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Scanners (1981)

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User Rating: 6.6/10 (8,423 votes)
Photos (see all 18 | slideshow)
IMDb Coverage of Comic-Con 2008

Overview

Director:
David Cronenberg
Writer:
David Cronenberg (written by)
Release Date:
14 January 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller more
Tagline:
There are 4 billion people on earth. 237 are Scanners. They have the most terrifying powers ever created... and they are winning. more
Plot:
A scientist sends a man with extraordinary psychic powers to hunt others like him. full summary | full synopsis (warning! may contain spoilers)
Awards:
3 wins & 9 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
'Scream 4'? Yup, 'Scream 4' (From Rope Of Silicon. 15 July 2008, 1:40 AM, PDT)
Scream 4 Announced As Part Of Showtime/Weinstein Deal! (From Icons of Fright. 14 July 2008, 9:20 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Could have been stronger in several key areas but is still worth seeing more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)
Jennifer O'Neill ... Kim Obrist
Stephen Lack ... Cameron Vale
Patrick McGoohan ... Dr. Paul Ruth
Lawrence Dane ... Braedon Keller

Michael Ironside ... Darryl Revok
Robert A. Silverman ... Benjamin Pierce (as Robert Silverman)
Lee Broker ... Security One
Mavor Moore ... Trevellyan
Adam Ludwig ... Arno Crostic
Murray Cruchley ... Programmer 1 (as Lee Murray)
Fred Doederlein ... Dieter Tautz
Géza Kovács ... Killer in Record Store (as Geza Kovacs)
Sonny Forbes ... Killer in Attic (as Sony Forbes)
Jérôme Tiberghien ... Killer in Attic (as Jerome Tiberghien)
Denis Lacroix ... Killer in Barn
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Telepathy 2000
Kontrolori (Serbia) [sr]
Scanners (France) [fr]
Scanners - Ihre Gedanken können töten (West Germany) [de]
Scanners - Sua Mente Pode Destruir (Brazil) [pt]
Scanners - dödande tanke (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Scanners - tappava ajatus (Finland) [fi]
Scanners 1 - Sua Mente Pode Destruir (Brazil) (video title) [pt]
Scanners: Su solo pensamiento podía matar (Spain) [es]
Telekinesis (Mexico) [es]
more
Runtime:
103 min
Country:
Canada
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Finland:K-18 (original rating) (1981) | Brazil:16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2007) | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating) | Italy:VM14 | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Australia:R | Canada:R | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Iceland:(Banned) | Norway:16 (cut) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Montréal, Québec, Canada more
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 9% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The Jennifer O'Neill character, Kim Obrist, is named after the assistant to the producer (Kim Obrist). more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When Cameron Vale first visits Kim Obrist, before going up the stairs to meet her, some lighting equipment and the boom microphone is reflected in the glass door as it closes behind him. more
Quotes:
Cameron Vale: Benjamin Pierce?
Benjamin Pierce: Why don't you leave me alone?
Cameron Vale: I need some help. You're the only one that can give it to me.
Benjamin Pierce: Is that right? Me?
Cameron Vale: Yes.
Benjamin Pierce: [Benjamin bursts out in laughter] Then I think you're in big trouble, chump.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Visions and Horror from 'The Dead Zone' (2006) (V) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 14 people found the following comment useful:-
Could have been stronger in several key areas but is still worth seeing, 9 January 2006
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

Within "normal" society exists a new breed of person who possess telepathic powers. They are small in number but their powers makes them very dangerous – but also very powerful in the hands of the right people. Dr Paul Ruth runs a secretive programme trying to develop the power into a weapon but he only has one recruit – Cameron Vale. When Ruth's programme is violently attacked by scanner Darryl Revok, they realise that the battle is being lost and they prepare Vale to go undercover, in filtrate Revok's group and lead them to him.

As everyone and their dog knows, this film is always talked about for the infamous scene near the start where we are first shown the power of the scanners, however there are many scenes across the whole film that are just as strong as that one. The opening scene is powerful as it shows the ability Vale has and the lack of control he has over it while the scene where Revok escapes capture is even more sinister and gripping. This pretty much carries across the whole film although there are some slows spots and parts of the story that don't hang together as well as they should. Cronenberg is famous for his body horror but he does do tension well and here he is solid when called upon. The low budget does show through at times but mostly it is good.

The acting is a little bit ropey though, which is maybe where the limitations do show through. Lack is OK but he isn't anything special – he can say his lines well enough and not fall over while walking but he can't bring out much more below the surface than that. He reminded me of the old b-movie matinée stars who have good jaws but not much else. McGoohan is better and his presence is welcome in his scenes. Ironside is hammy but enjoyable perhaps not having as much screen time as I would have liked but effective when he is. The support is mostly pretty average, O'Neill is OK but the rest are so-so and are sometime amusing as they get scanned.

Overall though this is a classic cult film. The plot moves forward well enough although I would have liked more real life commentary from Cronenberg above the general "mental illness" metaphor that it acts as but his direction otherwise is good. The cast are mostly only OK but they do enough to keep the story moving while moments of horror and tension are well served up. Could have been better in several key areas but is still worth seeing.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
remake for 2009 rasko676
Stephen Lack Blacktele
Ok I'm gonna be a nerd here(telepathy inconsistencies) papadoudjh
Something that has always troubled me boog_20613
TERRIBLE Acting violentworld
the ending made no sense, blackened666
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