Scanners (1981) No Spoiler Review: More Visually Entertaining Than Mentally Stimulating, but a Banger for 1981

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Scanners (1981) is not David Cronenberg’s best but not a throwaway either, with a story that didn’t age well and cinematography and set design that still look great.

Cronenberg wrote and directed this Canadian science fiction horror film, starring Stephen Lack, Jennifer O’Neill, Patrick McGoohan, and Michael Ironside. It didn’t age well, in that extrasensory perception (ESP) and telekinesis are so normalized in storytelling already, and a lot of the dialogue is exposition on their powers. But in 1981, this would have been killer.

Gore and weirdness are there. Fits the Cronenberg of it all. But ultimately, it’s a story about being human. Hold on, is this an X-Men film in 1981?

It was fun to see a “disc store” in 1981 that sold vinyl records. Also fun to see all the brutalist buildings and architecture. The mall in the beginning was nostalgic and cool, and it reminded me of the old Greenbelt mall in Makati. The giant computers and green graphical user interface (GUI) were also really nice. For 1981, that was pretty advanced to see in a movie. Those would have been cutting edge at that time, just a decade past programmers using cards on computers.

It was also interesting when you could “hack” a computer by holding a headpiece to your ear. First, because that’s really how computers worked back then. That’s why fax machines make those sounds, why your 14.4 modems made that noise, and how tone on telephones replaced pulse (you could hack phones before by playing the sounds!). So it’s based in reality, but it sounds fantastic and dated, and then you realize that’s how it worked in The Matrix (1999).

Really nice cinematography and set designs. We’re seriously trying to figure out where we can source and place a giant head in our house that has a hidden sofa inside. The art exhibit reminded me of Crimes of the Future (2022).

Definitely more visually entertaining than the plot is mentally stimulating. But definitely a banger for 1981, so considering that too. The exploding head is often cited as a classic and groundbreaking visual effects achievement.

★★★★☆ for me, ★★★☆☆ for her.

Find me on Letterboxd if you want to see what else I’ve been watching.