Decoder (film)
Decoder is a 1984 West German film directed by Muscha. It is a cyberpunk and counter-cultural film loosely based on the writings of William S. Burroughs, who also acts in the film.
Plot
The film follows Jaeger, a government agent tasked with suppressing dissent. His efforts are disrupted when a musician discovers that replacing the calming background music at a burger shop with abrasive industrial music can spark riots, setting off a revolution.
Production
Decoder was made on a small budget and written by Muscha, Klaus Maeck, Volker Schäfer, and Trini Trimpop. Despite its limited resources, the production attracted a number of notable figures from the countercultural and industrial music scenes. The cast includes William S. Burroughs, Genesis P-Orridge, and Christiane Felscherinow. Bands whose music was featured in the film include Soft Cell, Psychic TV, Einstürzende Neubauten, and The The.
The film was considered "oddly forgotten" and remained largely inaccessible for many years. In 2019, it was re-released on Blu-ray and DVD by Vinegar Syndrome.