Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageBrainscan (1994)
Director: John Flynn
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
The titular computer game, 'the ultimate experience in inter-active horror', gets a little too real for high-school misfit Michael (Furlong) in this dumb hi-tech horror movie. While playing Brainscan and seeing through the eyes of a killer, Michael breaks into a suburban house, grabs a kitchen knife, climbs the stairs and stabs to death a sleeping, middle-aged man. Next day, he learns that a middle-aged man has been murdered in his quiet suburban neighbourhood. Was it real or was it virtual reality? 'Reality, unreality, what's the difference?' asks the cadaverous Trickster (Smith), who emerges from the screen as the personification of the game's malevolent electrical impulses. Director Flynn presents the dogged investigation by smoothly insinuating detective Hayden (Langella) with some style; but he seems much less interested in the fantastic elements, the self-conscious in-jokes and lacklustre visual effects.Author: NF
Cast & crew
Director: John Flynn
Producer: Michael Roy
Cast: Edward Furlong, Frank Langella, T Ryder Smith, Amy Hargreaves, Jamie Marsh, Victor Ertmanis full cast
Genre(s): Horror
Duration: 95 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
What do you think?
Post your review now