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Scanners Details

1981 Certificate 18
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 3316 members

The title of this David Cronenberg sci-fi horror film refers to a group of people who have telekinetic powers that allow them to read minds and give them the ability to make other people's heads explode. The children of a group of women who took an experimental tranquilizer during their pregnancies, the scanners are now adults .. Read more

Starring Patrick McGoohan, Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Lawrence Dane
Director David Cronenberg
Genres Sci-Fi/Fantasy

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Scanners

The title of this David Cronenberg sci-fi horror film refers to a group of people who have telekinetic powers that allow them to read minds and give them the ability to make other people's heads explode. The children of a group of women who took an experimental tranquilizer during their pregnancies, the scanners are now adults and have become outcasts from society. But Darryl (Michael Ironside) decides to create an army of scanners to take over the world. The only person who can stop him is his brother Cameron (Stephen Lack), who wants to forget that he was ever a scanner. Winner of the International Fantasy Film Award at the 1983 Fantasporto Film Festival, Scanners was followed by a pair of sequels, neither of which involved Cronenberg.~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Starring Patrick McGoohan, Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Lawrence Dane, Michael Ironside
Director David Cronenberg
Studio ANCHOR BAY HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 43 mins
Certificate Certificate 18
Genres Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 20 Sep 1999
Production year: 1981
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of Scanners

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    Evil Michael Ironside and derelict Stephen Lack are the leaders of two rival groups of telepaths — or “scanners” — in this modern horror classic from David Cronenberg. The Canadian director seamlessly blends the genres of science fiction and conspiracy thriller into an exhilarating ride and, while the stunning (and occasionally stomach-churning) set pieces, such as the exploding heads, and the final apocalyptic battle will delight genre fans, it's Cronenberg's fascination with the horrors lurking within the human body and our inability to control them that provides the real interest in this landmark movie.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • "...[The] modernistic natural locations have been exceedingly well chosen and are beautifully complimented by Mark Irwin's sharp lensing..."

    • Variety
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

  • Most helpful member's review of Scanners

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  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Classic body horror

    While this may not be Cronenberg's best work, the iconic exploding head scene is a horror classic- the rest of the movie is well-paced and very enjoyable, if a little threadbare plot-wise. The final scene is riveting and quite gruesome, with a great ending.

      • Liam from London, England
      • Posted 11 Aug 2005 21:24

  • Most recent members' review of Scanners

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    NURSE!! EPHEMEROL!!!!!

    'Scanners' is often regarded as Cronenberg's most powerful, assured film but I think 'Videodrome' has stood the test of time better. The central conceit - humans with telekinetic powers, the battle between good 'n evil scanners, the conspiracy to create new 'scanner babies' by giving pregnant females the drug 'ephemerol' etc etc - is still entertaining enough, but Stephen Lack's performance as the protagonist Cameron Veil is absolutely woeful. His robotic delivery and rigid face almost ruins the film: is the guy actually an actor?? Good ol' Michael Ironside just about saves it, though - his turn as psychotic scanner Daryl Revok still sends shivers down the spine and reminded me of days as a spotty teenager watching this with my mates. The famous 'exploding head' sequence is just as gruesome as it was twenty years ago, and the revelation about Cameron and Daryl's origins is a neat little twist. And to cap it all, there's the final confrontation: all bursting veins and popping eyeballs and a nicely oblique ending to make you scratch your head. Dated, but still tasty.

      • Mike Thomas from South Wales
      • Posted 19 Sep 2005 17:46

  • News and features

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    A History of Violence

    Cronenberg's exploding-head movie to be remade

    • 28 Feb 2007

    David Cronenberg's 1981 movie Scanners - known by many as the one where a man's head explodes - is to be remade, with the director of Saw II and Saw III heading up the project. The futuristic thriller, which told the story of an underground group of people with psychic powers, is set to start filming early next year, reports Variety. Until then, fans may want to catch up on Cronenberg's back catalogue which often combined psychological and physical horror to produce a number of films that are... Read more

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Rating breakdown

3,316 Member ratings
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  • 90
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  • 80
622
  • 70
639
  • 60
731
  • 50
381
  • 40
236
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117
  • 20
83
  • 10
45

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      • The title of this David Cronenberg sci-fi horror film refers to a group of people who have telekinetic powers that allow them to read minds and give them the ability to make other people's heads ...