Brainscan

Brainscan is a fun, shocking, and enjoyable horror film that is one of the most underrated films around. Edward (T2) Furlong stars a troubled teen named Michael who loves horror movies and horror video games. His dad is never around and his mom died when he was a kid. He also likes to spy on his school-mate neighbor as she gets dressed. One day he gets a game disc in the mail for a new virtual reality game called Brainscan. A game in which you commit murders. But Michael soon finds a severed foot in his freezer and all hell breaks loose. Especially when the creepy and bizarre Trickster appears...guiding him to certain terror. This film was a pleasant surprised that had a charm about it. Furlong is believable as the troubled teen and turns in a great performance and T. Ryder Smith is both disturbing and cool as the evil demon behind the video game. Trickster easily steals the show. There is some good deaths and some decent gore. You get some T&A, a lot of hard rock music, a nosey detective, horror movie references, and some solid special effects. The movie seems to fly by and the end is a real treat. A solid horror rental for any horror fan. I have no idea why someone tried to compare this to "In the mouth of madness". Too bad the girl next door wasn't actually cute or attractive.

I originally saw this when I was maybe 13, and I found it a rather tense movie back then. While I wouldn't say that any part of the movie is "scary", I don't think that any of it even attempts to be. Instead, I found myself simply feeling uneasy while watching it.

I recently decided to rent it for the nostalgia factor and give it another watch, fully expecting it to be horrible and downright laughable, but I was surprised to find that this movie still has the power to make me feel uneasy and even uncomfortable while watching it.

The scriptwriter's alien ideas about how computers and games work are indeed rather laughable, but if you can forgive those, the movie does an admirable job of pulling you into Michael Bower's world. Anyone who has ever done something wrong, and felt that queasiness that comes with the knowledge that yes, you are going to get caught, can relate to the situation Michael is in. The main theme, played several times throughout the movie, is very creepy and mood setting; I loved it.

I found Brainscan far more compelling than the standard slasher flick or monster movie, and would readily recommend it to anyone looking for something a little more psychological.

'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 will probably be more suited to a teen audience, but it is good fun throughout. Edward Furlong (T2) plays a horror fanatic who stumbles upon an advert in a horror magazine advertising a CD ROM game called 'Brainscan' He decides to play it but is skeptical, that is until he gets a little more than he bargained for. The idea is good and it holds up for most of the way if not all, but it is good for a rental and will keep you amused for an hour and a half. T. Ryder Smith is good as 'Trickster', a creepy character who emerges from the game.

A movie like Brainscan is unique. The characters in this film only exist in the time that the movie was made. Brainscan can almost be called a period film today due to its embracing the troubled youth subculture of the early nineties. Ed Furlong of Terminator 2 is a high school student that exposes himself to large amounts of Horror, Hard Rock, and Video Games. When his obsessions become his vices, he experiences the fear of losing control of the only thing he truly possesses; himself. A sinister antagonist called The Trickster drives the plot of the movie and forces the main character (Furlong) to become either a hero or a victim. The movie is well paced and has an entertaining score/soundtrack. This film should be highly recommended to fans of Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy and admirers of Frank Langella and/or Edward Furlong.