Disney Plus Dream Job: Tron

Introduction

Faculty, residents, and students at my university are participating in the Disney Plus Dream Job challenge to watch 30 Disney films in 30 days. Course directors successfully incorporated the 30 films (and shows) into our preexisting curriculum that teaches psychiatry to future physicians through film and other aspects of popular culture. Views Through the Psychiatrist’s Lens will publish daily blogs throughout the Disney Plus Dream Job challenge. Our seventh blog is on the 1982 film, Tron.

Synopsis

Inspired by Pong, Tron is a sci-fi film about a computer programmer who is transported inside the software world of a mainframe computer where he interacts with programs in his attempt to escape. At the time of this posting, the film holds a rating of 6.8 out of 10 on IMDb and a tomatometer rating of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes.

What it has to do with psychiatry

Tron depicts the trials of Flynn, a computer programmer as he is transported to and tries to escape from the software world of a mainframe computer. Interestingly, Tron was not nominated for best visual effects because the motion picture academy saw it as cheating to use computers to generate effects (1). Yet, the special effects are central to understanding the psychology behind the film. Specifically, Tron’s alternate reality prompts the clinician to explore a psychotic-dissociative cluster in determining what ails Flynn.

While it’s true that Flynn experiences derealization perhaps in the context of Internet Gaming Disorder (I know, there was no internet in 1982!), one must first rule-out the direct physiologic effects of a substance potentially inducing [Flynn’s] dissociative state. At this point, the hallucinogens jump to the top of our differential diagnosis, with (subclass) dissociatives the most likely cause. Common dissociatives include phencyclidine (PCP), ketamine, dextromethorphan, and Salvia divinorum. Might there be clues in the film that uncovers which dissociative drug Flynn took?

The discovery of the drug that induced Flynn’s dissociative state is central to understanding Tron (actually, it critical for both Trons). I believe that the film’s title stylized as TRON (hence TRONS) provides a clue to the answer we seek. Spelled backward, the TRONS give away the route of administration (of Flynn’s drug). Since dextromethorphan (liquid, capsules) and Salvia (leaves may be chewed or smoked) are not snorted, Flynn likely used PCP or ketamine (both may be snorted in

Figure 1. Green

Source: Anthony Tobia, MD

powder form). The latter is distributed as a liquid in small vials as well as powder and goes by the street name "green" (green Figure 1) making it the most likely etiology of Flynn's dissociative symptoms. Finally, in the second of the TRONS (Tron: Legacy, 2010), we're provided further proof that the main character has access to the dissociative anesthetic that's been diverted from a veterinary clinic (see teaser pic named Marvin).

Movements (tonic-clonic)

ARrhythmia

Vivid dreams; Visual hallucinations

Increased blood pressure and intracranial pressure

Nystagmus