Scanners

AVCO Embassy Pictures | Release Date: January 14, 1981

7.9	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 109 Ratings

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SpangleJan 13, 2017

Scanners is a David Cronenberg film, through and through. Though not strictly defined as a body horror film, Scanners still offers some elements of Cronenberg's beloved subgenre with blood vein effects and exploding heads. Nothing makes thisScanners is a David Cronenberg film, through and through. Though not strictly defined as a body horror film, Scanners still offers some elements of Cronenberg's beloved subgenre with blood vein effects and exploding heads. Nothing makes this man happier than to make his audience's skin crawl as we watch a body do something that it should not be doing. Scanners is no exception to this constant rule. Telling the story of a select group of people capable of scanning, a sort of telepathy, and the attempts to control them by a company called ConSec, leading to a underground group of Scanners, the film finds Cronenberg operating in similar thematic territory. Though he later refined this theme in films such as Videodrome or eXistenZ, his distrust of business and the horrid picture he paints of the underground is never not intensely scary. Yet, while the film has a lot going for it, the ending is far too much and almost shows Cronenberg lacking a way to actually end the film.

Now, of course, many of the scenes in Scanners are phenomenal. The classic head explosion being one of them, but the scene towards of the beginning when Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack) is first brought and the film shows him tied to a hospital bed, is the best by far. Scanning allows the person to hear the thoughts of everybody around them and, if they focus it on something, gain the thoughts of the person they link to. In this hospital scene, Cameron knows nothing about his unique trait and simply hears the voice. Complementing the rising intensity of the voices with a creepy score in the background, Cronenberg creates a scene laced with claustrophobia and the harder Cameron fights to get out, the more the audience can feel their skin crawling. This scene stands as a real highlight of the film and paints the scanners as a sympathetic group who have a great skill, but also a great curse. Cronenberg also finds success in the characterization of everybody, particularly his villain, who is hard to identify. Both people within ConSec and the underground are evil and seek nothing but world domination. By having ConSec know that a drug made a company gives fetuses this horrible disease and with Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside), leader of the underground, killing scanners who do not join him, it makes it hard to know who to root for. On one hand, we have an evil business that dabbles in morally unethical and illegal practices. On the other, we have a ruthless man who will stop at nothing to topple that company. Does the end justify the means? Probably not. Cronenberg never asks you to root for either side in the conflict, however, as he shows both sides to be negative forces. Those who control and those who commit violent acts are not to be rooted for and though this is a topic he will come back to later on his works, it is one he somewhat toys with in Scanners. Always inventive, Scanners reminds me a lot of Carrie by Brian De Palma with the scanners capable of incredible actions using nothing but their minds. People are burned, buildings set on fire, and people are thrown like rag dolls. Seems a lot like Carrie, minus the gratuitous shower shots in favor of good old micro effects to create the tension and horror. That said, Cronenberg does a lot with the plot and constantly keeps things moving. Good pacing and a mostly inventive plot allow the audience to constantly be engaging with the film and trying to get a grasp on this weird world of Cronenberg. That said, it is hard to define the film. Given the horrific acting, it is hard to say whether it is intentional or not. Cronenberg may have wanted to have wooden acting to highlight how emotionless and alien the scanners are, but everybody acts that way. Yet, one of the worst elements here is the finale. While the build up is great and always engaging, the finale is far too much. The whole film is over-the-top, but the finale takes it another step and goes right over the ledge. Perhaps I was too tired or something, but it struck me as Cronenberg simply running out of ideas and going for some mental gymnastics of a conclusion. Unfortunately, its mystery and inconclusive nature - while intriguing - do not help make up for Cameron and Darryl's epic scan off that causes their faces to melt and eyes to blow up.

A thoroughly weird film, Scanners is the definition of a David Cronenberg film. With bad acting and a poor conclusion, however, classic Cronenberg goodness runs out of speed towards the end. Fortunately, the proceeding 80 minutes are terrific, filled with tension, and a great build up.… Expand

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BatfanDec 7, 2013

Scanners is a classic. Realistic gore, great story, and an amazing performance by Michael Ironside. This is a very engaging movie. It has a very interesting plot also. Next to the force this is the power I want the most.

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marcmyworksJun 16, 2016

Scanners is a strong film from David Cronenberg that has stood the test of time. It really is a film with a message, that message being not to test drugs on unborn children, otherwise they might 'splode you.

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kyle20ellisMar 22, 2022

David Cronenberg and a vast majority of his films are fascinating and unlike any seen before. As said before, he was/is a pioneer of body horror, but on top of being disturbing and making one feel intentionally uncomfortable the best of hisDavid Cronenberg and a vast majority of his films are fascinating and unlike any seen before. As said before, he was/is a pioneer of body horror, but on top of being disturbing and making one feel intentionally uncomfortable the best of his work (the likes of 'Dead Ringers' and 'The Fly') entertain and stir emotion. They are very well made and more often than that boast great performances, with great music scores (mostly Howard Shore) and tackle daring themes in a way that is so unmistakably Cronenberg.

'Scanners' is an early film of Cronenberg. For me, it is not one of his very best or one of my top favourites of his, other films of his were more refined technically somewhat (a few innovative even, like 'Dead Ringers with the split screen) and tackled their themes deeper. It is though one of his best early films, one of his most ambitious early films in terms of themes and concept and perhaps the first "great" one. Ranking it among the rest of his filmoragphy 'Scanners' again from personal opinion is towards the top half.

While not quite one of his best looking films overall, 'Scanners' still does look impressive. Looking much better and more technically advanced than his previous films. There is a lot of atmosphere in the way 'Scanners' is shot and lit and the special effects blend well surprisingly and look much less cheap than a lot of horrors made later. Shore's score is suitably eerie, without ever being obvious, and adds a lot to the unsettlement, if not quite among my favourites of his Cronenberg collaborations. Prefer slightly when he went for the story's emotional core like he did wih particularly 'The Fly'.

Cronenberg's direction is accomplished enough, balances the ambitious (for this early period) expertly and how he depicts the body and how difficult it is to control it is one of 'Scanners' most intriguing assets. The script avoids being too cheesy or clunky and the story is much better than full on horror, which does genuinely disturb and surprise without being gratuitous, but there are elements of sci-fi, which intrigues and thrills, and thriller, where there is just about the right amount of suspense.

The set pieces in 'Scanners' are stunning and suitably churn the stomach. Much has been said for the exploding heads, deservedly so as it is one of the most memorable in any Cronenberg film, but the final apocalyptic battle is a sheer delight. When it comes to the acting, Patrick McGoohan is a welcome sympathetic presence, McGoohan did this trait very well, and Jennifer O'Neill does a lot with her role. The one that stuck out to me though was a deliciously evil Michael Ironside.

Only Stephen Lack's very "lacking" (sorry) acting is a drawback, so painfully limited.

Lack aside, 'Scanners' is otherwise a great landmark genre near-classic. 9/10… Expand

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Meth-dudeApr 30, 2018

Apart from the fun and over the top ending and that one exploding head scene, Scanners doesn't have much to offer. The acting is mediocre (except Ironside who was very entertaining), the movie was very slow and ultimately quite boring and itApart from the fun and over the top ending and that one exploding head scene, Scanners doesn't have much to offer. The acting is mediocre (except Ironside who was very entertaining), the movie was very slow and ultimately quite boring and it lacks in both gore and fun. If you're a fan of Cronenberg's filmography you might enjoy it, if not, you should probably watch something else.… Expand

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tooboredtoMay 26, 2023

the most mind blowing movie ever made. it's honestly rather inconsistent, but the special effects and scenes are worth waiting for.

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