VHS : Scanners [1981]

Rating: - What if Abel could win over Cain?
We have only one choice in this world : to escape into a virtual reality or to accept paranormal human capabilities. Cronenberg takes the second road. The human being has capabilities no one can imagine, and they can easily be produced by some chemicals that enhance the genetic possibilities of the human potential. But Cronenberg is interested in the ethical side of things. Such a scanner has a power that can lead to absolute control of the planet and humanity for his own sake and profit or for the good of his fellowmen. Cronenberg invest this dilemma in two brothers who will have to confront each other for the ultimate victory of one on the other. Add to this the greed of normal people, especially if they are corporate CEOs who want to make money from absolutely anything that can be profitable, and you have a vision of what our free enterprise society can lead to, and does lead to here and there. The « bad » scanner will kill all those who had been oriented onto the good path : elimination is the best way to domination. The « good » scanner will confront the « bad » one and eventually try to destroy him. The last twist of the plot, the last punch line of the story is Cronenberg's belief that in the end « good » always wins over « evil », but be sure there is no belief that « good » is what the « evil » ones say it is. And here Cronenberg is a little bit static in his thinking : he wants to keep the status quo that the « evil » one may disrupt. This ethical dimension leads to a final victory of « good ». Cronenberg here is a post-stephen-kingian filmmaker but he loses the typically kingian permanent ambiguity : « evil » can be contained but never defeated : « evil » will always come back in a way or another. In other words Cronenberg does not believe in the devil, whereas Stephen King believes « evil » comes from a being that is from another dimension of reality, in a word from the Dark Man who is nothing but the devil. Cronenberg is trying to preserve humanity without referring to the religious spiritual level of things : « good » and « evil » are contained in man and women themselves. In other words he refuses to escape into the virtual reality religions propose and decides to remain within the real reality of man by recognizing the paranormal dimension of this particular animal : « good » and « evil » do not come from a god and a devil but from the deep genetic potentialities of man himself.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

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Rating: - A splatter movie for the discerning viewer
I have watched this film at least 50 times and I never tire of seeing it. It's proof that Cronenberg was, even nearly 20 years ago, a visionary with a strong stomach. The exploding head, the ruptured veins, nosebleeds and spontaneous combustion should have produced a film whose violence is completely tasteless, but it didn't. Instead, the director uses strong photography, an interesting notion for a plot (Cronenberge studied as a biochemist, and many of his films deal with the concepts of disease and infection) and a gripping soundtrack by his long-time collaborator Howard Shore, to build a film which is truly enjoyable. Despite the uniformly wooden acting and appallingly weak dialogue, the 'kinda' happy ending and a rather obvious 'right versus wrong' storyline, the overall effect is still gripping and - somehow - great fun. Great.