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Blu-Ray : Recommended
Ranking:
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Release Date: March 27th, 2018 Movie Release Year: 1981

Scanners - Criterion Collection (Reissue)

Overview -

The Criterion Collection reissues David Cronenberg's cult sci-fi horror classic Scanners, an intelligent and subtly enlightening feature that remains as gorily entertaining today as it did nearly 40 years ago. The film returns to home theaters as a single-disc Blu-ray edition with an identical audio and video presentation, along with the same set of supplements, making the overall package Recommended.

Our review of the UK steelbook import of 'Scanners' is available here.

With 'Scanners,' David Cronenberg plunges us into one of his most terrifying and thrilling sci-fi worlds. After a man with extraordinary—and frighteningly destructive—telepathic abilities is nabbed by agents from a mysterious rogue corporation, he discovers he is far from the only possessor of such strange powers, and that some of the other “scanners” have their minds set on world domination, while others are trying to stop them. A trademark Cronenberg combination of the visceral and the cerebral, this phenomenally gruesome and provocative film about the expanses and limits of the human brain was the Canadian director’s breakout hit in the United States.

OVERALL:
Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Region A Locked
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
103
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.78:1
Audio Formats:
English LPCM Mono
Subtitles/Captions:
English SDH
Special Features:
Booklet
Release Date:
March 27th, 2018

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

Like many of David Cronenberg's early films, Scanners was really ahead of its time. Not so much in terms of visual effects — though they are gorily awesome and continue to shock to this day — but in regards to the themes and subject matter the Canadian filmmaker often explored. He takes audiences by surprise with his fascination with the possibilities of achieving a higher state of consciousness and the next step in human evolution. Unfortunately, from Cronenberg's perspective, attaining this abstract reality of presumed progress is a painful process that almost always requires a violent dissociation from the material, concrete world, which often necessitates our physical bodies. More interestingly, his "body horror" approach comes with intriguing social and cultural commentary.

In this cult sci-fi horror favorite, Cronenberg continues exploring that relationship between the physical body and the metaphysical mind, but he also delves a little deeper by touching on the external, environmental influences upon one's psychology — the whole nature vs. nurture thing. Sadly, I can't go any further on that last part without running the risk of revealing some major spoilers. Anyone familiar with the film, however, will likely get my meaning about the role of mental health within the plot, particularly in the final moments when we learn that what we thought to be a mutation fluke of nature turns out to be a much more sinister and rather worrying problem. Granted, the intended shocker is far from an earth-shattering revelation, but it makes for a satisfyingly somber twist in the narrative.

On the other hand, any discussion concerning the Cameron Vale (a rather stiff and very monotone Stephen Lack) character does include the plot's psychological aspect without disclosing too much. We first meet him as a homeless man nonchalantly roaming the mall, picking at people's food as he walks by and finishing the leftovers at empty tables. When two women comment to each other about his looks and behavior, Vale can hear them and is so bothered by their mocking whispers that he somehow causes a seizure in one of them. Drugged and detained by a mysterious company called ConSec, a Dr. Paul Ruth (Patrick McGoohan) explains that Vale possesses a telepathic power that can read and control other minds, and only a few people, dubbed "Scanners," have this ability.

If not for the telepathic and telekinetic element, what we see in the film is an extreme form of the power of suggestion, of an outside powerful influence upon that the thoughts and actions of others. Ironically, "scanners" may be born with the power to control people, but they seem especially sensitive to the opinions and judgments of those around them, which is made all the more traumatic by the fact that they hear the mental thoughts of strangers, sometimes all at once as in the case of Vale. Secret underground societies have formed throughout the city, like the one run by the stunningly beautiful Kim Obrist (Jennifer O'Neill in top form) which Vale tries to join. The group is more of the hippie, free-love variety that believes the power as the next evolution of human enlightenment meant for good.

This is where Darryl Revok (the always awesome Michael Ironside) comes into the picture, a particularly powerful but psychologically-troubled scanner who once drilled a hole into his forehead — suggestive of the "third-eye" and "sixth sense" aspect of Cronenberg's story. Unlike the other group, he believes his telepathic powers can be used for world domination and those without the ability are the weaker species. Aside from the inevitable showdown between Revok and Vale, the character hints at issues having to do with pharmaceutical drugs and their effects since his war against ConSec is partly seen as a deadly business rivalry. In the end, 'Scanners' is classic David Cronenberg, with lots of great, shocking gore shrouding a more insightful commentary.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

This Blu-ray edition of David Cronenberg's Scanners is a single-disc reissue of the previous release courtesy of The Criterion Collection (spine #712). The Region A locked, BD50 disc is housed inside the distributor's standard clear keepcase. The package comes with new, original artwork by Canadian comic artist Connor Willumsen, and it also includes a 16-page booklet with more artwork and an insightful essay entitled "Mind and Matter" by British journalist, film critic and fiction writer Kim Newman. There are no trailers before being greeted by the standard menu options and a splendidly animated screen with music.

Video Review

Ranking:

This new single-disc edition features the same, identical 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode enjoyed on the 2014 dual-format combo pack, so with that in mind, I'll repeat my thoughts from that release:

According to information in the accompanying booklet, the transfer was created in 2K resolution from a 35mm interpositive and supervised by David Cronenberg. The results are absolutely fantastic, taking home the best possible presentation of the sci-fi horror classic ever released on any home video media.

This Criterion release shows excellent details and clarity in nearly every scene. Bricks on buildings are distinct, threading on clothes is well-defined and facial complexions are incredibly revealing with lifelike textures. The cinematography is intentionally on the gloomy side, but contrast here is tad on the darker spectrum and better balanced with clean, crisp whites, which we can safely assume is truer to the source than UK Second Sight's release. The color palette is more natural and true to life, favoring steely blues as oppose to the teal-like hues seen in the UK version. The image is awash in a thin layer of grain, giving it an appreciable film-like appeal. The only drawback to this 1.78:1-framed presentation, Cronenberg's preferred aspect ratio, is related to the condition of the source.

Both versions come with their share of scenes which are poorly-resolved and a bit on the blurry side, making grain appear a bit thicker, and which has more to do with the condition of the elements than with the transfer. Blacks waver just a tad from stable to murky, and shadows can be too prominent at times, obscuring some of the finer details in the darker portions. All things considered, this is a fantastic and at times stunning HD video of a long-time Cronenberg favorite, making it the best release yet. 

Audio Review

Ranking:

As with the video, Criterion ports over the same track as before, and I would give this audio option of this cult classic the slight edge over Second Sight's release, not necessarily because it's any better but because it's faithful to how the film was originally presented in theaters.

Again, the booklet explains that this uncompressed PCM monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the original 35mm magnetic track. Despite being delivered in only one channel, imaging offers a hearty and highly-engaging presence with a clean and extensive dynamic range, allowing Howard Shore's score plenty of detailed clarity. Background activity is discrete with a convincing and decently broad soundfield while dialogue reproduction is intelligible and distinct in the center. Bass is appropriate and adequate for a film of this vintage, but it provides plenty of depth to the action. In the end, this is an awesome lossless mix devoted fans will absolutely love.

Special Features

Ranking:

All the same supplements are ported over from the previous home video release, which can be read in more detail in our review of the 2014 three-disc combo pack HERE

Final Thoughts

Although it can be considered an early work in David Cronenberg's cannon showing his penchant for "body horror," Scanners is also smart, subtly enlightening, and gorily entertaining. Over the years, the film has grown in stature and beloved as a cult sci-fi horror classic that still manages to surprise and shock thirty years later.

This new single-disc Blu-ray edition from The Criterion Collection arrives with the same excellent audio and video presentation and a healthy collection of bonus material as the 2014 three-disc combo pack. This is recommended for neophytes and those who waited from purchasing the earlier release, but the package is a must-own for devoted Cronenberg fans and cult enthusiasts.