A Glitch in the Matrix explores the theory that we are living in a simulation, built around the writing of Philip K. Dick and the theories of philosopher Nick Bostrom.
Juxtaposing depictions of simulation theory in popular media with interviews with people who believe the hypothesis, along with archive footage of a speech Dick gave on the subject in 1977, Rodney Ascher’s film does not draw any conclusions, and nor should it, the implication being that this is tantamount to religious faith: that proof would require the system to fail.
Ascher makes some stylistic choices that do not pay off, attempting to depict simulations from – if you follow the theory – what must naturally be a very powerful computer with the computer generated illustrations of today, which detract a little from the end product, but his inclusion of the real life case of Joshua Cook grounds what could be a laugh and point exercise in some very real consequences.
The end result is almost two hours spent batting around the possibility of something being real with no way of proving it either way, an exercise in philosophy that, in the hands of a different filmmaker, could be engaging but one that Ascher largely fails to land. This will make you think, for a short while at least, but nothing much here will stay with you, in this reality or any other.
On Digital now, DVD/Blu-ray: May 10th
