Scanners (1981)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writer:

David Cronenberg (written by)

Release Date:

14 January 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Psychic | Psychic Power | Doctor | Blood | Film Projector

Awards:

3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Jennifer O'Neill	...	Kim Obrist
Stephen Lack	...	Cameron Vale (as Steven Lack)
Patrick McGoohan	...	Dr. Paul Ruth
Lawrence Dane	...	Braedon Keller
Michael Ironside	...	Darryl Revok
Robert A. Silverman	...	Benjamin Pierce (as Robert Silverman)
Lee Broker	...	Security One
Mavor Moore	...	Trevellyan
Adam Ludwig	...	Arno Crostic
Murray Cruchley	...	Programmer 1 (as Lee Murray)
Fred Doederlein	...	Dieter Tautz
Géza Kovács	...	Killer in Record Store (as Geza Kovacs)
Sonny Forbes	...	Killer in Attic (as Sony Forbes)
Jérôme Tiberghien	...	Killer in Attic (as Jerome Tiberghien)
Denis Lacroix	...	Killer in Barn
Elizabeth Mudry	...	Killer in Barn
Victor Désy	...	Dr. Gatineau (as Victor Desy)
Louis Del Grande	...	First Scanner
Anthony Sherwood	...	Scanner in Attic (as Tony Sherwood)
Ken Umland	...	Scanner in Attic
Anne Anglin	...	Scanner in Attic
Jock Brandis	...	Scanner in Attic
Jack Messinger	...	Scanner at Door
Victor Knight	...	Dr. Frane
Karen Fullerton	...	Pregnant Girl
Margaret Gadbois	...	Woman in Mall
Terrance P. Coady	...	Security 1 Car Passenger (as Terry Coady)
Steve Michaels	...	Security 1 Car Driver
Malcolm Nelthorpe	...	Ray, Security 2 Car Driver
Nicholas Kilbertus	...	Security 2 Car Partner (as Nickolas Kilbertus)
Don Buchsbaum	...	Large Man in Mall
Roland Nincheri	...	Large Man in Mall (as Rolland Nincheri)
Kimberly McKeever	...	Hallucinating Guard
Robert Boyd	...	Hallucinating Guard
Graham Batchelor	...	Yoga Technician
Dean Hagopian	...	CONSEC Programmer 2
Alex Stevens	...	CONSEC Programmer 3
Neil Affleck	...	Medical Student in Mall
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Brasington	...	Hazmat-Suit Worker (uncredited)
Chris Britton	...	Hazmat-Suit Worker (uncredited)
Jack Canon	...	Hazmat-Suit Worker (uncredited)
Richard Chapman Jr.	...	Hazmat-Suit Worker (uncredited)
Leon Herbert	...	Hazmat-Suit Worker (uncredited)
William Hope	...	Hazmat-Suit Worker (uncredited)
Thomas Kovacs	...	Boyfriend (uncredited)
Ian McQue	...	Scanner / Security Guard (uncredited)
Sam Stone	...	Security Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Cronenberg		written by

Produced by
Pierre David	....	executive producer
Claude Héroux	....	producer (as Claude Heroux)
Victor Solnicki	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Mark Irwin		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Art Direction by
Carol Spier

Costume Design by
Delphine White

Makeup Department
Stephan Dupuis	....	special makeup
Brigitte McCaughry	....	makeup artist
Constant Natale	....	hair stylist
Tom Schwartz	....	special makeup
Dick Smith	....	special makeup effects consultant
Chris Walas	....	special makeup

Production Management
Don Buchsbaum	....	production manager
Jean Savard	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Kaufman	....	first assistant director
Anne Murphy	....	third assistant director
Michael Williams	....	second assistant director (as Mike Williams)

Art Department
Alfred	....	set designer
Peter Borowski	....	sculptor
Jean Bourret	....	property master
Peter Bray	....	set dresser
Serge Bureau	....	assistant set dresser
Michel Comte	....	assistant propsman
Tom Coulter	....	sculptor
Peter Dowker	....	sculptor
Melanie Johnson	....	assistant set dresser
Barbara Jones	....	assistant art director
Michael Joy	....	draughtsman
Claude Simard	....	construction supervisor
Ernie Tomlinson	....	assistant propsman

Sound Department
Charles Bowers	....	sound editor
Peter Burgess	....	sound editing supervisor
Terry Burke	....	assistant sound editor
Don Cohen	....	sound
Paul Coombe	....	sound re-recordist
Gary Daprato	....	assistant sound editor
Mike Hoogenboom	....	sound re-recordist
Peter Jermyn	....	sound editor
Bruce Nyznik	....	sound editor
Gabor Vadnay	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Don Berry	....	special effects assistant
Louis Craig	....	special effects assistant
Jacques Godbout	....	special effects assistant
Dennis Pike	....	micro effects
Gary Zeller	....	special effects

Stunts
Alex Stevens	....	stunt coordinator
Céline Fournier	....	stunt woman (uncredited)
Gary Hymes	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jock Brandis	....	gaffer
François Dupéré	....	key grip (as Francois Dupere)
Denis Fugere	....	still photographer
Maris H. Jansons	....	grip (as Maris Jansons)
Claude Langlois	....	best boy
Robin Miller	....	first assistant camera
Michel Périard	....	grip (as Michel Periard)
Lynn Rotin	....	apprentice assistant camera
Arshad Shaw	....	electrician
Gregory Villeneuve	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Ginette D'Amico	....	casting assistant
Muriel Fournier	....	casting assistant
Daniel Hausmann	....	casting: Montreal

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Fabienne April	....	assistant dresser
Renée April	....	dresser
Blanche-Danielle Boileau	....	costume assistant (as Blanche Boileau)

Editorial Department
Robert Boyd	....	assistant editor
Chris Hutton	....	assistant editor
Thomas Metzger	....	color timer
Bill Wiggins	....	post-production coordinator

Transportation Department
Armand Thomas	....	driver: action vehicles
Charles Toupin	....	driver captain

Other crew
Neil Bibby	....	production assistant
Victor Blazevic	....	production assistant
France Boudreau	....	continuity
Robert Boyd	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg
Christine Burt	....	location manager
Pierre David	....	presenter
Patrick Ferrerro	....	production assistant
Kay Gray	....	unit publicist
Nerses Kolanian	....	production assistant
Guy Landry	....	production assistant
Glendon Light	....	production assistant
Marilyn Majerczyk	....	production assistant
Serge Major	....	production accountant
Kim Obrist	....	assistant: Mr. Heroux
Danièle Rohrbach	....	production coordinator (as Daniele Rohrbach)
Nick Rose	....	production assistant
Victor Solnicki	....	presenter
Claire Veillet	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
• Filmplan
• Victor Solnicki Productions

Distributors

• Explosive-Media (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• AVCO Embassy Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ciné Paris Distribution (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• Manson International (1981) (Non-USA) (theatrical)
• New World-Mutual (1981) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Nippon Herald Films (1997) (Japan) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Toei Company (1981) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Transcontinental Film (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Video (1982) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (UK) (2005) (UK) (DVD) (box set)
• Astral Video (????) (Canada) (VHS)
• Atlantic Film (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (1983) (USA) (VHS)
• European Video Corporation (EVC) (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Future Film (1997) (Finland) (VHS)
• Future Film (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Malofilm Home Video (1987) (Canada) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Mokép (198?) (Hungary) (VHS)
• Nelson Entertainment (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Reserva Especial (Brazil) (VHS)
• Tohokushinsha Home Video (1980s) (Japan) (VHS)
• Transvídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2013) (Australia) (all media)
• Van Blad (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Vídeo Network (198?) (Brazil) (VHS) (as "Scanners - Sua Morte Pode Destruir") (dubbed in Portuguese)

Special Effects

• Intrigue

Other Companies

• Canadian Casting Associates  casting: Toronto
• Film House, Toronto  mixing facilities
• Film Opticals  opticals
• Negbec Films  negative cutting
• Paratel  publicity

Also Known As:

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | Canada:R | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Iceland:(Banned) | Norway:16 (cut) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Italy:VM14 | Finland:K-18 (original rating) (1981) | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2007) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating) | Brazil:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Spain:18 | Hungary:16

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)

Trivia:

The exploding head scene was accomplished by filling a latex head with dog food and rabbit livers, and shooting it from behind with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the security escort guard is ordering his driver to slow down, he says "I'm going to kill you if you don't do it!". He is seen to mouth "stop" instead of "do it".

Quotes:

Cameron Vale:Benjamin Pierce?
Benjamin Pierce:Why don't you leave me alone?
Cameron Vale:I need some help. You're the only one that can give it to me.
Benjamin Pierce:Is that right? Me?
Cameron Vale:Yes.
Benjamin Pierce:[Benjamin bursts out in laughter] Then I think you're in big trouble, chump.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Atop the Fourth Wall: Future Shock #1 (#5.33)" (2012)

David Cronenberg's Scanners!

Scanners (1981) was another one of David Cronenberg's "body in revolt" films. This one deals with people that have telepathic and telekinetic abilities. Not your average horror film because it's quite heady. That's what I like about Cronenberg, not only does he make great psychological horror/thrillers but he makes you think. Nothing is spoon feed to you. The splatter effects have given this movie it's much deserved place in one of the best horror set pieces ever made. Two scenes stand out the most. After watching this film you'll understand why gore hounds love this movie.

The only part of this movie that I would have changed would have been the lead. Mr. Lack was okay but I felt that Cronenberg could have found an actor with more experience. Michael Ironside was chilling, ice ran through his veins. This movie made his career as a movie heavy. Jennifer O'Neill was nice to look at and fit in well. A strong storyline and good directing made this one a must see.

I was very impressed with this movie. The soundtrack was apt for the movie.

I haven't watch this film in awhile. But after seeing it on D.V.D. recently, I'm still a big fan of Scanners. Sadly I'm not too fond of the sequels.

A+

If you love heady horror films this is a must see.