#1 – Scanners (1981)
When I first discovered the films of David Cronenberg, I initially ran cold on Scanners. I never disliked it, but beyond its killer special effects and some interesting turns (Michael Ironside, Patrick McGoohan), it never really held me. There was just something cold and distant about the film, even beyond its odd lead in the form of Stephen Lack.
In the years since, I found myself liking it a bit more upon each subsequent viewing. Now I outright love the film. Part of that comes from seeing and understanding the rest of Cronenberg’s work, of course. That cold and distant feel that was once a bit off-putting has become a bit of a warm blanket now, in a strange way, as many of his films feel that way.
In many ways, it plays like Cronenberg’s take on X-Men. You have the loner lead, with powers he doesn’t understand. You have the mentor who attempts to help him control them, while also using his gifts to further his own crusade. You have a shady organization that wants to harness these abilities in the hopes that they can be weaponized and controlled. Finally, in Darryl Revok (Ironside), you have a power mad maniac threatening to violently conquer humanity.
Its body horror elements, explosive effects (hah!), and a showstopping performance by Ironside will always be the things that people remember most when talking about Scanners. While that’s completely understandable, there’s more to it than just exploding heads. It is a film about the rape of the mind, the body, and the soul. It might not be my favorite Cronenberg offering (that’d be The Brood), but it’s still a masterpiece and should be treated as such.
