Brainscan

Michael Brower (Edward Furlong), a lonely fan of horror films and video games still suffers from lingering trauma (both physical and mental) as a result of a vehicular collision that disabled his leg and killed his mother. Michael's niche interests are a point of ridicule for the student body and a point of contention for the faculty who equate such interest on the level of rape and narcotics. When Michael's only friend, Kyle (Jamie Marsh) tells him of a new interactive horror game called Brainscan, Michael calls the info number and is sent a copy without having placed an order. The game delivers on fear, but the presence of a malevolent entity known as The Trickster (T. Ryder Smith) blurs the lines of reality with the horror of the game appearing in real life.

Brainscan was one of the few Slashers still released to cinemas in a time where the genre was mostly on the decline and entries were dumped on Home Video or cable. While slasher series such as Leprechaun, Child's Play, and Candyman did emerge during the 90s, most of them couldn't hold audience interest and were met with either diminishing margins or sequels going straight to video. One of the last film's to be released by Gaumont/Columbia joint venture Triumph Releasing Corporation before reorganizing as Sony Releasing Corporation, Brainscan was a critical and box office disappointment upon release opening at a dismal 10th place upon initial release and withdrawing from theaters two weeks later. While Brainscan isn't a lost horror classic by any means, I think it does have more on its mind than most give it credit for.

The movie was released shortly after the moral panic on video games in the early 90s spawned by games such as Night Trap and Mortal Kombat that lead to the congressional inquiries of 1993 as well as the establishment of the ESRB so the industry could self regulate (not unlike the moral panic of the 30s that put an end to Pre-Code Hollywood with the establishment of the Hayes Code). Brainscan has a rather subversive attitude to its subject matter, playing devil's advocate for gory horror films and violent video games at a time when they were very much under attack. The movie even goes into breakdowns of the appeal behind this kind of entertainment with Edward Furlong's character Michael discussing such entertainment as an escape while David Hembeln's Dr. Fromberg makes hyperbolic statements on Michael's entertainment choices comparing viewing of horror films to Rape in one scene. Even once the terror of the movie begins, the movie uses its framework as a way of breaking down how we project ourselves into these types of entertainment as a way of contrasting and exploring our underlying fears in a fantastical exaggerated sense that serves as an outlet to help us understand our fears. It's a really smart breakdown of horror that feels genuine.

While the movie's take on horror from an analytical view is certainly well done, the movie as a horror film itself will be somewhat disappointing to people expecting a fright fest. T. Ryder Smith as The Trickster, a entity who appears to Michael through the video game and makes causal wise cracks about murder and mayhem is trying to be a digitized take on Freddy Kruger, but at no point is he legitimately scary and I'd equate him more with something like Beetlejuice but even Beetlejuice could be a little threatening despite being a comedic character. The Trickster I found more aggravating than funny or intimidating and the choice to model the character with an exaggerated Punk Rock style just seemed more confusing than anything else. Most of the kills in Brainscan happen off camera, and even when we do see them they're fairly tame in comparison to the high points of kill scenes in Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street. Brainscan while interesting in playing Devil's advocate for Horror films and video games isn't really all that interested in being a horror movie itself and plays more like a dark comedy.

While Brainscan will be disappointing to those expecting a digitized Nightmare on Elm Street as promised by the advertisements, Brainscan shouldn't be completely written off. The movie isn't all that scary, but it tackles the genre from a deconstructionist point of view looking at the appeal behind the genre and the purpose it serves its fans. While the movie doesn't want to be a horror film itself, it's production design and attitudes shows a real love, respect, and understanding of the genre. As long as people set their expectations correctly and are okay with a darkly comic coming of age story that happens to have horror iconography without much actual horror, Brainscan shows it does have a brain.

Now lets see, Boy likes video games, boy becomes a murderer because of video games, sounds stupid? Well, to my surprise, BRAINSCAN was a wonderful trip through the warped imagination of the films devious writers. The film does copy many modern day classics, but, with a unique flair.

Freddy Kruger look out! The lead ghoul in this flick can appear any time. You need not be asleep when he comes to call. The plot, oh yes, it has one, although it is not that unusual,does hold your interest The characters are quite vivid and work well in telling this dream like tale. Basically, the film is more of a comedy. One liners flow like the blood of many of the films hapless victoms.

I would have probably enjoyed this horror venture a lot more have I been a much younger man. It has been many years since I saw my teens or in fact my 20's, but Brainscan is one of those rare movies that can appeal to anyone who enjoys a good horror spoof.

A very strange film. If I had seen it as a younger kid, I think I would have been a lot more into it. With a plot about a virtual reality video game in which you get to indulge in people's sickest innermost urges (killing people).

It's a little too violent for pre-teens, yet that's why it would be such a stand out movie at that age. Unfotunately, it's a little too awkward and dumb for anyone over the age of 15 to really get into. The strange mix of the "video game plot", with the extremely voyeuristic murder scenes, and the goofy HOST of the game, "Trickster" who is reminiscent of Howie Mandell's character in Little Monsters, doesn't blend quite so well. The movie overall gives you a very uncomfortable feeling but it's too campy to be one of those "I love it because it's so incredibly hard to watch" movies like Irreversible for example.

The cheesy effects are actually pretty entertaining at least. Recommended for Edward Furlong fans and fans of simply bizarre 90's movies, otherwise not so sure.

'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.

This movie really did remind me of the 90s Goosebumps show. The silly premise of what if a video game took over your mind and actually made you do the violent acts in real life, the over the top villain Trickster, the mediocre acting by the main character (yeah he's awful), and the cheesy effects all feel right at home for Goosebumps, albeit with more violence and brief nudity. Had the nudity not been in the movie, this probably could've been PG-13 back then and easily PG by todays standards.

That being said, I found this movie surprisingly entertaining even if the acting and effects aren't the best. The story although basic really kept my attention. If you grew up with Goosebumps, give this a watch, it's a pure nostalgia hit.