Watching Audioscopiks: A 3D Movie That Forgot to be 3D

Should you watch Audioscopiks? Only if you have a soft spot for oddball vintage shorts that feel like they were discovered in a dusty attic. If you are looking for a cohesive story, keep walking. If you enjoy seeing 1930s technology try to punch above its weight, you might get a kick out of this.

Pete Smith is doing his best here, talking over the screen with that classic, booming mid-Atlantic cadence. He sounds like he is trying to sell you a vacuum cleaner while also explaining the secrets of the universe. It is a bit much, honestly. 🔊

The 3D Illusion (That Isn't There)

The whole gimmick is that they are showing you these 'depth' effects. Since you are watching it in 2D, it mostly just looks like blurry, layered paper cutouts. It reminds me a bit of the technical desperation you see in Flim Flam Films where the medium is fighting the message.

There is this one shot of a guy throwing a ball that lingers for an eternity. It is meant to feel like it is popping out of the screen, but it really just feels like a blurry circle moving in a straight line. I found myself staring at the background extras, who look like they have no idea why they were asked to stand there.

• The narration is relentless.
• The 'depth' feels like someone squinting really hard.
• It is mercifully short.

I cannot help but compare the general vibe of this to something like Kilauea Volcano. Both are essentially 'look at this cool thing' pieces, but at least the volcano doesn't try to trick your eyes with cardboard-looking depth. This film is just a fascinating failure of visual ambition.

If you have ever wondered what a 1930s fever dream about optics looked like, here you go. It is not profound. It is barely even a movie. But it is definitely something you will remember for the next hour, and then probably never think about again. 🎞️