Scanners (David Cronenberg, 1981)
Their thoughts can kill...
David Cronenberg is one of the very few genuine auteurs of our time. His early horror movies are high in concept, low in budget, yet very well made and intelligent. Scanners personifies this, and remains a genuine sci-fi body horror classic.
Stephen Lack (of acting ability) plays Cameron Vale, who is a bum picked up in a mall. Why? Because he is a 'telepathic curiosity' aka 'Scanner'. He is taken to ConSec, which is a corporation wanting to harness these scanner powers as a weapon (Hmm sounds familiar). Patrick McGoohan is the hammy Dr Paul Ruth (I'm English. I have a beard. I'm eccentric therefore clearly mad), who trains Cameron Vale to enhance his powers in order to infiltrate the scanner underground. This evil underground is led by (bad-guy name coming up!) Darryl Revok (played by the outstanding B-movie actor Michael Ironside).
Needless to say, utter chaos ensues, and culminates in an outstanding battle between the two scanners... A sort of 'Scan-Off' if you will. The effects may be a little dated, but it's still bloody, grubby stuff.
Cronenberg's idea is highly original, and although he's clearly still learning his trade, he delivers the thrills & spills with aplomb. McGoohan & Ironside's performances elevate the film a great deal. Lack is diabolical.
2012 Update: German-based subkultur entertainment/black hill pictures released a dual-format Blu-ray/DVD release late last year. Whilst not perfect (dirt & blemishes are still apparent) it looks and sounds very good indeed. There is English audio & the German subtitles can be switched on/off. There's a small leaflet (in German), and a newly-filmed a chat with Stephen Lack. The packaging has a Region' B' logo, but the BD is region-free. Highly recommended!
