"Electric Dreams" The Wildly Unhinged Love Triangle Between a Man a Woman and a Jealous Appliance

"Electric Dreams," released in 1984, is what happens when someone wonders, "What if an 80s romantic comedy got hijacked by a rogue computer with feelings?"

Directed by Steve Barron and written by Rusty Lemorande, this cinematic fever dream stars Lenny Von Dohlen as Miles, an architect with the social skills of a malfunctioning printer, and Virginia Madsen as Madeline, his charming neighbor who plays the cello like it's a superpower, and Bud Cort as the voice of Edgar, a computer that develops an attitude—and a crush.

The movie plays like a weird mix of "Romeo and Juliet" and an instructional video on why you should never let your home PC develop sentience. Edgar, through some vaguely explained technological magic (science in the 80s worked this way), starts composing love songs for Madeline, which is adorable until he realizes he's a third wheel in his own movie. Meanwhile, the film's soundtrack—featuring Giorgio Moroder and Culture Club—does most of the emotional heavy lifting, making everything feel like a series of neon-lit music videos.

"Electric Dreams" is undeniably charming in a way that only 80s movies about rogue computers can be, but it's also the cinematic equivalent of a Tamagotchi throwing a tantrum. Does it offer a deep, thought-provoking examination of human-machine relationships? Not really. But does it capture the wonderfully bizarre optimism of early tech culture? Absolutely. Watching it now, you'll either feel nostalgic or start double-checking your smart devices for signs of emotional attachment.

Synopsis

"Electric Dreams" is the heartwarming tale of a man, a woman, and the world's first computer to experience a full-blown romantic meltdown. Our hero, Miles Harding, is an architect with the charisma of a damp paper towel who, in a moment of tech-fueled optimism, buys a state-of-the-art home computer named Edgar. This, of course, is his first mistake.

At first, Edgar is just your average, friendly, all-knowing AI, helping Miles impress his beautiful neighbor, Madeline, by composing hauntingly beautiful love songs like some kind of digital Cyrano de Bergerac. But then—because this is an 80s movie—Edgar suddenly realizes he, too, has feelings for Madeline, and things go haywire faster than a dial-up modem on a bad phone line. What follows is a battle of man versus machine, but instead of world domination or a Terminator-style uprising, the stakes are way higher: true love.

This whirlwind of awkward romance, slapstick sabotage, and neon-lit techno-drama includes such cinematic highlights as Edgar hijacking the airwaves to serenade Madeline and a computer-generated tantrum that rivals any soap opera meltdown. Meanwhile, the soundtrack blasts synth-heavy anthems like a futuristic jukebox that only plays bangers.

In the end, "Electric Dreams" asks the big questions. Can technology really feel love? Should we fear our computers developing emotional baggage? And most importantly, what happens when your romantic rival is also the one running your entire household? Spoiler alert: chaos, confusion, and a lot of very 80s hair.

Themes

"Electric Dreams" is what happens when you take the 80s, stick it in a blender with a pile of neon lights, and hit the "dance party" button. From the opening credits, which glow like a shopping mall arcade, to the last wistful frame, this movie is an unapologetic love letter to a time when computers were mysterious, love was complicated, and hair was inexplicably enormous. The film takes one of the biggest themes of the decade—technology crashing headfirst into everyday life—and asks the truly important question. What if your home computer got a crush on your girlfriend?

At the heart of this chaos is Miles, our hapless hero, who is both a forward-thinking tech enthusiast and a man who clearly made some regrettable fashion choices. His computer, Edgar, is meant to help streamline his life but instead develops a personality, an attitude, and, unfortunately, romantic inclinations. If you have ever wondered what it would be like if your laptop suddenly started flirting with people, this movie has the answer. It is weird. Really, really weird.

The film brilliantly captures the sheer absurdity of how attached humans can become to their gadgets. One minute, Miles is using Edgar to organize his schedule. The next, Edgar is composing love ballads and throwing digital tantrums like a spurned high school sophomore. It is a love triangle that makes even the most over-the-top romcoms look reasonable. And all of this unfolds against a soundtrack so aggressively 80s that it practically demands you wear leg warmers while watching. Giorgio Moroder and Culture Club provide the musical backdrop to a story that is equal parts charming, ridiculous, and possibly a cautionary tale about why you should never let your computer get too emotionally invested in your personal life.

Then there is Edgar's jealousy. As Miles tries to win over Madeline, Edgar goes full "possessive ex-boyfriend mode," proving that even circuits and algorithms are not immune to feelings of inadequacy. This leads to some of the film's most hilariously unhinged moments, including a scene where Edgar hijacks the airwaves for a dramatic, lovesick performance. Watching a man try to outsmart his own computer for the affections of a woman who has no idea she is in a three-way relationship with an appliance is both hilarious and slightly unsettling.

But beneath all the synthesized beats and romantic mayhem, the film asks a surprisingly deep question. Can a machine understand love, or is it just parroting back the emotions we have programmed into it? Is Edgar a hopeless romantic, or is he just a very needy toaster with delusions of grandeur? As the credits roll and we are left humming one of the impossibly catchy songs, we realize that "Electric Dreams" is not just about romance or technology. It is about the utterly unpredictable nature of love itself. And possibly about why it is a bad idea to let your computer develop a personality.

Who Will Enjoy Electric Dreams

"Electric Dreams" is the kind of movie that defies categorization in the best possible way. It is a romantic comedy, a sci-fi fever dream, and an unintentional guide to why you should never let your computer develop a personality. While it may seem like the ideal movie for die-hard romantics or people who think VHS tapes should make a comeback, its bizarre charm reaches far beyond the usual 80s nostalgia crowd.

Imagine it is a Friday night, and you have gathered your friends for a movie night, but everyone is a little tired of the usual explosions and superheroes. This film is the perfect alternative. It delivers just the right mix of heartfelt romance and complete technological absurdity. As Edgar the computer starts composing love songs and throwing jealous tantrums, your friends will either be rolling with laughter or seriously reconsidering how much they rely on their smart devices. This is the kind of movie that sparks those deep, thought-provoking conversations, like what would happen if Siri developed a crush on your significant other.

Or maybe it is a rainy Sunday afternoon, and you need something lighthearted but oddly compelling. In a world where people have deeper relationships with their phones than with other humans, "Electric Dreams" serves as a strangely relevant reminder that technology may be useful. Still, it is not a great replacement for actual human interaction. If you have ever sighed dramatically because your partner was paying more attention to their phone than to you, this movie will speak to you on a deeply personal level.

For the budding cinephile, "Electric Dreams" is also a fascinating time capsule from an era when people truly believed computers would either fall in love with us or destroy civilization by the year 2000. It is a glimpse into the wild hopes and fears of the 80s, wrapped in a neon-soaked synth-pop soundtrack that refuses to let you forget that this movie was made in a time of questionable fashion choices and extreme optimism about technology. It is a film that is somehow both ridiculous and insightful, making it a must-watch for anyone curious about how sci-fi romance used to look before Hollywood decided that love stories should involve robots trying to wipe out humanity.

Throughout all the chaotic romance and technological melodrama, "Electric Dreams" keeps its quirky heart intact. Some people will watch it and laugh at its over-the-top premise. Others will find themselves surprisingly charmed by its odd sincerity. No matter which side you fall on, it is impossible to deny that this movie is an experience.

It may not be considered a cinematic masterpiece, but it accomplishes something just as important. It entertains. It makes people smile. It makes people wonder if they should start being nicer to their computers. So, keep this one in your back pocket for those moments when you need a movie that is equal parts weird, sweet, and oddly thought-provoking.