Scanners Blu-ray Review

David Cronenberg's "Scanners", now available on Blu-ray from Second Sight Films, receives an impressive AVC-encoded 1080p transfer that retains the film's original 1.85:1 aspect. Mark Irwin's dramatic cinematography is thoughtfully preserved, showcasing a film-like texture with stable, natural colors. Indoor lighting is less harsh, and exterior skies exhibit a true-to-source coloration, enhancing the authenticity of both sunsets and sunrises. The transfer highlights finely detailed close-ups while maintaining an organic look throughout, although occasional moderate digital tinkering results in a slight waxy appearance on faces.

This version notably retains the film's subtle grain, contributing to the overall cinematic feel. Black levels are generally good, stabilizing the image, though some scenes—particularly interior shots—may appear slightly flattened in contrast. Notably, exterior scenes and action moments maintain depth and vitality, with highlights such as the rain-slicked roads during a key sequence displaying excellent clarity in reflections and flames. Detail consistency persists across various scenes, enhancing textures on clothing and environmental elements.

The high-definition presentation furthers the dramatic impact of the film’s visceral special effects. The iconic head explosion scene is rendered with remarkable detail, capturing the gory intricacies with precision. Despite some primitive-looking effects becoming more apparent at higher resolutions, the enhanced contrast and color timing enrich the visual experience. The image remains free from edge enhancement and aliasing, ensuring smooth panning shots and overall stability. This robust Region B disc stands out as perhaps the most definitive home video release of the cult classic to date, ensuring a captivating viewing experience for fans and newcomers alike.

The Blu-ray release of "Scanners" by Second Sight Films offers two high-resolution audio options that cater to both purists and those seeking a remastered experience. The available tracks are uncompressed PCM stereo and 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio. The PCM stereo track is noted for its faithful reproduction of the original audio design, providing a natural soundstage with Howard Shore's score articulated clearly and evenly across the front channels. Dialogue is prominently placed in the center, maintaining distinct clarity, while background effects subtly enrich the overall soundfield. Dynamics are well-balanced, delivering excellent detail especially in higher ranges, and the bass, though not overwhelming, complements the vintage action sequences appropriately.

The 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track offers a slightly more elaborate auditory experience. While it does not fully exploit rear channels, it enhances the front-heavy presentation with minor ambient bleeds during key musical and action sequences. This track mitigates issues preexisting in earlier versions, such as clipping and fuzziness during high-intensity moments, providing a cleaner rendition of the Scan-tone and other effects. Additionally, subtle elements like telepathic voice movements and weapon sounds gain clarity and precision without drowning in exaggerated bass. The eerie "thrummm" accompanying every scanning sequence emerges with greater depth and resonance, contributing to an immersive atmosphere.

Whether you opt for the PCM stereo or the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 track, each offers a distinct listening experience that elevates "Scanners" significantly. The former retains the original audio's nuance and naturalism, while the latter offers improved balance and clarity in problematic areas of the soundtrack. Both mixes make substantial contributions to this cult sci-fi horror classic, rendering it aurally engaging and more vivid than ever before.

The Blu-ray extras for "Scanners" provide a comprehensive dive into the film's production, featuring insightful interviews with key cast and crew members. While lacking contributions from David Cronenberg, Michael Ironside, and Howard Shore, the interviews assembled offer substantial and engaging content. Stephen Lack's interview is particularly noteworthy, as he shares unique stories regarding his co-stars and collaborations with makeup artist Dick Smith. Mark Irwin provides a detailed account of his career transition to working with Cronenberg, complemented by Pierre David’s enthusiastic reflections on the turbulent shoot. Stephan Dupuis gives a fascinating breakdown of the special effects behind the iconic exploding head scene. Lastly, Lawrence Dane recalls his character portrayal and experiences on set. These interviews collectively enrich the understanding of the film’s conception and execution, making them invaluable for fans.

Extras included in this disc:

• My Art Keeps Me Sane: Quirky interview with actor Stephen Lack.
• The Eye of Scanners: Cinematographer Mark Irwin shares production memories.
• The Chaos of Scanners: Executive producer Pierre David discusses the chaotic shoot.
• Exploding Brains and Popping Veins: SFX artist Stephan Dupuis details gore effects.
• Bad Guy Dane: Actor Lawrence Dane recalls his role and working with Cronenberg.

David Cronenberg's 1981 film "Scanners" remains a thought-provoking piece that blends horror with science fiction, exploring themes of power, paranoia, and corporate conspiracy. The film delves into the realm of telepathy, featuring individuals known as scanners who possess the ability to manipulate others' thoughts and actions. At its core, "Scanners" tells the story of a battle between good and evil, with rogue scanner Darryl Revok (Michael Ironside) aiming to dominate the world through any means necessary, while Dr. Paul Ruth (Patrick McGoohan) recruits an untrained scanner, Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack), to thwart Revok's nefarious plans. This exploration of mental illness and societal integration adds a layer of depth to the narrative, making it as relevant today as it was during its release.

Cronenberg's execution, while pioneering for its time, presents an uneven narrative, particularly in the film's first half. The numerous character expositions and verbose sessions between Dr. Ruth and Vale occasionally feel protracted, teasing a complexity that ultimately doesn't materialize. Despite this, the film's paranoia-laden atmosphere is highly effective, enhanced by Mark Irwin's cinematography and Howard Shore's minimalistic yet immersive score. However, the rushed production timeline is evident in the finale, which although featuring impressive visual effects, feels hasty and lacks a profound moral resolution. Cronenberg himself admitted to the frustrations faced during production, clearly reflected in the hurried ending.

Technically and thematically ahead of its time, "Scanners" continues to captivate with its dramatic telekinetic duels and socially incisive commentary. Although it’s recognized for its iconic head-exploding scene, other sequences such as the tense phone booth scenario showcase Cronenberg's innovative vision. Despite some stiffness in performances—namely Stephen Lack—the film’s probing look at the influence of external forces on human psychology and our susceptibility to corporate manipulation remains compelling. For enthusiasts of Cronenberg’s brand of body horror and cerebral storytelling, "Scanners" offers an experience that, despite its imperfections, still resonates strongly.

The Blu-ray release of David Cronenberg's "Scanners" from Second Sight Films is an exceptional commemoration of this cult sci-fi horror classic. Known for its groundbreaking exploration of body horror, "Scanners" encapsulates both visceral gory entertainment and intellectual depth. The video transfer is meticulously detailed, with color-timing impactful and accurate to the film's original aesthetic. This fidelity in visual presentation significantly enhances the viewing experience, maintaining the integrity of Cronenberg's visionary work. The audio presentation is equally impressive, capturing the nuanced sound design that elevates the film's tense atmosphere.

Packaging-wise, the limited SteelBook edition is visually stunning and serves as a desirable collector’s item. A small variance in brightness levels compared to previous releases, such as the Australian Umbrella Entertainment version, exists but remains inconsequential in the grand scheme. While supplemental features are not exhaustive, they offer insightful peeks into the film's production with personal anecdotes that enrich understanding. However, it is worth noting the absence of participation from Cronenberg and primary actor Michael Ironside, which leaves a gap in the otherwise comprehensive extras.

Ultimately, "Scanners" remains a seminal work within the horror genre, celebrated for its innovative effects and narrative. This Blu-ray release not only does justice to the film's enduring legacy but enhances it with superior technical quality and engaging supplements. Fans, both old and new, will find this to be an invaluable addition to their collection. Highly recommended. But, be all this as it may, "Scanners" is much more renowned for its iconic head explosion scene—a testament to Cronenberg’s genius. This release encapsulates why "Scanners" is considered a groundbreaking feat within the genre and solidifies its status as a must-own for enthusiasts. It's evident that "Scanners" continues to captivate audiences, ensuring that it will still blow your mind.