4 things learned from EDC movie

Four things I learned from watching “Under the Electric Sky,” a 3-D documentary about the Electric Daisy Carnival, shot at EDC 2013, which opens today at AMC Town Square 18:

— It’s a 443-hour walk from Furney, Texas, to Las Vegas.

“Under the Electric Sky” is based, in part, on following the journey of various EDC-goers to the event. They come from all over the country, including a small town in Texas where electronic dance music culture is as foreign as modestly sized belt buckles. It’s here that we’re introduced to one young female electronic dance music fan who is so determined to get to EDC for the first time, that she actually plans to make the trek by foot if her ride falls through. She even goes so far as to plot her course for doing so. That’s determination.

— Yes, there are bros at EDC. No, they don’t wear shirts.

Another group of EDC revellers that the film follows is a bunch of sleeves-averse chaps from Cambridge, Mass., who travel to Vegas cross-country in a relative’s RV — a vehicle whose resale value plunges during the course of said trip. Their journey is tinged with sadness — one of their buddies died of a drug overdose and their voyage to EDC is, in part, a tribute to him. They honor their departed friend by holding up a basketball jersey with his name on it during the EDC festivities and working hard to maintain a wicked killah buzz, kid. Also, they brush with their beer at one point. Just like their friend would have wanted it.

— Yes, there’s drug use at EDC. No, the film doesn’t shy away from acknowledging as much.

At one point during “Electric Sky,” the cameras follow one of the medical workers who tends to partyers who may have partied a tad too much. One poor, semiconscious fellow is asked what year it is. “1913,” he responds. The movie doesn’t dwell on the subject of drug use at EDC, which is obviously a hot-button issue considering that two EDC attendees died during this year’s event. But you do see that they take the matter seriously, even if, at times, they appear to be limited to applying Band-Aids to a gushing wound.

— Experiencing EDC in a movie theater, with surround sound and 3-D visuals, is almost as good as being there — and even better if you’re averse to traffic and the sweat of strangers.

While “Under the Electric Sky” is focused more on various EDC fans than being a concert film, it does offer some incredible aerial crowd shots and views from the DJ booth during various performances that give you a taste of what being immersed in EDC feels like. And it feels like nothing else.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476. Follow on Twitter @JasonBracelin.