Brainscan (1994)

A teenager is part of an interactive video game where he kills innocent victims. Later, the murders become real.

Director:

John Flynn

Writers:

Brian Owens (story), Andrew Kevin Walker (screenplay)

Stars:

Edward Furlong, Frank Langella, T. Ryder Smith

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward Furlong	...	Michael
Frank Langella	...	Detective Hayden
T. Ryder Smith	...	The Trickster
Amy Hargreaves	...	Kimberly
Jamie Marsh	...	Kyle
Victor Ertmanis	...	Martin
David Hemblen	...	Dr. Fromberg
Vlasta Vrana	...	Frank
Domenico Fiore	...	Ken (as Dom Fiore)
Claire Riley	...	News Anchor
Tod Fennell	...	Young Michael (as Tod Fennel)
Michèle-Barbara Pelletier	...	Stacie (as Michele-Barbara Pelletier)
Dean Hagopian	...	Mr. Keller
Donna Baccala	...	Mrs. Keller (as Donna Bacalla)
Jérôme Tiberghien	...	Mr. Tebb (as Jerome Thiberghian)

Storyline

A lonely teenage horror-movie fan discovers a mysterious computer game that uses hypnosis to custom-tailor the game into the most terrifying experience imaginable. When he emerges from the hypnotic trance he is horrified to find evidence that the brutal murder depicted in the game actually happened -- and he's the killer.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | teenager | computer game | computer | surprise ending | 

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Taglines:

It's interactive, and state-of-the-art... It's not just a game... it's murder.

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

16+

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kyle's full name is Kyle Hillard.

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Goofs

In a mid-credits scene, Trickster says that we've forgotten something and shows the German Shepherd carrying the severed foot back to Michael's house. But the murder where the foot was severed was only in the game and time reset itself when the game was over, thus the victim never died or lost his foot.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Young Michael: [Older Michael lays in bed having a nightmare about the scene of his parents accident, seeing his younger self laying on the operating table calling out] Mom! Mom!
Young Michael: [Michael see's his younger self in the street of the accident over his dead father] Mom! Mom! Somebody help us!

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Crazy Credits

As the end credits start, we hear Trickster say "Wait a minute. Haven't you forgotten something?" and the credits screen shatters as if it was made of glass. It then shows a scene involving the dog with the dismembered foot from earlier in the film, and then the end credits resume.

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Alternate Versions

The UK Guild video was cut by 58 secs with edits to a scene where a man is repeatedly stabbed and his foot severed. The cuts were waived for the Optimum DVD release.

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Connections

References Taste of Fear (1961)

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Soundtracks

Riverboat
Performed by John Melendez (as Stuttering John)
Written by John Melendez and Randy Cantor
Produced by Randy Cantor
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Extremely underrated!!!

Brainscan is without a doubt one of the better horror movies to come out in the 90's. Since it isn't attached to the SCREAM money machine, it is often overlooked. Well take my words that this movie is extremely original, well directed and well acted. A good cast makes this movie...and a great movie it is. Do not miss this or overlook it. It should be viewed and then decide for yourself. A rating of 9 out of 10 was given.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brainscan

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,725,000, 24 April 1994

Gross USA:

$4,352,094

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,352,094

Company Credits

Production Co:

Admire Productions Ltd., Coral Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1