Scanners (1981) Dir. David Cronenberg

Filmmakers would kill for a scene as recognisable as the exploding head scene early into Scanners. A moment so sudden and exciting that it was shown out-of-context in place of a trailer in some regions, and has been a horror touchstone, even for those who haven’t seen the film.

Of course, having a moment this iconic comes with the risk that it will overshadow the rest of the film, and Scanners does suffer from this. There’s plenty of fun to be had with Michael Ironside’s scenery chewing performance as Revok, and Patrick McGoohan is excellent as Dr Paul Ruth.

But the film really does peak in two moments – the exploding head, and the final confrontation between Revok and our protagonist Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack).

Cronenberg says that the production started without a script, instead it was a series of ideas, and he would continue writing on filming days. This is apparent as the plot meanders between the exciting moments.

There are interesting parts to the paranoid thriller, pitting a group of rebel telepaths against a private military company, but it lacks the deeply, disturbing personal horrors that came with Shivers (1975), The Brood (1979) and much of his later work.

Still, Second Sight have done an incredible job with this release, with a new director-approved restoration that really makes the visual effects pop. The release is also packed full of interview footage with key cast and crew members, as well as a video essay from Tim Coleman.

It’s a stunning release, as you’d expect from Second Sight, and while Scanners might not live up to the highs of Cronenberg’s other works, it’s still an iconic part of his repertoire and is fully deserving of the full package treatment.

Pick this up, drop it in the Blu-ray player and revel in the thrills of the practical effects and deliciously OTT performances.

Film: 3/5

Release: 4/5

Overall: ★★★½

Matthew Tilt

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Scanners Limited Edition 4K/UHD and Blu-ray Box set is set for release on 31st March 2025 and will also be available in Standard Edition 4K and Blu-ray restoration with the approval of director David Cronenberg himself.

Special Features

• A new 4K restoration approved by Director David Cronenberg 
• Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
• UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
• New audio commentary by Caelum Vatnsdal
• Audio commentary by William Beard
• My Art Keeps Me Sane: an interview with Actor Stephen Lack
• Method in his Madness: an interview with Actor Michael Ironside
• Bad Guy Dane: an interview with Actor Lawrence Dane
• The Eye of Scanners: an interview with Cinematographer Mark Irwin
• Mind Fragments: an interview with Composer Howard Shore
• The Chaos of Scanners: an interview with Executive Producer Pierre David
• Exploding Brains & Popping Veins: Interview with Makeup Effects Artist Stephan Dupuis
• Monster Kid: an interview with Makeup Effects Artist Chris Walas
• Cronenberg's Tech Babies: a video essay by Tim Coleman

Limited Edition Contents

• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Krishna Shenoi
• 120-page book with new essays by Dr Xavier Aldana Reyes, Eugenio Ercolani and Gian Giacomo Petrone, Kurt Halfyard, Craig Ian Mann, Francesco Massaccesi, Jessica Scott, Emma Westwood and Heather Wixson
• 6 collectors' art cards