... And yes, Scanners is one such movie.
The premise is a fantastic one. There are a number of people in the world called Scanners (like the title, get it?), who have the ability to tune into people’s minds and make them do whatever they want. Kind of like Jesse Custer in the comic book ... Read review
David Cronenberg's 1981 horror filmScannersis a darkly paranoid story of a homeless man ... more
(Stephen Lack) mistakenly believed to be insane, when in fact he can't turn off the sound of other people's thoughts in his telepathic mind. Helped by a doctor (Pat...
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David Cronenberg's 1981 horror filmScannersis a darkly paranoid story of a homeless man ... more
(Stephen Lack) mistakenly believed to be insane, when in fact he can't turn off the sound of other people's thoughts in his telepathic mind. Helped by a doctor (Pat...
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Cameron Vale is living on the fringe of society self-induced due to his telepathic ... more
ability to read other people's minds. Darryl Revok has the same condition and is the head of an underground association of so-called Scanners that want world domination. When Vale is taken to Dr Paul Ruth as a result of supposed insanity he's enlisted into a program that will involve him in a battle against his fellow Scanners.
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Production Year: 1991 - Science Fiction & Fantasy - Director: Russell Mulcahy - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Virginia Madsen, Michael Ironside, John C. McGinley, Sean Connery, Christopher Lambert
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Advantages: Good effects, Patrick McGoohan Disadvantages: Boring, overlong, withdrawn, sterile, cold, fragmented...
...are fundamentally sh*te. And yes, Scanners is one such movie.
The premise is a fantastic one. There are a number of people in the world called Scanners (like the title, get it?), who have the ability to tune into people’s minds and make them do whatever they want. Kind of like Jesse Custer in the comic book “Preacher”, only they don’t need to talk. They have heightened ESP powers that can cause nosebleeds, epileptic ... ...try Scanners 2 – The New Order (dir: Christian Duguay of The Art of War ‘fame’ – and yes! Scanners 3 – The Takeover, which has the great tagline “Get ready for the ultimate display of brain power”!)
Also produced the spin-off “Scanner Cop”. Hmmm.
... more
There’s something I hate about old films, and that’s people who rate them because they laid the foundations for others to come, despite the fact that they are fundamentally sh*te. And yes, Scanners is one such movie.
The premise is a fantastic one. There are a number of people in the world called Scanners (like the title, get it?), who have the ability to tune into people’s minds and make them do whatever they want. Kind of like Jesse Custer in the comic book “Preacher”, only they don’t need to talk. They have heightened ESP powers that can cause nosebleeds, epileptic attacks, and more fatal results. Whatever they desire.
These deadly individuals have formed underground groups, some good and some bad, of which Stephen Lack (playing Cameron Vale) is one. He is not aware of his full potential, and after making an old lady freak out for looking at him funny in a crowded mall, he is captured and put in the care of Patrick McGoohan’s (The Prisoner) kindly Doctor Paul Ruth. He works for an organisation - COMSEC - that is trying to capture a deranged Scanner and bring him to justice. Like Nikita, Vale is groomed and trained in the art of Scanning (er, except Nikita used guns, obviously), and is set loose to find the evil Darryl Revok (a typical Cronenberg dodgy surname – yay!) played by the terrifically average Michael Ironside from out of Robocop and Total Recall.
And so the stage is set for what could have been a riveting thriller, with people going crazy mad all over the place, and much unnecessary gore. Yet, for David Cronenberg, the supposed master of body horror, this is as reliable as a condom with the end cut off. Insert one love interest, unhelpful and paranoid underground (not literally) Scanner groups, and stir until simmering. Oh dear, someone left the gas off.
The money shot is used up in the first 10 minutes, leaving us pretty much cold as people burst into flames (like Stephen King’s Firestarter), fall down go boom and go all veiny. This is one of those kinds of films that you can tell has little going for it by the sleeve. It quotes an unnamed source on the front – “Cronenberg’s best film to date (it was released in 1981 dear reader)… exceptionally good”. The title reads “DAVID CRONENBERG THE DIRECTOR OF CRASH” – hardly a recommendation. This is more tepid that a half hour old cup of Bovril. And less satisfying.
To be fair, the movie is billed as science fiction, but Cronenberg’s distant direction fails to pull you in as much as, say, The Fly, which has a certain humanity to it. This being one of his early works, expect overacted laughter, people standing around a bit, very annoying sound effects, and a complete lack of concern for any of the principal players. The best thing about owning this video is fast forwarding to the much lauded head explosion scene, then all the way through to the pretty cool ending, which features – yes! A bleak twist, reminiscent of Videodrome.
The score is typical of the era it came from (1981). It’s a cheap knock off of John Carpenter’s stylings, all electronic tweets and blarps, and my god - put a bit of cheese against it and you’re all set. It grates.
As for the acting, Patrick McGoohan is the only person who comes out of this with any dignity, apart from one “Dr Evil” lip to finger moment near the end. Michael Ironside proves why he’s never been a leading man, and the good Scanner played by Stephen Lack – well, let’s just say the man needs four more letters on the end of his surname – i, n and g. It must be tricky to act your mind affecting someone else’s, but here it’s just wobbly head, grunts, and your Dad’s sister in law is married to Robert.
I have been an unfortunate victim of kid memory with this film. As a kid I saw lots of movies I wasn’t supposed to – Alien, The Thing, Chariots of Fire… and only key scene suck in my mind. This was what drew me to this movie – curiosity and closure. Sadly, I only got the latter. I really cannot un-recommend this enough. None of the style of Dario Argento, less gore than an early Peter Jackson flick, and colder than Vinegar Tits from Prisoner Cell Block H in a deep freeze. In space. Eating a Screwball. The most profound effect this had on me was deciding what CD to put on in the background so I didn’t have to suffer the WEEEAGGROOO sound effect every time someone is Scanning.
Don’t waste your time. The most interesting thing about the movie is the title it was given in Canada – “Telepathy 2000”. Go see Jeepers Creepers.
~~~ Like this (hope not) – try Scanners 2 – The New Order (dir: Christian Duguay of The Art of War ‘fame’ – and yes! Scanners 3 – The Takeover, which has the great tagline “Get ready for the ultimate display of brain power”!)
Advantages: original storyline Disadvantages: showing its age
...knack, (Naked Lunch in particular,) Scanners is a twisted future world where a company called CONSEC controls everything and employ mind-reading mutants to help them. If a 'scanner' doesn't join the organisation, then they are destroyed by those working for the company. The plot develops as the CONSEC employed ultra nasty Revok, (played by Michael Ironside,) decides to rid the world of all other scanners, including his brother, Vale Cameron,(Stephen ... ...by CONSEC's Dr Ruth, (Patrick McGoohan of 'The Prisoner' fame,) but now he has rebelled and is attempting to discover the conspiracy and secrets behind his mutation.
The film peaks as the downfall of CONSEC is inevitable, and brother fights against brother. Like most horror movies the real interest in this film is with the special effects, as everytime a scanner looks at you, he can make your pulse race, your blood boil and your head explode. ...
peel.rebekah 16.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Scanners (DVD)
Just befor xmas i purchased a scanner ,it is a visioneer one touch scanner
7600 usb with paper port software and photo suit 11 se.
It has a built in ocr with 36 bit color and is what it says one touch.
setting up was no problem and is giving me some super copies.
NOW THE BEST BIT i brought this from a currys shop for £39.99..then only two days later i saw it in tempos under a different name ,exactly the same scanner ,same buttons same software,but ... ...looking for a very good scanner at half the price go for this one you will not be disapointed.Visioneer have their own web site if you want to check it out
iam in the scanner page but the fields to fill in are about films so ignore please
happy scanning ...
garybaldi 09.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Scanners (DVD)
Hi this is Teaspoons, oppinion of the best horror films of the 80,s
here goes....
1.The Evil Dead..Sam Raimi,s wonderfully,over the top zombie flick.
2.A Nightmare On Elm St..Wes Craven,s classic.
3.The Thing..John Carpenter,s Gory remake
4.The Shining..Kubrick,s and Nicolson,s tour de force
5.The Burning..Still banned ..excellent
6.Re.Animator..Very underated horror with laughs,see it if you can
7.Day of th Dead..Romero,s blood soaked,zombie ...
TEASPOON 02.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Scanners (DVD)
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Advantages: Classic Cronenberg horror Disadvantages: No special features, can be confusing
more to me because at the time that the movie was released far more powerful personal computers were available in the home, further aging this odd movie.
I enjoy Scanners, but it is very much a typical Marmite (Yeast Extract) scenario where you either love it or hate it. Scanners is an effective horror tale that looks impressive on a big screen with decent sound, it all adds to the atmosphere that a smaller screen often cannot offer.
Scanners is now only available as part of a boxset or as a basic DVD from Anchor Bays budget range in the UK, either DVD is lacking in special features, subtitles, alternate languages, and audio commentary. A matter made more amusing by the DVD's menu system which literally has one option. On the plus side you can pick up Scanners from play.com for a more than reasonable £2.99 that's less than most DVD ...
sghawken 11.03.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Scanners (DVD)
Advantages: Saddening, deep and surreal Disadvantages: Can be difficult to follow
Video
DVD Release Date: 22 Jan 2007
Run Time: 120 minutes
Number of discs: 1
DVD Features:
? Main Language: English
? Available Audio Tracks: Dolby Digital Surround 5.1
? Director's commentary
? One Summer in Austin: The Story of Filming ?A Scanner Darkly?
? The Weight of the Line: Animation Tales
? Theatrical trailer ...
Advantages: funny yet dark, superbly made with an excellent script Disadvantages: will not be to everyones taste
Report was based on his book by the same name and starred Tom Cruise
? Screamers is based on the short story Second Variety and starred Peter Weller
? Paycheck directed by Jonh Woo starring Ben Affleck and Uma thurman was based on a Dick short story by the same name
? And Nicholas Cage?s film 'Next' that came out last month is also based on a Dick short storycalled the Golden Man
Most of those films have been quite sucessful and some have been quite good so I gave this film a watch and, almost despite myself, really enjoyed it
A Brief synopsis of the story:
Scanner Darkly is set in California in a not too far distant future where America has lost the war on drugs. The most dangerous narcotic, a highly addictive and debilitating illegal drug called Substance D, which at first causes a dreamy state of intoxication with bizarre ...
An evil man, with the power to explode other people's heads with his own thoughts, plots to rule the world. The only way to stop him is to find someone with equally powerful brainwaves...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
ARROW FILMS; FREMANTLE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Release date
20/09/1999
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
FCD 064
Barcode
5027035001562
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Sound
Mono
Dubbing Sound
Mono English
Professional reviews
Review
"...[The] modernistic natural locations have been exceedingly well chosen and are beautifully complimented by Mark Irwin's sharp lensing..." (Variety, 21/01/1981)
DVD Description
Scanners are men and women born with incredible telepathic and telekinetic powers. This breed of superbrains was developed as an accidental side effect of a tranquilizer administered to some women during pregnancy. Cameron Vale is one such scanner, and he, like most of those with similar powers, exercises the benefits of his special gifts in a safe and judicious manner. But a group of renegade scanners, led by the nefarious Revok, plans to create a race of telepathic ubermenschen who will rule the world. Vale must team up with a like-minded female scanner in order to thwart the plans of the fiendish gang. The protracted end game between Revok and Vale is heightened by a dark secret which is shockingly revealed just before their duel begins.
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