Scanners (Film Review)

1981 Manson International
Written and Directed by: David Cronenberg
Starring: Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Patrick McGoohan, Lawrence Dane, and Michael Ironside
MPAA Rating: R; Running Time: 103 Minutes
The Nicsperiment: 8/10

Cameron hears voices in his head. After he somehow gives a woman a seizure with his mind, he's picked up and held by Dr. Paul Ruth, who works for a private security company called ConSec. Dr. Ruth tells Cameron that Cameron is a "Scanner," one of a small group of people on Earth who were born with telekinetic powers. Ruth teaches Cameron how to use his scanning abilities, then asks him to go after Revoc, a powerful Scanner who wants to unite all Scanners in world domination, killing any who refuse. Twists, turns, and violent battles of the mind ensue.
For me, David Cronenberg is hit and miss. Sometimes I enjoy his films and sometimes I find them gross and highly self-indulgent. I think Scanners is a winner. Cronenberg's writing here feels original and fresh. Scanner's world-building is detailed. The plot is complex, yet not convoluted. The hip, cyberpunk atmosphere comes through, despite a limited budget, and a slim choice of Canadian filming locales.
Stephen Lack gives an odd performance as Cameron, though he is playing a telepathic character who has been tormented by his abilities for his entire life up until now. Jennifer O'Neill is great as his female telepath counterpart. However, the true standout is the ever-reliable Michael Ironside as Revok. There's a reason the film's commercial artwork is mostly focused around Ironside--he is menacing and magnetic as the powerful telepath, Revok, and the famous sequence of him exploding a fellow telepath's head in a mind battle is incredibly and disgustingly rendered by the special effects crew, who have several other chances to show off their mastery of practical craftwork. 
As a near bonus, Howard Shore shows off an early, yet quite evocative and original score. For this low of a budget, Cronenberg luckily hits upon many crewmembers turning in top tier work, and that includes Cronenberg himself. Even the ending satisfies. Scanners is an engaging and...I might be the only person left on Earth to use this descriptor...cool film. I don't know what the equivalent slang term for that word is now, 45-years after the film's release, but dammit, Scanners is cool!