Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Stephen Lack, Jennifer O’Neill, Patrick McGoohan, Michael Ironside, Lawrence Dane, Robert Silverman, Lee Broker,
Running Time: 104 Minutes
Certificate: 18
Extras: My Art Keeps Me Sane – Interview with Star Stephen Lack, The Eye of Scanners – Interview with Cinematographer Mark Irwin, The Chaos of Scanners – Interview with Executive Producer Pierre David,
Exploding Brains & Popping Veins – Interview with Makeup Effects Artist Stephen Dupuis, Bad Guy Dane – Interview with Actor Lawrence Dane
SCANNERS is the film responsible for catapulting David Cronenberg into the big leagues. He had already come out with a series of cult classics, THE BROOD, RABID, and SHIVERS, but SCANNERS was the film that preceded his true classics VIDEODROME, THE FLY, and THE DEAD ZONE. Perhaps it was the confident way in which Cronenberg did so much with so little. Cronenberg himself has stated that this was the most frustrating film he’d ever made, and one could easily see why that might be the case.
SCANNERS is set in a world where certain people begin to develop telekinetic powers. Of course this sends the government agencies into a spiral of mistrust and panic as they lunge out in an attempt to control the situation. Cronenberg, as he usually does, uses his main plot to set-up a social commentary. Here we see individuals whose minds work in a completely different way to “normal” folk, and thus they are seen as potential threats. However, the majority of those in power wish to control those who are different. Control very rarely works, and so it is up to Dr. Paul Ruth (McGoohan) to show some understanding and convince newly discovered Scanner Cameron Vale (Lack) to go undercover and stop the extremist Scanner Darryl Revok (Ironside).
Over 20 years on many will say that SCANNERS has dated terribly, and in some respects they are right. But it is also a product of its time and is far more powerful because of its restraints. The battles between Scanners don’t comprise of huge displays of psychic abilities that we would doubtlessly be subjected to if a remake was to arrive. Instead, the battles are comprised of long and uncomfortable close-ups where the actors pull a bunch of faces and have to avoid making the audience laugh. When the effects do eventually surface, we are treated to the kind of body-horror that Cronenberg is known for, and it certainly still packs a punch. CGI gore will never be as disturbing as dog food and red paint.
The pacing is notably slower than you might expect from a sci-fi horror, and unfortunately Stephen Lack was obviously cast for his look rather than his ability to deliver lines. He is always capable of plastering a look of fear, confusion, and absolute power across his face, but every bit of dialogue is delivered in a monotonous tone that may serve the character, but it can also be very boring for the audience. This is a problem considering he is the protagonist, but Cronenberg also surrounds Lack with some truly charismatic supporting actors, especially the always wonderful Ironside and McGoohan.
Over the last two decades, SCANNERS has become famous for a few key scenes and effects. This has somewhat detracted from a genuinely riveting social commentary and 1980s aesthetic which combines to make a genuinely thrilling, if understated, look at how the public and society would react to telekinesis or any kind of mental abnormality. Good enough to make your head explode…almost.
SCANNERS is released on Blu-ray on 8th April with SCANNERS 2: THE NEW ORDER and SCANNERS 3: TAKEOVER also released that day all via Second Sight.
