Themes: Technology Run Amok, Computer Paranoia, Kids in Trouble
Main Cast: Edward Furlong, Frank Langella, T. Ryder Smith, Amy Hargreaves, James Marsh, Victor Ertmanis
Release Year: 1994
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 94 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Unlike most teen horror movies, Brainscan relies more on atmosphere and plot than gore and bloodsoaked effects. Edward Furlong plays Michael, a 16-year-old horror movie fan, computer whiz, and misfit who responds to an ad for Brainscan, an CD-ROM virtual reality game that promises to "interface with your unconscious." Once involved with the game, Michael dreams that he brutally stabs a stranger and slices off his foot -- only to awaken and find the foot in his refrigerator. Out of Michael's computer comes Trickster (T. Ryder Smith), a sardonic, malevolent creation who advises Michael to keep playing new editions of Brainscan to evade capture by a suspicious cop (Frank Langella). With a death count that is relatively low and mostly offscreen (amputated feet notwithstanding), Brainscan doesn't make up for its lack of onscreen violence with a particularly original script, although it should be commended for not taking the easy way out. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
David Hemblen - Dr. Fromberg; Vlasta Vrana - Frank; Peter White - Dog Owner; Jerome Tiberghien - Mr Tebb; Claire Riley - News Anchor; Peter Colvey - John; Dean Hagopian - Mr Keller; Paul Stewart - Bob
Credit
Pedro Gandol - First Assistant Director, John Flynn - Director, Jay Lash Cassidy - Editor, George S. Clinton - Composer (Music Score), Don Cohen - Musical Direction/Supervision, Steve Johnson - Makeup, Paola Ridolfi - Production Designer, Francois Protat - Cinematographer, Michel Roy - Producer, Jeffrey Sudzin - Producer, Earl Berman - Producer, Esther Freifeld - Producer, Rene Daalder - Special Effects, Dave McKeown - Stunts, Brian Owens - Screenwriter, Andrew Kevin Walker - Screenwriter
The soundtrack to this horror movie features 10 hard rock songs by a variety of acts, the most prominent being Primus, Mudhoney, and Butthole Surfers, plus the movie's main title by George S. Clinton. None of the music is any more memorable than the movie. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
A lonely teenage horror-movie fan named Michael Brower (Edward Furlong) discovers a mysterious computer game that uses hypnosis to custom-tailor the game into the most terrifying experience imaginable. When he emerges from the hypnotic trance, he is horrified to find evidence that the brutal murder depicted in the game actually happened, and HE'S the killer. Add in the appearance of the mysterious Trickster (T. Ryder Smith), and the murderous madness jumps to the next level. Hounded by his best friend Kyle Hilliard (Jamie Marsh) and Police Detective Hayden (Frank Langella), and hiding the truth from girl next door and crush Kimberly (Amy Hargreaves), Michael's world comes crashing down in a hectic cacophony that is sure to make one think, "Are you sure you wanna play?"
