Dumb, dumb...dumb horror movie ONLY enjoyable IF you manage to totally ignore the whole concept that is....well...rather dumb! "Brainscan" is the name of a hi-tech video game that places the player inside the mind of a serial killer. Bound to a time-limit, Michael Bower (Edward Furlong) has to commit a motiveless murder without leaving evidence or witnesses. All very exciting, of course, until the next morning when Michael finds out that surprise surprise a real murder took place in his neighborhood, identical to the one he interactively committed. Overcome with fear and denial, he loses all contact with the outside world and becomes more and more dependent on Trickster; the sinister host of the game. Despite being such a oh yes dumb film, this "Brainscan" is rather well-made and involving. The eerie tune is excellent, the opening sequences (showing Michael's returning nightmare of his mother dying in a road-accident) is atmospheric and the supportive characters are smoothly drawn. I particularly liked Frank Langella's cop-character Hayden. He's a fatigue man who refers to Michael as the class-misfit and never raises the tone of his voice, not even when the killer eventually stands in front of him. The visual effects were too hectic for me, but there is some good old-fashioned low budget gore and sharp black humor. The absolute best gimmick of the entire production, however, is Michael's computer-engineered butler named Igor! This guy is great!! He answers to every command with a monotonous "Yes, master" and he even constantly repeats the message: "Master is busy...Master is busy", when Michael to wishes to hold all calls. I have got to get me one of those! Anyway, back to the movie: The climax is an obvious giveaway and it only states what everybody already knows. Gamers generally are mentally weak people with difficulties to have mature friendships or relations, ha ha. "Brainscan" is a horror movie especially intended for the Playstation-generation, so you better dispose of a healthy dose of humor in case you're not in this target group. Oh, did I already mention it was rather dumb??
Special kudos goes out to actress Amy Hargreaves who supposedly portrays a 16-year-old high-school sweetheart, while in reality 24 years of age already.
Special kudos goes out to actress Amy Hargreaves who supposedly portrays a 16-year-old high-school sweetheart, while in reality 24 years of age already.