So Unreal

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So Unreal

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1h 41m

Documentary

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90%

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10 Reviews

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A documentary that is both a history and philosophical exploration of cyberspace cinema, from 1981-2001 (The Matrix, Tron, Tetsuo, eXisTenz and beyond). Narrated by pop culture icon Debbie Harry, the film examines cinema as a conduit for humanity's fear, anxiety, elation and obsession over the emerging technology at the end of the millennium.

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Tara Judah

Sight & Sound

A cyberpunk nostalgia trip told in six parts, Kramer’s historical cultural break down is a film analysis portal akin to Morpheus’s red pill.

Feb 12, 2025

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

As with most visual essays, there's a limit to the effectiveness of such an informational blast, and while Kramer has a defined presentation for "So Unreal," the feature wears thin in its second half.

Rated: B

Nov 2, 2025

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Stephen Dalton

The Film Verdict

Amanda Kramer's debut documentary trawls classic sci-fi and cyberpunk cinema seeking cautionary clues about our current age of digital dystopia.

Mar 10, 2024

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Erik Childress

Movie Madness Podcast

A cinematic essay that tries to oversell its thesis but still feels like an unformed collection of notes from an eager student that almost tries to blame the movies for our complacence towards A.I. while also ignoring one timely and telling title.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 15, 2023

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Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

This documentary feels overstuffed and is somewhat laborious to sit through, especially when paired with Debbie Harry’s sleepy narration, but cinephiles and fans of science fiction should really get a kick out of it.

Oct 9, 2023

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Nadine Whitney

AWFJ.org

So Unreal is a remarkable philosophical visual essay which delves deep into the psychology of cinema and audiences.

Oct 4, 2023

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Amanda Kramer

Director

Debbie Harry

Narrator

Amanda Kramer

Writer

Britt Brown

Writer

Amanda Kramer

Screenwriter

Britt Brown

Screenwriter

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Synopsis

A documentary that is both a history and philosophical exploration of cyberspace cinema, from 1981-2001 (The Matrix, Tron, Tetsuo, eXisTenz and beyond). Narrated by pop culture icon Debbie Harry, the film examines cinema as a conduit for humanity's fear, anxiety, elation and obsession over the emerging technology at the end of the millennium.

Director: Amanda Kramer
Producer: Amanda Kramer, Benjamin Shearn, Joe Yanick
Screenwriter: Amanda Kramer, Britt Brown, Amanda Kramer, Britt Brown
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 41m