Scanners poster & wallpaper

Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Patrick McGoohan

A scientist sends a man with extraordinary psychic powers to hunt others like him.

Flixster Users

62% liked it

8,011 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

25 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Release Date: February 14, 1981

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DVD Release Date: August 28, 2001

Stats: 1,169 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,169)

  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    Classic Cronenberg, I love this film. The special effects are still good today, a CGI version would never be able to match the class of real gore of the films from the mid 70's- mid 80's. Michael Ironside should be the bad guy in all films, mind you, he pretty much is.
  • RCCLBC
    September 24, 2009
    RCCLBC
    An interesting premise, poorly executed.
  • stopitgoaway
    August 25, 2009
    stopitgoaway
    Well, were to begin?

    First off, when I first saw Scanners, it really didn't do that much for me. Nowadays, I've learnt to view the film through more enlightened eyes, and appreciate it for the masterpiece that is most rightfully is.

    Apart from the much-lauded 'exploding head' s...( read more)cene (which could have used a little more blood spattering everywhere) one of the film's most chilling scenes is at the very beginning when the lead character, Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack) causes a woman to have a fit in a shopping mall before being captured by a pair of heavies. The scene was so convincingly played out that it really shock me up.

    The more interesting aspect is the fact that most of these 'scanners'(or telepathic curiosities as the CEO of Consec calls them) are usually forced to live on the fringes of society as their telekinetic powers are feared and misunderstood by many. It would seem that the director, David Cronenberg, was using this plot device as a metaphor to comment on society's prejudicial attitudes towards the mentally ill. Like many of his low-budget horror films right up to 'The Fly' (1986) 'Scanners' has a very subversive, fly-on-the-wall take on society's ills. The modern society portrayed in 'Scanners' is a world viewed through the eyes of the outcast.

    Throughout the film, there is a general feeling of starkness, from the synthesiser-tinged score by Howard Shore, to the general sparse look of the film. This gives the viewer a rather apt feeling of coldness and isolation.

    Michael Ironside steals the show as the unhinged renegade scanner, Darryl Revok, who has a vast army of scanner converts at his disposal ready and willing to annihilate anyone unfortunate enough to stand in their way.

    The only down side, however is the casting of Stephen Lack as Cameron Vale. Although he makes a fairly decent effort of playing his part, Lack just doesn't seem to have that much-needed 'spark' to bring his character to life.

    All in all, 'Scanners' comes highly recommended as a 'must-see' feature.
  • evillincoln
    August 22, 2009
    evillincoln
    acting bad,
    head explosions, good
  • MalumMosIncrebresco
    March 19, 2009
    MalumMosIncrebresco
    "We're gonna do this the scanner way.
    I'm gonna suck your brain dry!"

    As I revisit most of Cronenberg's early work, I realize this director truly deserves to be among my favorites. Scanners makes use of a highly original premise, not so much with the subject itself, but ...( read more)with the way it portrays it. Back in those days, it took something special to talk about ESP phenomena such as psychokinesis and telepathy the way Cronenberg did, shaping and adjusting it into a factual, scientific discussion.

    Like most of this director's early work, Scanners relies on average acting, powerful message deliverance - social criticism is not unusual to find in his movies -, and shocking visual scenes that were sure to haunt you in those days.
    The combination is, as usual, explosive.
    Literally, in this case.

    Again, this movie can definitely be recommendable if you get what I'm on about, and if you relate yourself with such a specific genre and way of directing.

    This is not a horror movie. It's not a sci-fi movie either.
    This between both.

    It's a Cronenberg.

    If you're happy with that, then Scanners is for you.


    And you and I will get along just fine.
    Hopefully.
  • Hallez
    November 4, 2009
    Hallez
    it's about people with the ability to read minds and bend peoples will. scary thought, more so when you realise that those who could probably wouldn't even be aware to you.
  • ringoestrella258
    October 28, 2009
    ringoestrella258
    Mind blowing (sorry).
  • lezmartin
    October 11, 2009
    lezmartin
    Loved this film when it first came out,and have seen it a few times since,i love Cronenburg movies,in the main,so i still enjoy this one,,,,
  • hanmartin
    October 10, 2009
    hanmartin
    I'm sorry to say that Cronenberg has failed.
    Ironside manages to pull this one of though, compared to Stephen Lack or whatever his name is.
  • palejewel
    August 12, 2009
    palejewel
    my dad talks about the famous head explosion. and i want to see the whole movie now.

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Critic Reviews

October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Scanners is so lockstep that we are basically reduced to watching the special effects, which are good but curiously abstract, because we don't much care about the people they're happening around. full review

View more Scanners reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • JonnyMac78
    December 11, 2008
    JonnyMac78
    This is a fairly good movie with a surprising ending that no one could see coming. Plus,it has the best head exploding scene.
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Scanners Trivia

  • In the the David Cronenberg classic, Scanners, who played Daryl Revok?  Answer »
  • what movie had the tagline..10 seconds;the pain begins. 15 seconds;you can't breath. 20 seconds; you explode?  Answer »
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