Scanners are men and women born with incredible telepathic and telekinetic powers. This breed of superbrains was developed as an accidental side effect of a tranquilizer administered to some women during pregnancy. Cameron Vale is one such scanner, and he, like most of those with similar powers, exercises the benefits of his special gifts in a safe and judicious manner. But a group of renegade scanners, led by the nefarious Revok, plans to create a race of telepathic ubermenschen who will rule the world. Vale must team up with a like-minded female scanner in order to thwart the plans of the fiendish gang. The protracted end game between Revok and Vale is heightened by a dark secret which is shockingly revealed just before their duel begins.

Scanners are men and women born with incredible telepathic and telekinetic powers. This breed of superbrains was developed as an accidental side effect of a tranquilizer administered to some women during pregnancy. Cameron Vale is one such scanner, and he, like most of those with similar powers, exercises the benefits of his special gifts in a safe and judicious manner. But a group of renegade scanners, led by the nefarious Revok, plans to create a race of telepathic ubermenschen who will rule the world. Vale must team up with a like-minded female scanner in order to thwart the plans of the fiendish gang. The protracted end game between Revok and Vale is heightened by a dark secret which is shockingly revealed just before their duel begins.

Photographed in Eastmancolor on location in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The film was shot in a widescreen process, with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1.

Estimated budget $4.1 million.

Cronenberg previously dealt with the subject of telepathy in one of his earlier, more experimental, short films: "Stereo" (1969, Canada). "Stereo" is 63 minutes long and was shot without direct sound on black-and-white 35mm stock; a voice-over narration was written and added to the film after editing. Its story unfolds in an undesignated year in the future at a clinical institution established for the study of telepathic powers. Various cold-blooded experiments take place in this eerie institute, and the film can be seen as a deadpan satire on the humorless solemnity of scientific language and methods. As of 1993, "Stereo" was not available on video.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital Mono - English
Dolby Digital Mono - French
Additional Release Material:
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer

Stephen Lack: Supporting Actor
Michael Ironside: Actor/"Scanners"
Jennifer O'Neill: 
Patrick McGoohan: Director/Actor, THE PRISONER (1960s)
Lawrence Dane: Director/Actor

David Cronenberg: Canadian Director/Screenwriter, THE FLY (1986)

"...[The] modernistic natural locations have been exceedingly well chosen and are beautifully complimented by Mark Irwin's sharp lensing..."
"...A murky mood piece that has lingered in the memory for 15 years..."
"In Cronenberg's icy, insidious original the head-to-heads exude a menacing intensity..."
"[W]onderfully paranoid and menacingly moody..."