Electric Dreams

The first feature on director Steve Barron’s CV – which would later include frequent child nightmare fuel The Adventures of Pinocchio – this 1984 Rusty Lemorande-penned story gets zapped to life thanks in large part to synth extraordinaire Giorgio Moroder’s score. Of course, that’s not the case in the actual film, where protagonist Miles (Leonard “Harold Smith from Twin Peaks” Von Dohlen) actually spills sentience into his PC via a knocked over champagne bottle. He’s then cucked by his computer, now going by Edgar, after it composes a partner piece to his hot neighbor Madeline’s (Candyman’s Virginia Madsen) cello practice performance. When he takes credit for the composition, a love triangle takes hold between man, machine, and musician that can only end in technological tears. Hyperreal programmer Morgan Hyde recommends the film for “fans of electronic music, weird little dudes, and kissing robots.” – James Scott