Plot: What’s it about?
Michael Bower (Edward Furlong) is a teenager who loves horror movies and violent video games, but he stays out of trouble. He has the incident here and there at school, mostly with his prudish principal, but all in all, he is a good kid. At home, he lives in the attic and has an expansive, cutting edge computer system, worth thousands upon thousands of dollars. This machine has the fastest chips, the largest hard drives, and the most advanced programs, including a butler who keeps Michael informed of what happens. But as advanced as all that is, even Michael is stunned when gives Brainscan a spin. The newest, most advanced video game out, Brainscan puts you inside a horror movie. The program feeds off the user, to learn what drives them, what scares them, to make the most realistic, effective experience. As Michael goes through the session, he is amazed by the program and feels as if all the events are real. But he is glad they’re not, since a brutal murder unfolds as part of the session. When he exits the game, he is shocked to later learn that the murder was real and of course, he was the killer. Now he must stay a step ahead of the police and try to prove that the game, not him, is responsible.
I am pleased to mark off yet another release on my list of bad, but fun horror movies not yet on DVD, as Brainscan has arrived. As other studios have mined deep and pulled out some obscure material, its hard to believe the big studios haven’t done much, but Brainscan is one I’ve been waiting on for some time now. I know it isn’t a good movie, but I always have a blast with Brainscan and that’s what counts. The premise is solid and the details are well worked, though of course, the assorted twists are somewhat predictable. Even so, the material is well handled and is a cut above most recent horror movies. It explores some interesting themes, like teenage isolation, realistic video games, and violence in entertainment. The film never preaches however, as it seems to side with the logic that the person, not the entertainment, is to blame when problems arise. The needed tension is present, with a detective hot on the trail, a sinister Trickster, and our teenage lead all in total pursuit of their goals. The finale is satisfying, though a tragic cliche hits a tad beforehand that kind of lessens the fun when it all ends. So the movie is fun, but Columbia’s treatment fails to offer much beyond the bare essentials. So if you’re a big fan of Brainscan, this disc is worthwhile, but for others, a rental will more than suffice.
In a lot of horror movies, you’ll often find one or two established workers, veteran actors to lend some credibility to the event. Some folks even make a career out of it, like Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, and Donald Pleasance. In Brainscan, the veteran is Frank Langella and while he hasn’t made such roles his career, he does have experience in the genre. Langella provides a base to this picture and even though he isn’t one of the leads, he is a sort of anchor at times, which is much needed here. The two leads are so kinetic and offbeat, Langella’s role brings a real world character in to balance it all out a shade. I’m sure this isn’t the performance he wants to remembered for, but Langella is good throughout. He has a basic detective role, but brings a solid presence and his ruthless pursuit enhances the movie. I’d rather see him in more dramatic or even comedic roles, but Langella puts on a good show here. Other films with Langella include The Twelve Chairs, Masters of the Universe, Body of Evidence, and Dracula. Other cast members include Edward Furlong (Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Animal Factory), James Marsh (Best Laid Plans, The Forsaken), and Amy Hargreaves (Saint Maybe, Flashback).
Video: How does it look?
Brainscan is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. I am very pleased to have a widescreen edition of this movie, since previous releases have been full screen, including the laserdisc version. The image here is quite good, with a clean print used and no signs of serious problems to report. A light amount of grain is visible, but that’s acceptable and no loss of refinement is caused. The colors look bright and vivid, which is good since this movie uses a lot of bold hues, while flesh tones appear natural throughout. This one has many dark sequences, so the contrast has to be accurate and it is here. So black levels are well balanced and detail remains high, simply a terrific visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
I remember this movie sounded really good in theaters, but the previous editions haven’t captured that same experience. With this 2.0 surround option however, the material is as brash and loud as ever, amped up quite a bit from the laserdisc treatment. The surrounds won’t shake the pictures off the walls, but they are active and provide some kick, especially when the hard rock soundtrack is present. There’s not much as far as subtle presence, but a few scenes have good attention to detail, which is good news. The dialogue has no troubles either, so vocals are rich and clear from start to finish. This disc also includes subtitles in English and French, just in case you’ll need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains no bonus materials.
