Released: 1981
Director: David Cronenberg
Running time: 103 mins
I love a good freak. A weirdo on the fringe. A fucken’ outsider. Nothing gets me hot quite like a misunderstood lead with tired eyes. It definitely tracks then that I’d love Cronenberg’s Scanners. First, if you haven’t seen Scanners, you are kind of blowing it. I don’t understand what it is that you’re watching at home. Second, as a solutions-oriented person, I am here to alter your reality through the suggestion that not only is Scanners a spectacular joint, but it is the best Cronie.
Scanners is a sci-fi horror from 1981 by the original Big Daddy of Freakshit himself, David Cronenberg. It tells the story of vagabond and shitty psychic, Cameron Vale who is pursued by a weaponry and security systems corp called ConSec. Once captured, he finds himself at a crossroads: buy-in to ConSec’s ideologies and eeevil secret agenda or explore the depths of his gift with others like him. Following a high speed chase, a handful of educational breaks in art studios and finally, a battle of wits with rogue Scanner and all around bully Revok, Scanners’ final form is fully realized. It is more than just a Cronenberg without the sex. It’s more than the sum of its sweet explosions and bloody parts. Scanners is ultimately a movie about the bond of community. Kinship. Acceptance.
This theory is best appreciated through the understanding of:
1) Cronenberg’s production process and
2) the fictional aspects of Scanners’ story.
Scanners if you weren’t already in the know, was filmed entirely in Canada. Majority of the flick’s locations were hastily scouted and shot on site as there was very little time and money budgeted for set production. I have to be honest. The idea of Cronenberg and the boys rolling around Montreal to scope filming spots like you would for the perfect 6 stair to skate keeps me up at night. There is a very undeniable do it yourself attitude when you watch this movie. Every viewing I’m left with an impression that if I were to ask around enough, I’d learn that one of my friends' Dads operated the boom mic for Cronie or that maybe their aunt served everyone homemade lunches every day. Like, egg salad sandwiches with Robin’s Donuts coffee and saran wrapped confetti squares. The word palpable is kind of gross, but the DIY approach of Scanners is exactly that.
Next. The Big Daddy has been known to hire other Canadians. Howard Shore, Scanners’ composer, is one of these people. Shore is perhaps more commonly recognized for his work on the LoTR series and Silence of the Lambs. Additionally, cinematographer Mark Irwin, responsible for work on Robocop 2 and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare for example, is also credited for his efforts here. Irwin’s portfolio includes chief cinematography duties on Cronie’s vastly popular Fly as well. And finally, Michael Ironside and Stephen Lack: also Canadian boys!
So who gives a shit? Why is this important? If you’re any sort of consumer, chances are good that you know first hand the level of influence your dollar actually has when you shop intentionally. Or chances are good that you are aware of the direct impact of hiring (as well as referring) your friends with specialized skills for jobs. How supporting local businesses aids in the development of strong communities. Making movies is no different. Now as an outsider of the Cronenberg circle there’s obviously no way that I could realistically speculate how these hiring decisions affected everyone involved. I can however infer based on their ensuing work credits that Cronenberg single handedly shaped the landscape of Canadian cinema through the loving practice of banging for his damn team.
I think maybe more now than ever, or at least in my lived history, people are evaluating how social capital and connection enriches their lives. Things are shitty; dystopic even and it’s easy to forget that or take it for granted when we’re rubbing elbows with old dates at shows wishing we were invisible, or sitting next to a chatty coworker at lunch who insists on talking even though your headphones are c l e a r l y plugged in. Now though, as we all longingly gaze through the windows of our homes, making up excuses to call our crushes (or maybe not call), we yearn for these uncomfortable moments past because being alone kind of sucks quite frankly.
All of this alone time has made me consider the term “community”. How do I define it? What did my mom tell me it was? What does fucken’ Scanners tell me it is? Community is a group of people often proximity based, brought together by a specific driving force. Whether that’s, again, physical nearness, blood, similar interests, or moral ethics. It’s something. It’s hard to pinpoint at times but you know it when you see it. You can feel it when you’re with your people in whatever way it is that you define commonality. Cameron Vale, although we know nothing of his life before Scanners’ is innately attracted to Kim’s scan. He is truly ready to risk it all and throw his life into complete upheaval following the slightest notion that there are others like him. People know his struggle first hand. Although not raised together, no familial ties, no lived history with any of the other Scanners cohort, Cam immediately leans into his gift and fights for what he believes is the greater good. Cameron is tired of being a freak and an outsider. I always find myself wondering what different experiences made Revok into the dude he is and what happened in Cam’s life to make him such a resilient dude.
Honestly, at the end of the day I don’t and probably won’t ever know what constructs the fibre of your being. But I for one, was raised by a strong armed notion to foster the communities I engage within as it is the stepping stone to connection. Without that, what’s the point? I guess that’s why Scanners is the one for me. Cronenberg gets it, the Cameron Vale character embodies that, the production of Scanners mirrors that. And all in all, it’s this shit that makes Scanners the Big Guy’s best work. Who knows though. I could be just talking a lot of shit right now. But what I will suggest is this: if you care about people, if you’re at all interested in acceptance just like, as a broad concept, give Scanners 103 minutes of your time. If you are maybe feeling a little displaced yourself these days in these trying times, get really drunk - I recommend Nude Gin and Sodas as the cans are perfect for stomping on the floor of your kitchen - and revisit Scanners. Let Cameron Vale make the tough calls for you and usher you into a new plane of being.
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