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Scanners (1981)

R  103 min  -  Horror | Sci-Fi   -  14 January 1981 (USA)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 16,503 users   Metascore: 60/100 
Reviews: 132 user | 60 critic | 8 from Metacritic.com

A scientist sends a man with extraordinary psychic powers to hunt others like him.

Director:

David Cronenberg
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer O'Neill ...
Stephen Lack ...
Patrick McGoohan ...
Lawrence Dane Lawrence Dane ...
Braedon Keller
Michael Ironside ...
Robert A. Silverman Robert A. Silverman ...
Benjamin Pierce (as Robert Silverman)
Lee Broker Lee Broker ...
Security One
Mavor Moore Mavor Moore ...
Trevellyan
Adam Ludwig Adam Ludwig ...
Arno Crostic
Murray Cruchley Murray Cruchley ...
Programmer 1 (as Lee Murray)
Fred Doederlein Fred Doederlein ...
Dieter Tautz
Géza Kovács Géza Kovács ...
Killer in Record Store (as Geza Kovacs)
Sonny Forbes Sonny Forbes ...
Killer in Attic (as Sony Forbes)
Jérôme Tiberghien Jérôme Tiberghien ...
Killer in Attic (as Jerome Tiberghien)
Denis Lacroix Denis Lacroix ...
Killer in Barn
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Storyline

Darryl Revok is the most powerful of all the scanners, and is the head of the underground scanner movement for world domination. Scanners have great psychic power, strong enough to control minds; they can inflict enormous pain/damage on their victims. Doctor Paul Ruth finds a scanner that Revok hasn't, and converts him to their cause - to destroy the underground movement. Written by Paul Reynolds <pauljr@innotts.co.uk>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Psychic | Psychic Power | Doctor | Car Crash | Murder  | See more »

Taglines:

There are 4 billion people on earth. 237 are Scanners. They have the most terrifying powers ever created... and they are winning. See more »

Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Telepathy 2000 See more »

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$CAD4,100,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$14,225,876 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

David Cronenberg once called this the most frustrating film he'd ever made. The film was rushed through production - filming had to begin without a finished script and end within roughly two months so the financing would qualify as a tax write-off, forcing Cronenberg to write and shoot at the same time. Cronenberg also cited difficulty with and antagonism between the leads, particularly Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill. See more »

Goofs

Crew or equipment visible: When Cameron Vale first visits Kim Obrist, before going up the stairs to meet her, some lighting equipment and the boom microphone is reflected in the glass door as it closes behind him. See more »

Quotes

Benjamin Pierce: My art... keeps me sane.
[gestures at plaster head]
Benjamin Pierce: Art.
[taps his temples]
Benjamin Pierce: Sane.
See more »

Crazy Credits

As the credits end, the words "Max Security Self Destruct Seconds 1" flash on the screen, then the screen flashes green, as if someone shut the monitor off. See more »

Connections

Spoofed in "South Park: Canada on Strike (#12.4)" (2008) See more »