Scanners

Scanners (1981) 4K and Blu-ray 2NDBR4241BD-TM



David Cronenberg’s pulpy future shock thriller returns in a 4K and BluRay restoration to light the fires of sci-fi gorehounds anew. It comes with a wealth of special features including cast and crew interviews, commentaries a 120 page book and much more besides. With a nod to ‘The Man With The X-Ray Eyes’ in terms of plot, ‘Scanners’ is essential viewing for any fan of these genres.

The plot could have been an unused ‘red scare’ film script from the 1950’s involving people with special mental abilities roaming on the margins of society, gradually growing in strength and influence for their intended takeover of society. With typical Cronenbergian touches like questionable medical practices, amoral doctors and secret laboratories, the tight story rattles along with regular outrageous set pieces that still have the power to shock, even disgust.

A down and out young man, Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack-Dead Ringers) plagued by voices in his head, is trying to look inconspicuous in a shopping mall, when he is spotted and judged by a pair of snobbish gossipers. Pity these two, as they are unaware of Vale’s ability to read their thoughts and rip their minds to shreds. A crazy chase through the mall, hanging precariously onto escalator handrests and he escapes, eventually meeting Dr. Paul Ruth (Patrick McGoohan – The Prisoner, Danger Man, Ice Station Zebra) a scientist who believes he can help Cameron and others like him to adapt to society. In opposition to this is Dr. Ruth’s nemesis, Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside-Total Recall) who heads a sinister cabal of scanners with very different intentions.

Taking place in the shopping malls, offices and hospitals of 1980’s Canada, the film now has an added layer of other worldliness. These concrete shells with brightly coloured interiors are a mid-century architecture fan’s dream, as if the 1950’s had been placed in a petri dish and the cutesiness surgically removed, leaving only an icy-cold sci-fi world of fear and paranoia.

The pain and persecution of the average scanner is brilliantly and sympathetically realised in mocked-up old medical footage of the young Revok, doubtlessly detained under some antediluvian mental health law, careering around the bare consulting room, his self-inflicted forehead wound having failed to relieve the pain of the voices in his head. Vale’s own appearance before a panel of students shows him hearing their jumbled thoughts, no respite for him as he is exhibited like an interesting specimen of primitive life.  

The full extent of a scanner’s unearthly power is a showstopper, as Revok, attending a lecture in secret, literally blows the head of a rival middle-aged scanner to pieces, in an outrageous piece of horror showmanship that earned Scanners the dubious honour of being considered a ‘video nasty’ in the UK.

‘Scanners’ isn’t subtle or profound, the special effects are of their time and performances range from the hammy to the quotidien, but what it lacks in depth it more than makes up for in the terrifying power of the premise and the sheer, uncontrollable fury of the action.

Scanners is out on Second Sight Films 31^st March

Buy here:

https://secondsightfilms.co.uk/products/scanners

Scenester

30/3/25