Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Scanners Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 2, 2013

David Cronenberg's "Scanners" (1981) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Second Sight Films. The supplemental features on the disc include video interviews with actor Stephen Lack, cinematographer Mark Irwin, executive producer Pierre David, make up effects artist Stephan Dupuis, and actor Lawrence Dane. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

It can be done...

Scanners are people with great telepathic powers. They can easily read and manipulate other people’s thoughts. They can also force them to do things against their will.

An underground association of scanners led by Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside, Total Recall, Starship Troopers) has started working on a plan to take over the world. Revok has also declared war on Consec, a large research company also with ambitions for world domination, whose leaders have discovered his group’s existence.

Dr. Paul Ruth (Patrick McGoohan, TV's The Prisoner), one of Consec’s top men, locates another scanner named Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack, Perfect Strangers, Dead Ringers), who isn’t associated with Revok’s group and is not yet fully aware of his telepathic powers. After a series of tests and discussions, Dr. Ruth convinces Vale to confront Revok and destroy his group.

Dark and once very much ahead of its time, David Cronenberg’s Scanners is an interesting hybrid of a film. At its core it is certainly a horror film – it is unapologetically graphic and intense. But behind its graphic visuals there is a prophetic warning about an upcoming reality where large corporations with unlimited resources could do some very bad things if left unmonitored.

The film is somewhat uneven, especially during the first half, where all of the key players and their agendas are identified. Dr. Ruth’s sessions with Vale, for instance, feel protracted. The obvious is discussed with puzzling attention that leads one to believe that the narrative could be a lot more complex. But it is not. The more time one spends with Vale, the more one begins to realize that his journey will follow a very familiar route.

The finale is also underwhelming. The visual effects are good, but the moral dilemma Vale faces never becomes intriguing. It also feels like everything is rushed rather than carefully put together. Cronenberg once stated that Scanners was a very frustrating film to make because a lot was rushed during the production process. I think that the finale clearly proves that he was sincere.

Despite its various flaws, however, Scanners is still worth seeing. For example, the sense of heavy paranoia that permeates the film is great. The nameless assassins that go after Vale and his temp partner (Jennifer O’Neill, Summer of '42, A Force of One) also create an element of surprise that push the film closer to the thriller genre (this reviewer thinks that there are some obvious similarities between Scanners and Sydney Pollack’s 3 Days of the Condor). Also, it is the exploding head sequence the film is remembered for, but it is the terrific phone booth sequence everyone should have been talking about. It is absolutely brilliant. The fact that Cronenberg thought of it and then filmed it in the early 80s, long before the internet was around, is quite incredible.

Scanners was lensed by Canadian cinematographer Mark Irwin, who after Scanners would also work with Cronenberg on Videodrome (1983), The Dead Zone (1983), and The Fly (1986). The film’s minimalistic and very atmospheric soundtrack was created by multiple Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Crash, The Game).

Note: In 1981, Scanners won Saturn Awards for Best International Film and Best Make-Up (Dick Smith).

Scanners Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, David Cronenberg's Scanners arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Second Sight Films.

The high-definition transfer is virtually identical to the one Australian distributors Umbrella Entertainment used for their Blu-ray release of this cult film a few months ago, and this is good news. The only very small discrepancy I could spot is with the brightness levels - select sequences here look slightly brighter, but the difference is indeed minimal at best. Detail and depth are indeed very good, especially during close-ups (see screencapture #3), while some of the outdoor footage boasts very pleasing fluidity. Colors are stable and very natural. Some extremely light noise is visible but it is never distracting. The best news here is that there are no traces of excessive degraining corrections. Sharpening corrections also have not been applied. Unsurprisingly, from start to finish the film has a very pleasing organic look. Finally, I cannot say that there are any major improvements in terms of compression - Scanners looks as good as it does on the Australian release. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Scanners Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0. For the record, Second Sight Films have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

This time around I viewed the film with the LPCM 2.0 track (the Australian release has only a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track) and must say that I like it better. The sound is better balanced. During select sequences the dialog is clearly more even. Overall clarity and depth, however, are identical. Naturally, my advice to you is to experiment with both tracks and see which one you will like better.

Scanners Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• My Art Keeps Me Sane - Interview with Star Stephen Lack - in this video interview, actor Stephen Lack (Cameron Vale) recalls his first encounter with director David Cronenberg and work with his on Scanners. The actor also discusses his interactions with special effects guru Dick Smith. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• The Eye of Scanners - Interview with Cinematographer Mark Irwin - in this video interview, cinematographer Mark Irwin discusses his transition from hardcore to softcore porn films and eventually horror films, as well as his collaboration with director David Cronenberg on Scanners. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• The Chaos of Scanners - Interview with Executive Producer Pierre David - in this video interview, the executive producer of Scanners recalls how the film came to exist. Mr. David also discusses in detail the shooting of the film, which was apparently quite chaotic. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Exploding Brains & Popping Veins - in this video interview, makeup effects artist Stephan Dupuis discusses his contribution to Scanners. Mr. Dupuis specifically addresses the infamous "exploding head" and the type of work that was done to make it look as real as possible. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Bad Guy Dane - Interview with Actor Lawrence Dane - in this short video interview, actor Lawrence Dane (Braedon Keller) discusses the character he played in Scanners and David Cronenberg's work ethic, and recalls his interactions with the rest of the cast. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

Scanners Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is a very handsome release. Not only does the SteelBook look quite beautiful, but the technical presentation is also very pleasing. The only minor discrepancy I could spot between this release and the Australian release by Umbrella Entertainment is in the brightness levels, but the difference is indeed marginal at best. However, the two releases have very different supplemental features. Fans of Scanners residing in Region-B land should try to get both. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.