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Scanners (1981) 6.8
Ratings:
6.8/10 from 21,549 users
Metascore: 60/100
Reviews: 137 user | 75 critic | 8 from Metacritic.com A scientist sends a man with extraordinary psychic powers to hunt others like him. Director:David CronenbergWriter:David Cronenberg |
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Title: Scanners (1981)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jennifer O'Neill | ... | ||
| Stephen Lack | ... |
Cameron Vale
(as Steven Lack)
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| Patrick McGoohan | ... | ||
| Lawrence Dane | ... | ||
| Michael Ironside | ... | ||
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Robert A. Silverman | ... |
Benjamin Pierce
(as Robert Silverman)
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Lee Broker | ... |
Security One
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Mavor Moore | ... |
Trevellyan
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Adam Ludwig | ... |
Arno Crostic
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Murray Cruchley | ... |
Programmer 1
(as Lee Murray)
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Fred Doederlein | ... |
Dieter Tautz
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Géza Kovács | ... |
Killer in Record Store
(as Geza Kovacs)
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Sonny Forbes | ... |
Killer in Attic
(as Sony Forbes)
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Jérôme Tiberghien | ... |
Killer in Attic
(as Jerome Tiberghien)
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Denis Lacroix | ... |
Killer in Barn
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Edit
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Darryl Revok is the most powerful of all the scanners, and is the head of the underground scanner movement for world domination. Scanners have great psychic power, strong enough to control minds; they can inflict enormous pain/damage on their victims. Doctor Paul Ruth finds a scanner that Revok hasn't, and converts him to their cause - to destroy the underground movement. Written by Paul Reynolds <pauljr@innotts.co.uk>
Taglines:
Their thoughts can kill! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
CanadaLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 January 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Telepathy 2000 See more »Box Office
Budget:
CAD 4,100,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Production Co:
Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC), Filmplan, Victor Solnicki Productions See more »
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Paul Ruth: Freak of nature, born with a certain form of ESP; derangement of the synapses which we call telepathy.
See more »
Bill and the hitchhiker talk about the movie when Bill mentions he sells bar code scanners. See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
William S. Burroughs' 1959 novel 'Naked Lunch' contains a chapter concerning "Senders", a hostile organization of telepaths bent on world domination, a clear literary inspiration for this film. See more »Goofs
When the security escort guard is ordering his driver to slow down, he says "I'm going to kill you if you don't do it!". He is seen to mouth "stop" instead of "do it". See more »Quotes
Cameron Vale: You called me a scanner. What is that?Paul Ruth: Freak of nature, born with a certain form of ESP; derangement of the synapses which we call telepathy.
See more »
Crazy Credits
As the credits end, the words "Max Security Self Destruct Seconds 1" flash on the screen, then the screen flashes green, as if someone shut the monitor off. See more »Connections
Referenced in Quicksilver Highway (1997)Bill and the hitchhiker talk about the movie when Bill mentions he sells bar code scanners. See more »
Scanners is Cronenberg's venture into telepathy and the strange workings of the mind(he seems to do one movie on each theme, doesn't he?) While it is not as good as many of his other movies, it's still worthwhile.
First of all, the effects are really good. Some shots easily beat what the best CGI can do today, and some are just plain sick(you'll jump, I promise you). I was actually scratching my head over some things, thinking "how did they do that?", which is a good measure of special effects skills.
Second, the atmosphere is very powerful. It's a dark and unknown world in here, and no-one living in it likes it at all. The characters are all slightly off colour, subnormal. Our hero is no exception. The unknown Stephen Lack does a good-enough job, what with all the grimacing and psycho-playing. The supporting cast is over all sufficient. A treat is, as usual, Michael Ironside, who gives his pretty simple character a nice edge and a personality.
As for the story, it's sometimes hard to follow, and sometimes it lacks something. The ending is a bit rushed as well(even though the climax is incredible).
Still, Scanners is a cult movie and if you can find time, and you're in the right mood, it's certainly worthwhile for it's innovative gore, moody atmosphere and Michael Ironside.
7/10