insanity is transparent from the first frame: Traditions like the local bar are overrun by technology.
Still, the film's production value and solid performances make for an entertaining 10 minutes.
For screening schedule: www.virtualinsanitythemovie.com.
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