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Member since:08.03.2001
Reviews:254
Members who trust:141
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”!)
Also produced the spin-off “Scanner Cop”. Hmmm.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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
Great review. Never seen this, and don't think I will after reading this, but it is well laid out, and very informative. x
jess0910 09.11.2001 19:34
Ya naughty man with your Kenneth Williams-style titles... And a good op as usual... Jess x
mbmb11 08.11.2001 12:57
Never saw this film but remember it being around when i was younger - unfortunatley i had those parents that made extra bleedin sure i didnt see anything i wasnt supposed to!
Mel x
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...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
![Scanners [DVD] [1981]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78012433.jpg "Scanners [DVD] [1981]")
Nov 8th, 2001
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