Scanners

Scanners (1981)

This movie opens with an effects scene that is so iconic that even those not into horror movies have probably seen a clip or still of it. Of course I’m speaking of the exploding head. For those who haven’t seen the movie it is about a small group of people who have telepathic abilities that allow them to scan the minds and in some cases control other people. There are two groups, one “bad” group lead by a man named Darryl Revok with another “good” group lead by a man named Cameron Vale. Revok wants to breed a new generation of scanners with the purpose of controlling the world, while Vale just wants to live a normal life and be left alone. Of course the two of them end up fighting it out with their minds winner takes all.

I really enjoyed this movie. The story is engaging and fun, with a plot twist that is both unexpected and believable. The movie takes it’s time revealing the plot, all the while developing the characters. This is critical because the movie does have a few points where it can get a bit slow. If I wasn’t into the characters and interested in what they were up to I would have those parts boring. My only real disappointment is that the Revok character wasn’t given as much screen time, and comes off as a two-bit villain. This bums me out because the best actor in the movie is Michael Ironside, who plays the Revok character. Patrick McGoohan is very good as the doctor who discovers Vale and helps him prepare to stop Revok. I was also pleased to see Jennifer O'Neill in the movie as Vale’s ally Kim. What she might not have had in acting skills were more than made up with her beauty. In fact the only weak member of the cast is Stephen Lack, who plays Vale. Yeah the weakest cast member is the one that is cast in the lead. The guy just didn’t have charisma or any chemistry with his cast mates. The fact that he doesn’t seem to have done much after Scanners doesn’t surprise me. But one weak link in an otherwise good cast doesn’t really hurt the movie at all.

The gore in this movie is excellent. From the first scene with the exploding head all the way to the end fight between Vale and Revok the audience is treated to brains and blood flying around. The movie has a surprising body count with Revok’s minions running around with shotguns blasting away. I think I counted at least three on screen shotgun hits, a head explosion, and a freaky immolation! Not to mentions some nasty looking veins popping out, oh and the exploding eyeballs. This is a bloody film indeed.

Scanners is a great example of a movie that does everything else so well that it can carry an actor in the lead that really should never have been cast. The story, supporting cast, and copious amounts of gore would of made for a perfect movie. As it is now the movie is still great and well worth checking out. I highly recommend Scanners.

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer