Late in the 21st-century on a far-off mining planet ravaged by war, a colonel abandoned by his superiors tries to cross the desert to negotiate peace with his decimated rivals. In attempting the crossing he and his one-man crew have to contend with a race of weapons who've programmed themselves to kill any living being. Based on "Second Variety," a short story by Philip K. Dick.
The year is 2078, and on the planet Sirius 6B, a long, harsh, hate-filled war is being waged between the Alliance and the NEB's. However the NEB's are willing to begin peace talks, so Alliance leader Col. Joseph Hendricksson, accompanied by a man named Ace, and later a young boy, journey across the nuclear war-ravaged plains to meet with their foes. Upon their arrival, however, they discover that most of the NEB's have been annihilated by the "screamers," knife-brandishing robots that slice and slash humans simply for fun. Hendrickson and Ace soon realize that their lives are in grave danger, for it's impossible to know who to trust... for the blood-seeking screamers can take on any form, from an inanimate object -- to a young boy.
Shown at the 1995 Toronto Film Festival.
Released theatrically in the USA January 26, 1996. The film grossed $5.7 million domestically. Released theatrically in the UK June, 1996.
Co-produced by Fries Film Co.; 3009122 Canada and Jaffa Road XXXI Ltd. Partnership. Produced with the participation of Gouvernement du Quebec and Movie Network.
Rated BBFC 18 by the British Board of Film Classification.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Additional Release Material:
Trailers: Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Story
Philip K. Dick: American Science Fiction Author
Review 1:
"...Excellent artwork....SCREAMERS is as handsome a context as any other..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.62-3 08/01/1996
Review 2:
"...This is an exemplary genre pic: superb 'found' locations with a judicious lacing of smartly functional special effects..."
Source: Film Comment
p.65-70 11/01/1995
Review 3:
"...[The film] does an efficient job of generating a stomach-knotting tension..."
Source: New York Times
p.C23 01/26/1996
Review 4:
"SCREAMERS is a fun, fast-paced thriller....Duguay directs with an assured touch, making sure the film never strays from its action-packed course. The special effects are all first-rate..."
Source: Variety
09/18/1995
Review 5:
"...Made with a certain imagination and intelligence..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.31 01/26/1997