Scanners (1981)
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Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
A scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called "scanning" to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non-Scanners.
Cast
- Jennifer O'Neill
- Stephen Lack
- Patrick McGoohan
- Lawrence Dane
- Michael Ironside
- Robert A. Silverman
- Lee Broker
- Mavor Moore
- Adam Ludwig
- Murray Cruchley
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.5
229.9K
75.0K
59.9K
- Jun 12, 2022
too cool of a movie for a lead performance that boring. i also do wish there was more body horror, tho i’d understand if repeating the exploding head thing would’ve felt numbing after awhile. but the score is an all timer and i do think the concept itself is just plain…
KarstenOct 11, 2020a captivating documentary on whats its like to have a wine hangover
WesDec 5, 2019cronenberg: *heads blowing up, eyeballs melting, blood splattering everywhere* me: :)
amaya - Jun 23, 2024
people don’t ask for your vape anymore they just stare at you like this
JayJan 15, 2024Scan her? I hardly know her!
Blue GhostsFeb 19, 2026The way that Scanners straddles the line between cheesy B-movie and cerebral cyberpunk potboiler totally works for me.
Northernlion - Oct 31, 2014
Part of Lise and Jonnie’s Horror-o-thon 2014 At last, after 33 years I’ve finally watched Scanners. Why this is a bit unusual is that Scanners is the only feature film production that I’ve had anything to do with. At the time I was working for a cable company’s…
Jonathan WhiteOct 31, 2014This film has the distinction of containing the single most terrible performance by a lead that I have ever seen in my life. Let me rephrase that, because I'm sure there are plenty of terrible performances out there in terrible films. This is by far the best film with a…
LiseJan 31, 2023the potential was definitely there, but i couldn't help thinking "that's it?" the moment it was over. stephen lack's performance was also one of the worst that i have ever seen. i've seen plenty of low budget films made by college students that had better acting!
haley
Queue Community Reviews
77%
Community 889
Top Reviews
- jojo likedScanners
have any of you seen scanners? scanners. really? not one of you has seen scanners?
Isabel Pichardo likedScannersAn absolutely incredible movie. This was my first Cronenberg movie that I watched and the plot is what hooked me. It is a bit cheesy in moments but the entire time I was sold on the idea and manner in which he portrayed the characters. Great place to start if you want my rec!
Nick Dubberly is "meh" onScannersWhile it is definitely a unique story, I didn’t really find it all that interesting. To be quite honest, I was mostly bored throughout. The best thing about this were the practical effects! There is an interesting twist at the end, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
- James New likedScanners
Cronenberg cult classic. It’s no The Fly but it is among his better films. Excellent sense of dread throughout and an overall uncomfortable and atmospheric film. Some very impressive effects too
Frogdor likedScannersIt’s a solid action / thriller, but I wouldn’t call it a horror movie. It’s got some gory scenes at times, and the acting is okay as is the writing and plot. It’s a fun watch to be sure.
lilbruzer14 likedScannersHousing arguably one the most well known special effect moments. There’s a lot more to this movie than just that. It’s pretty easy to get lost in this one if you lose focus for too long
- Edward Kronkvist likedScanners
A very good cult classic from the 80s. I do think the practical effects carries the film while the story isn’t executed as well but yet a very entertaining film nonetheless.
hanne likedScannersrating: 💉💉💉.5 they need to send the duffer brothers a cease and desist letter. and the CIA needs to send them a cease and desist letter.
Cinematic Joshua dislikedScannersA technoThriller featuring mind control mutants so boring and generic that you wish they would explode your head as well.
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
One of the most technically proficient of David Cronenberg's early gnawing, Canadian-made horror movies, though it lacks both the logic and the queasy sexual subtext that made his still earlier work - Rabid, They Came From Within - so memorably revolting.
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Scanners is a new horror film made with enough craft and skill that it could have been very good, if it could find a way to make us care about it.
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Unfortunately the plot thickens so rapidly and so lumpily that one very soon loses interest in spite of the quite stunning and gory special effects.
Vincent Canby
The New York Times
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scanners (1981) (1981) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is Scanners (1981) (1981)?
The movie is 1hr 43min long.
What's Scanners (1981) (1981) about?
A scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called "scanning" to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non-Scanners.
Who's the cast of Scanners (1981) (1981)?
- Jennifer O'Neill as Kim Obrist
- Stephen Lack as Cameron Vale
- Patrick McGoohan as Dr. Paul Ruth
- Lawrence Dane as Braedon Keller
- Michael Ironside as Darryl Revok
- Robert A. Silverman as Benjamin Pierce
- Lee Broker as Security One
- Mavor Moore as Trevellyan
- Adam Ludwig as Arno Crostic
- Murray Cruchley as Programmer 1
Who's the director behind Scanners (1981) (1981)?
David Cronenberg directed Scanners (1981) (1981).
Who produced Scanners (1981) (1981)?
Claude Héroux produced Scanners (1981) (1981).
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