Scanners (1981)

[Akijama]

Scanners Blu-ray PRE-ORDER

New, restored 2K digital film transfer, supervised by director David Cronenberg, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
The “Scanners” Way, a new documentary on the film’s special effects
New interview with actor Michael Ironside
The Ephemerol Diaries, a 2012 interview with actor and artist Stephen Lack
Excerpt from a 1981 interview with Cronenberg on the CBC’s The Bob McLean Show
Stereo (1969), Cronenberg’s first feature film
Trailer
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Kim Newman

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.

[NoirFan]

The cover utilizes a clever design concept, but I'm not sure the execution is that good. Looks like a nice release, although I wish there was a Cronenberg commentary track, as his are always a real pleasure to listen to.

[Kill Bren]

Nice, I was hoping criterion would release a blu-ray after watching a 35mm screening of Scanners last Saturday.

[RandyK]

So does this single release nix the chance of seeing a box set later on this year of some of his other films? Criterion still has The Brood and it seems (to me anyway) unlikely they would release it as a single release later.

[HorrorBlu]

Hopefully The Brood isn't far behind.

[cakefactory]

This is definitely my vote for the worst Cronenberg movie (I still haven't watched Cosmopolis), but I'll still be buying this immediately! It's still quite entertaining and has a couple makeup effects that are rightfully legendary. It might line up with the Barnes and Noble sale, too. I will be especially curious to see that Michael Ironside interview. I distinctly recall an interview with him in Premiere magazine years ago where he was asked about Scanners and told a short story about how Cronenberg was always coming to set and talking about really disgusting dreams he'd had the night before, and how everyone on set quickly learned to make themselves scarce whenever they saw him coming! He ended it with something like "you do NOT want to be in that guy's head." I've never heard any comments like that about Cronenberg from any other actor in the years since, I wonder if Ironside will still be so blunt about his disgust for him, haha.

[THUNDERSTRUCK]

Worst. Cover. Ever.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

This is definitely my vote for the worst Cronenberg movie (I still haven't watched Cosmopolis)

I take it you haven't watched Fast Company either. Stephen Lack (what an appropriate last name!) is laughably bad in the lead (several of his line readings are just painful), but other than that I thought it was a pretty strong film with a terrific score.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by RandyK

So does this single release nix the chance of seeing a box set later on this year of some of his other films? Criterion still has The Brood and it seems (to me anyway) unlikely they would release it as a single release later.

Why wouldn't they release it later? That movie is far more popular than most of the stuff they release every month, horror nerds have proven to be one of the demographics most likely to buy stuff on bluray, and The Brood has gained quite a reputation as an unsung horror classic in the last couple decades. It's generally considered far better than Scanners, anyway, and I don't think Scanners is much, if any, more popular anymore (I know Scanners was initially the popular one, and had several sequels).

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I take it you haven't watched Fast Company either.

Yeah. I always forget about the existence of that movie and so do most lists of his movies. I haven't seen anything pre-Shivers either.

EDIT: I think the plot of Scanners is just lacking, it feels like someone else wrote it and it feels like an anomaly with his other movies at the time. It just seems a lot clumsier in terms of his usual themes of technology vs flesh and bodily decay. And yes, the lead actor is absolutely horrible, though several people have tried to make the argument that "that's exactly how his performance should be cause the character is a stunted manchild who has no idea how to interact!" While the character IS like that, the lead actor really reminds me of nothing so much as the voice actors on the original Silent Hill video game. So, so bad. I do agree the score is good.

[RandyK]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Why wouldn't they release it later? That movie is far more popular than most of the stuff they release every month, horror nerds have proven to be one of the demographics most likely to buy stuff on bluray, and The Brood has gained quite a reputation as an unsung horror classic in the last couple decades. It's generally considered far better than Scanners, anyway, and I don't think Scanners is much, if any, more popular anymore (I know Scanners was initially the popular one, and had several sequels).

I figured they would be released together. Does Criterion release multiple titles by the same director only a couple months apart very often? Just seems odd to me that they would announce them separately.

[Josh B]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

This is definitely my vote for the worst Cronenberg movie (I still haven't watched Cosmopolis), but I'll still be buying this immediately!

You haven't missed anything, Giamatti is the only thing good about it imo. If you think Scanners is the worst, wait till you see Cosmopolis.

edit: Oh yeah, I forgot why I even came to this thread. I have 2 and 3 on BD so this is certainly good news for me, other than the absurd price of Criterion.

[jlk5844]

Strange how there was so much hype for this release and now that it's here, people are sh*tting on the movie. Haven't seen it myself, just observing.

[format916]

that cover is crazy.

[slasherdisc]

Nice!

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by Josh B

I have 2 and 3 on BD so this is certainly good news for me, other than the absurd price of Criterion.

It'll be $20.xx (less with coupons/member discounts) during B & N's Criterion sale.

[Alfredlynch]

Here is hoping for The Brood.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

Strange how there was so much hype for this release and now that it's here, people are sh*tting on the movie. Haven't seen it myself, just observing.

Amazing, this forum isn't a hive mind! It's not a very good movie. I'll still be buying it immediately.

[NoirFan]

I hadn't noticed Stereo is included, do we know if it is 1080p? It was in SD on the BU disc of Fast Company. I wonder if they're saving Crimes of the Future (it would be great to get some of his additional early shorts on disc) for The Brood.

[Josh B]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

It'll be $20.xx (less with coupons/member discounts) during B & N's Criterion sale.

I'm not hip enough to be one of their members, though.