Their Thoughts Can Kill

Scanners is an unusual movie from the now acclaimed director David Cronenberg. Before Cronenberg hit the mainstream his focus was always on horror, shining examples being Shivers and Rabid, both shot in and around Toronto and Montreal, places he considered home. On his first rise of power in the directorial stakes came Scanners, a significantly different horror movie, that seemed dated even from its release.

Darryl Revock (Michael Ironside) too is a Scanner, except where Cameron is less than certain why he has his abilities and how to use them Darryl has a very good idea. Darryl is using his skills and abilities for less than reasonable means, and in doing so collecting an army of Scanners to do his bidding and get revenge on those who created them.

Despite the movie hailing from the very early 1980's there is little to prevent this looking like a product from the mid 70's. I guess however this was commonplace with Canadian movies of this time, and to be honest it gives the movie a lot of its charm. The lurid orange colours of the film stock that turn offer greenish tints at the drop of a hat, combined with the bland and often un-inspiring backgrounds and sets; make Scanners a unique looking movie before you even focus on the storyline.

Scanners has a slightly nauseas effect for those who are a little weak stomached when it comes to physical sickness. When characters are scanned by a Scanner they start to act like they are about to vomit, I have seen this effect have a rather queasy effect of fellow viewers of the movie over the years. The nosebleed that follows the onscreen characters nausea often proving the final straw for certain viewers. Personally I see nothing in this whole situation, but have certainly been on the receiving end of some rather unusual reaction.

Michael Ironside delivers menace as he always does regardless of what side he is on; while McGoohan best known from the TV series The Prisoner acts as an anchor and annoying sober soul. While Jennifer O'Neil whose real life tale is more interesting than any character ever put on screen, adds a little female influence as a female Scanner in this majorly male dominated cast.

One piece of the movie that sticks in my brain long after the movie has finished is the odd computer hacking incident between Cameron and what at the time would have been high technology computing. I guess this stands out 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.

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 libraries would charge to rent the movie.