Scanners II: The New Order Blu-ray Review

Director: Christian Duguay

Starring: David Hewlett, Deborah Raffin, Yvan Ponton, Isabelle Mejias, Tom Butler, Raoul Trujillo, Vlasta Vrana,

Running Time: 104 Minutes

Certificate: 18

In SCANNERS II: THE NEW ORDER we join the world established in David Cronenberg’s original, a few years down the line which hasn’t changed much at all. We begin our journey with a jump into a very 1990s arcade setting, where unbalanced Scanner Drak (Trujillo) uses his telekinetic skills to control a video game. The bright lights and techno sounds that fill the arcade are a perfect setting to demonstrate to the audience just how hectic and confusing the mind of a Scanner must be.

Drak is soon taken to a facility lead by John Forrester (Ponton), a cop with huge ambitions. Drak may be willing to execute some of Forrester’s nastier wishes, but Forrester also needs somebody he can rely on. Enter David Kellum (Hewlett) a Scanner looking for a simple life, but whose naivety may lead him down a path of sin.

SCANNERS II: THE NEW ORDER does exactly what a direct-to-video sequel should do, and that’s distance itself from the original but still explore the major themes of the premise. In many ways this film is very much the equal of the Cronenberg cult classic, as it really examines the moral implications of mind control. As Forrester battles for control, he is doing it for a just reason, at least in his mind. He believes he can make the world a better place, but that means innocent people will have to die. Our supposed hero Kellum is also not all he’s cracked up to be. He goes along with the plans at first, and it is even suggested he uses his powers to make his girlfriend want to sleep with him. These in depth decisions make for a very interesting watch, which is essential given the reduction in effects.

The powers of the Scanners are also explored to a greater degree, with the final twist of the last film being played out in a nail biting sequence. The acting is also fairly consistent across the board, with Trujillo giving us a manic and cartoonish villain we love to hate, but also touching upon how he was outcast by society and lacks understanding of his gift. He is the constant reminder of what Kellum could become. Hewlett also gives a multilayered performance, starting off as a man using his powers for good as he helps the police crack a case, but allows the power to get to him. He does make mistakes, he does show remorse, and that makes him interesting and relatable.

The film may lack the visceral aesthetic that gave SCANNERS so much of its character, but with a steady pace throughout that erupts like an exploding cranium in the finale, this is an impressive and underappreciated sequel. It also ends on a power ballad, what more do you want?

SCANNERS II: THE NEW ORDER is released on Blu-ray by Second Sight on 8th April. SCANNERS and SCANNERS III: THE TAKEOVER  are also released that day.