The film is based both on the eponymous work by William S. Burroughs and the writer’s life. The main character, William Lee (the writer’s actual pseudonym), works as an exterminator. As he is spiraling deeper and deeper into drug addiction, he is no longer able to discern reality from fantasy; a fantasy where typewriters turn into talking bugs and he himself becomes a protagonist of a strange story of espionage. Peter Weller, who portrays the main character, managed to faultlessly imitate both Burroughs’s voice and mannerisms. – The film received eight Canadian Genie Awards (best motion picture, direction, adapted screenplay, cinematography, art direction, supporting actress, sound editing and overall sound), a New York Film Critics Circle Award for screenplay and two National Society of Film Critics Awards for screenplay and direction.