If you’ve heard of, but never seen, David Cronenberg‘s Scanners you’re still likely to be familiar with the infamous head-exploding scene. It’s perhaps the most iconic scene in any one of Cronenberg’s films and there are a lot to choose from, and while I’ve seen people argue Scanners is only memorable for that one scene, I was happy to find more enjoyment in this 1981 classic than I remembered the first time I watched it.
That being said, I don’t remember the first time I saw Scanners, but I do know it was before I really knew what it was to watch a Cronenberg movie. In fact, I’ve still yet to explore his entire oeuvre including films such as The Brood, Naked Lunch and Crash, primarily because I believe there is a mood one must be in before watching one of his films. You need to almost prepare yourself with the knowledge that anything can happen, and making sure you’re open to that fact.
It’s for this reason it took me so long to watch Criterion’s new Blu-ray release, but once I did I was very pleased with the end result. Just looking at screen capture comparisons over at DVD Beaver gives you some idea of what you’re getting with this new 2K transfer, which was supervised by Cronenberg himself. The colors appear more muted next to the higher contrast captures of other releases, but at the same time it gives them a more realistic and as DVD Beaver’s Gary Tooze writes, “earthy tone”. The color boost in the other images turns it into something of a false image.
The extras on the disc are limited, but great, primarily the two new features, the first of which is an interview with Michael Ironside called “Mental Saboteur“. The interview runs for 20 minutes and rather than just focus on Ironside’s involvement in Scanners, though that is certainly the primary topic, it gets into his early days as an actor working in Canada as well as his later years. The best is him telling a story from the set of Terminator Salvation in which a PA asks him if he’s of any relation to the Michael Ironside in Scanners, he simply tells her yes he is and leaves it at that.
The second new featurette is called “The Scanners Way” and it’s a 23-minute, extensive look at the film’s special effects and it is loaded with interesting nuggets of information, highlighting one of the great ways Cronenberg continues to shock and awe us with violence so visceral and in your face. This is a film made before the days of CG interference and beyond the exploding head, the creation of the bloody veins at the end of the film is some of the greatest, and effective, practical effects work I’ve ever seen in a movie.
Additional features include a 2012 interview with star Stephen Lack called “The Ephemerol Diaries” and an excerpt from a 1981 interview with Cronenberg on the CBC’s “The Bob McLean Show”, which is interesting in that we get a look at Cronenberg 33 years ago.
Finally, the release includes Cronenberg’s very first feature film, Stereo, which I have to say I found little to no enjoyment in outside of its obvious curiosity value. Its relation and obvious inspiration for Scanners is really all that fascinated me, but I had a hard time not fast-forwarding over the bulk of it.
[amz asin=”B00JPUUQVE” size=”small”]Overall, the largest pleasure I had was in re-watching the film and finding a greater appreciation for not only the film, but for Ironside’s performance. Ironside dominates the finale and to hear him discuss the film in the features is another crucial bonus, rounding out this package. I also have to give a shout out to cover artist Connor Willumsen. As always Criterion has put together a visually stunning package, but Willumsen makes it all the more impressive and gives it that added “pop”.
As far as a recommendation goes, Cronenberg and Scanners fans should feel comfortable jumping all over this release. The re-watch value is definitely there and I’ll probably even watch the Ironside interview and effects feature more than once. As a blind buy, and for someone not all that familiar Cronenberg’s work… this might be a tough sell. Cronenberg is an acquired taste and a tough watch for many. Maybe a rental might be the best way to go if you’re on the fence or at all unfamiliar with his work.
You can buy a copy of Scanners right here and help benefit the site with your purchase.
