While high-end augmented reality devices like Microsoft’s HoloLens are still years away from being ready for the general public, the technology promises a whole new style of media that could literally change the way we see the world. For many people, this sounds like an exciting new frontier, but independent film director Keiichi Matsuda takes a darker look at the future of augmented reality in his new short film, “Hyper-Reality.”

Hyper-Reality is set in a nightmarish near-future where everyone sees the world through augmented eyes. This offers a number of benefits, such as knowing whether there is incoming traffic on the road even if you can’t see it, but the world Matsuda has envisioned is also swarming with intrusive advertising, with the flashing pop-up ads of the early internet leaping into the real world as you are sitting on the bus or walking down the road.

Even more terrifying is the picture Matsuda has painted of the future of the subscription service model, with people’s lives being defined by the mobile services they use, including what jobs they can hold.

Here’s the official description from the Hyper-Reality website:

Our physical and virtual realities are becoming increasingly intertwined. Technologies such as VR, augmented reality, wearables, and the internet of things are pointing to a world where technology will envelop every aspect of our lives. It will be the glue between every interaction and experience, offering amazing possibilities, while also controlling the way we understand the world. Hyper-Reality attempts to explore this exciting but dangerous trajectory. It was crowdfunded, and shot on location in Medellín, Colombia.

Hyper-Reality’s dark take on the future of intrusive advertising is hardly new. Similar themes have been explored throughout science fiction, especially in the cyberpunk genre.

You can watch the complete short film below:

Screenshot via Hyper-Reality | Vimeo