Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
David Cronenberg’s Explosive Sci-Fi Horror
David Cronenberg’s Scanners (1981) is a visceral, cerebral, and unsettling dive into body horror and psychic warfare, cementing the Canadian auteur’s reputation as a master of grotesque, thought-provoking cinema. Blending science fiction, horror, and conspiracy thriller elements, Scanners is both a chilling exploration of human evolution and a showcase of Cronenberg’s signature preoccupation with bodily transformation and technological dread.
Plot and Themes
The film follows Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack), a homeless man with powerful psychic abilities, who is recruited by a shadowy corporation, ConSec, to hunt down rogue “scanners”—individuals with extraordinary telepathic and telekinetic powers. The narrative escalates into a battle between Vale and Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside — Total Recall, Starship Troopers), a ruthless scanner leading a revolution against those who seek to control or exploit his kind.
At its core, Scanners interrogates themes of corporate manipulation, the ethics of human experimentation, and the fear of the “other.” Cronenberg presents scanners as both evolutionary successors and societal outcasts, their abilities rendering them isolated and monstrous. The film’s infamous head-exploding scene—an iconic moment in horror history—epitomizes Cronenberg’s ability to merge intellectual horror with shocking physical grotesquery.
Performances and Style
Stephen Lack’s at times wooden performance as Vale suits the character’s detached nature, while Michael Ironside is terrifying and captivating as Revok, bringing intensity to every scene. Patrick McGoohan gives a grounded portrayal of Dr. Ruth, though the character feels underdeveloped.
Cronenberg’s direction is clinical yet nightmarish, with Howard Shore’s (The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit) eerie score amplifying the tension. The practical effects—particularly the gruesome psychic confrontations—remain impressive, showcasing Cronenberg’s fascination with the body as a site of horror and transcendence.
Legacy and Critique
Scanners has flaws—uneven pacing and awkward dialogue—but its ambition and impact outweigh these issues. The film undeniably influences many sci-fi/horror works on psychic powers and corporate conspiracies.
Verdict
A landmark in body horror and sci-fi cinema, Scanners is a disturbing, intellectually charged spectacle. Cronenberg’s vision of psychic warfare as both a curse and an evolutionary leap remains as compelling today as it was in 1981. While not as polished as his later works (Videodrome, The Fly), it’s an essential piece of his filmography—and a must-watch for fans of cerebral, grotesque horror.
The Video
Scanners was shot on 35mm Eastman film stock and Second Sight provides the film on 4K Ultra HD in a new 4K restoration approved by director David Cronenberg. The film is presented in a 1.85:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodement. This is a film that has had a history of looking great on home video. The 2013 Blu-ray release from Second Sight looked excellent, with the same sort of vibrant pop in reds and superb shadow details. That is now even better here in this 4K restoration, with finer details and a denser, cleaner layer of grain, heightened details, and pop in the highlights. The opening scene in the food court remains one of the highlights the transfer, showing off all there is to come.
The Audio
Scanners includes the original mono soundtrack in LPCM 1.0 and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. The 5.1 is more atmospheric and subtle with nothing much discrete going on in the surround channels, but there are good dynamics.
The Supplements
This limited edition dual format release is what we have come to expect from Second Sight. It is packed with features and housed in gorgeous, rigid slipbox packaging.
Limited Edition Contents:
• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Krishna Shenoi
• 120-page book with new essays by Dr Xavier Aldana Reyes, Eugenio Ercolani and Gian Giacomo Petrone, Kurt Halfyard, Craig Ian Mann, Francesco Massaccesi, Jessica
Scott, Emma Westwood and Heather Wixson
• Six collectors’ art cards
Bonus Features:
- Blu-ray with Feature Film and the identical bonus features
- Audio commentary by Caelum Vatnsdal (NEW)
- Audio commentary by William Beard
- My Art Keeps Me Sane: An interview with actor Stephen Lack (1080p; 00:23:46)
- A Method in His Madness: An interview with actor Michael Ironside (1080p; 00:30:32)
- Bad Guy Dane: An interview with actor Lawrence Dane (1080p; 00:05:18)
- The Eye of Scanners: An interview with Cinematographer Mark Irwin (1080p; 00:15:11)
- Mind Fragments: An interview with composer Howard Shore (1080p; 00:18:54)
- The Chaos of Scanners: An interview with executive producer Pierre David (1080p; 00:13:42)
- Exploding Brains & Popping Veins: An interview with makeup effects artist Stephen Dupuis (1080p; 00:09:33)
- Monster Kid: An interview with makeup effects artist Chris Walas (1080p; 00:21:40)
- Cronenberg’s Tech Babies: Tim Coleman on Scanners (1080p; 00:13:43)
The Final Assessment
A classic of body horror, Scanners still holds up in 2025 proving Cronenberg’s mastery of his craft and here, it is looking better than it has ever looked. Now, housed in a package that will stand out in your collection and bursting at the seams with bonus features and content. Highly recommended.
Scanners (Limited Edition) is out on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray in the UK March 31, 2025 from Second Sight Films
- Rating Certificate: UK — 18
- Studios & Distributors: Canadian Film Development Corporation | Filmplan International | Montreal Trust Company of Canada | Second Sight Films
- Director: David Cronenberg
- Written By: David Cronenberg
- Run Time: 103 Mins.
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
- HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
- Primary Audio: English LPCM 1.0
- Secondary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
- Subtitles: English HOH
- Street Date: 31 March 2025