The Story Behind the Famous Head Explosion in David Cronenberg's 'Scanners'
Scanners' exploding head scene was created by David Cronenberg with a shotgun after several previous attempts.
Sometimes a film can have a single moment that nearly overshadows the rest. Not that the 1981 film Scanners isn't a good movie, it belongs in the pantheon of great sci-fi horror that came out in the 1980s, and is considered a cult classic. It was the public's first exposure to the master of body horror, writer-director David Cronenberg, this being his breakthrough onto the scene after a few years of honing his craft in grindhouse cinema. It's known for its comparatively creative use of psychokinesis as a tool for horror. It's one thing to throw people around and crash some cars, Carrie-style, but Cronenberg took the idea to a new, stomach-turning level.
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