This interesting and informative 23-minute retrospective documentary offers an illuminating peak at how the special effects were done in the 1981 sci-fi/horror cult classic "Scanners." Among the people interviewed are legendary make-up master Rick Baker, make-up artists Stephen Dupuis and Chris Walas, pyrotechnics expert Gary Zeller, and cinematographer Mark Irwin. The legendary exploding head gag was done with a shotgun; the head was stuffed with gelatin, hamburger, and Karo syrup. (Earlier versions of the exploding head using either wax or plaster had been previously done, but didn't work). Moreover, the big scanner showdown at the end had to be reshot; ace make-up artist Dick Smith was brought in to do some then groundbreaking work with bladders. Fortunately, Smith's presence on the set boosted everybody's confidence. Zeller talks about how he had to keep onlookers away for the sequence which required him to blow up a gas station. In addition, it's noted that the movie was made with tax shelter money and that the production was so hectic that David Cronenberg was rewriting the script throughout the shooting of the movie. Recommended viewing for fans of the film.
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Entertaining Look at the Scanner Special Effects
Michael_Elliott1 December 2016
The Scanners Way (2014)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Entertaining twenty-three minute documentary from director Michael Lennick takes a look at the special effects used in David Cronenberg's SCANNERS. Cinematographer Mark Iwin, make up artists Chris Walas and Stephen Dupluis and special effects supervisor Gary Zeller are interviewed about their work on the project. This is certainly a well-made documentary that does a very good job at taking a look at the special effects and educating how they were done. This includes the ending with the fire, various uses of pyrotechnics and of course the now infamous head blowing up. If you're a fan of SCANNERS then you'll certainly enjoy this documentary as there are plenty of great stories told about how the effects were done with the blowing up of the head being the highlight. Rick Baker also talks about a few of the effects as well.
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Entertaining twenty-three minute documentary from director Michael Lennick takes a look at the special effects used in David Cronenberg's SCANNERS. Cinematographer Mark Iwin, make up artists Chris Walas and Stephen Dupluis and special effects supervisor Gary Zeller are interviewed about their work on the project. This is certainly a well-made documentary that does a very good job at taking a look at the special effects and educating how they were done. This includes the ending with the fire, various uses of pyrotechnics and of course the now infamous head blowing up. If you're a fan of SCANNERS then you'll certainly enjoy this documentary as there are plenty of great stories told about how the effects were done with the blowing up of the head being the highlight. Rick Baker also talks about a few of the effects as well.
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