Brainscan

1994
R
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

13K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:03

1 Video

99+ Photos

Body Horror Dark Comedy Slasher Horror Horror Sci-Fi

A teenager is part of an interactive video game where he kills innocent victims. Later, the murders become real.A teenager is part of an interactive video game where he kills innocent victims. Later, the murders become real.A teenager is part of an interactive video game where he kills innocent victims. Later, the murders become real.

Directors
- John Flynn
- Dino Castelli
Writers
- Brian Owens
- Andrew Kevin Walker
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

13K

YOUR RATING

Directors
- John Flynn
- Dino Castelli
Writers
- Brian Owens
- Andrew Kevin Walker
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Kyle
(as a different name)

Victor Ertmanis

Martin

David Hemblen

Dr. Fromberg

Vlasta Vrana

Frank

Domenico Fiore

Ken
(as Dom Fiore)

Claire Riley

News Anchor

Tod Fennell

Young Michael
(as Tod Fennel)

Michèle-Barbara Pelletier

Stacie
(as Michele-Barbara Pelletier)

Dean Hagopian

Mr. Keller

Donna Baccala

Mrs. Keller
(as Donna Bacalla)

Jérôme Tiberghien

Mr. Tebb
(as Jerome Thiberghian)

Don Jordan

Cop #1

Pete White

Dog Owner

Peter Colvey

John

Directors
- John Flynn
- Dino Castelli
Writers
- Brian Owens
- Andrew Kevin Walker
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Director John Flynn did not get along with Edward Furlong during filming. He later recalled, "Eddie Furlong was a 15-year-old kid who couldn't act. You had to slap him awake every morning. I don't want to get into knocking people, but I was not a big Eddie Furlong fan."

Goofs
Michael's area code is 717 which is located in Eastern Pennsylvania. However if you look closely at the letters that he sorts through and finds the Brainscan package, the state that he lives in is actually New Jersey.

Quotes
[Michael answers Dr. Fromberg as to why he likes watching horror films]
Michael: I guess it's kind of an escape.
Dr. Fromberg: Like, uh... lighting up a marijuana cigarette and escaping the real world, hmm? Like watching a pornographic sex film, getting an erection and raping someone? Is that what you mean?
Michael: You know, I don't think erections rape people. People rape people.

Crazy credits
As the end credits start, we hear Trickster say "Wait a minute. Haven't you forgotten something?" and the credits screen shatters as if it was made of glass. It then shows a scene involving the dog with the dismembered foot from earlier in the film, and then the end credits resume.

Alternate versions
The UK Guild video was cut by 58 secs with edits to a scene where a man is repeatedly stabbed and his foot severed. The cuts were waived for the Optimum DVD release.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Bad Girls/The Inkwell/Naked in New York/Brainscan/Surviving the Game (1994)

Soundtracks
Under My Skin
Performed by Dandelion
Written by Dandelion
Produced by David M. Johnson and Dandelion
Courtesy of RuffHouse Records

User reviews109

Review

Featured review

6/10

A Classic!

'Brainscan' is a true 90's horror classic. The film has a unique premise, and an ending you won't see coming from a mile away.

Ok, so the film is about a gaming fanatic, Michael (Edward Furlong) who boasts about having played every game out there. Through his friend Kyle, he is introduced to a brand new, super interactive game called 'Brainscan'. And it literally means just that: it scans your brain and incorporates your subconscious mind into the game. Things soon get much, much more complicated than this, though (for Michael).

Furlong is very good as Michael, but the best performance by far, was T. Ryder Smith as The Trickster. He defines the character. The film's make-up and visual effects are also very good, keeping in mind CGI wasn't a big thing back then. (CGI was only really prominently used in films after the success of 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring).

'Brainscan' is fast-paced and captivating, keeping the viewer glued to the screen. The film sucks you in as Michael's world spirals out of control. There never really is a dull moment. This is a very clever script. On the downside, the film's lighting isn't very good, resulting in a film that is very dark - even during daytime. Nevertheless, 'Brainscan' is an interesting watch with a great reveal.