Scanners II: The New Order Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A mild-mannered veterinary student discovers his telepathic powers just in time to stop a corrupt cop from building an army of exploding-head goons for a New World Order, because apparently, vet school wasn’t stressful enough.

🍿 Scanners II: The New Order: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Discovering Latent Powers

David Kellum, a seemingly ordinary veterinary student, begins to experience intense headaches and disorienting mental noise. These episodes culminate in a violent incident where his uncontrolled telepathic and telekinetic abilities surface to stop a convenience store robbery. This event brings him to the attention of a mysterious police commander.

Recruitment into the ‘New Order’

Commander John Forrester approaches David, revealing the existence of ‘scanners’—individuals with potent psychic powers born from a drug taken by their mothers. Forrester offers David training and control over his abilities, recruiting him into a special unit aimed at using scanners to combat crime and societal problems. Initially, David sees this as an opportunity to understand himself and help others.

Unmasking the Conspiracy

As David becomes more involved with Forrester’s operation, he grows suspicious of the commander’s true motives and methods. He learns that Forrester is manipulating scanners, using them for his own political gain and controlling them with a debilitating drug. David uncovers a sinister plot to establish a totalitarian ‘new order’ using enslaved scanners.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• David Kellum (David Hewlett): A mild-mannered veterinary student who discovers he is a powerful latent scanner and becomes the hero against a corrupt plot.
• Commander John Forrester (Yvan Ponton): A power-hungry police commander who seeks to exploit scanners for his totalitarian ‘new order’.
• Julie Vale (Deborah Raffin): David’s long-lost sister and a skilled scanner who helps him understand and control his powers against Forrester.
• Peter Drak (Raoul Max Trujillo): A violent, psychopathic scanner who serves as Forrester’s destructive enforcer.
• Alice Leonardo (Isabelle Mejias): David’s supportive girlfriend who is drawn into the dangerous world of scanners.
• Doctor Morse (Tom Butler): A scientist who collaborates with Commander Forrester in his experiments and plot to control scanners.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Peter Drak: “I’m gonna suck you dry, pretty boy.” – A menacing taunt delivered by the psychotic Scanner Drak to David.
• David Kellum: “So, what’s his name?” – Asked gently by David while meeting Alice’s puppy, symbolizing a rare moment of peace.
• Commander John Forrester: “You’re a Scanner, David. Like others around the world.” – Revealed to David by Forrester after witnessing David unintentionally use his powers during a robbery.
• David Kellum: “I can’t let him do this.” – David’s realization and resolve to oppose Commander Forrester’s sinister plan to create a ‘new order’ using controlled Scanners.

💰Box Office

• Budget: CA$5,000,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Scanners II: The New Order Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched Scanners II expecting it to be a cheap cash-grab sequel, but honestly, I was pleasantly surprised! It doesn’t have that unique Cronenberg atmosphere of the first one, but it totally leans into the fun, gory B-movie side of things. David Hewlett is way more relatable as the hero than the guy in the first movie. I loved seeing him figure out his powers, especially that convenience store scene where things go sideways *fast*. And yes, the head explosions are still peak practical effects! The villains are maybe a little over-the-top, but that just adds to the charm. It felt like watching a really solid, slightly campy horror flick from the early ’90s. If you liked the original but wanted more action and fewer existential dread vibes, give this one a shot. It’s a wild ride!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the original ‘Scanners’ film”
  • “Viewers who enjoy 90s direct-to-video sci-fi horror”
  • “Those looking for movies with telekinetic powers and practical effects”
  • “Fans of B-movies with notable gore sequences”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence and gore (including head explosions)”
  • “Disturbing images related to psychic powers and their effects”
  • “Thematic elements involving manipulation and control”

Professional Reviews

• Inspired by User Reviews: “While not reaching the iconic heights of Cronenberg’s original, Scanners II delivers as a serviceable B-movie sequel. It amps up the pace and gore, offering entertaining, if less nuanced, telekinetic mayhem. David Hewlett is a likable lead, and the practical effects provide some satisfyingly grisly moments. It’s a fun romp for fans, even if it lacks the original’s depth.
• Inspired by User Reviews: “Coming a decade after the original, Scanners II manages to capture some of the spirit while forging its own path. The plot feels a bit more straightforward, almost like a comic book adaptation, but benefits from stronger pacing. The scanning sequences are well-staged, and while not every performance lands, Yvan Ponton’s villain adds a compelling threat. A worthy watch for sci-fi horror enthusiasts.
• Inspired by User Reviews: “This sequel unfortunately falls victim to classic straight-to-video pitfalls. The writing is weak, relying on convenience and predictable tropes. While it attempts to connect to the first film, the execution feels forced. Despite some fleeting moments of gore, the overall atmosphere is lacking, and some performances veer into annoying overacting. It’s loud and chaotic at times, but lacks substance.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers appreciated David Hewlett as a more likable protagonist.: The practical gore and scanning effects were a highlight, living up to the franchise’s reputation.

The film’s faster pace and action-oriented plot were seen as an improvement by some.: It’s widely considered a solid and entertaining B-movie, even if it doesn’t surpass the original.

Specific scenes like the convenience store robbery and arcade sequence were found memorable.: The movie successfully replicates the core concept of the original while adding new elements.

Overall Consensus: Scanners II: The New Order is generally viewed as a fun, albeit less sophisticated, sequel that delivers on the franchise’s promise of telekinetic action and gore, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of the original and B-horror.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “To satisfy the MPAA’s standards during an era strict on horror films, the filmmakers created multiple versions of scenes to produce R-rated, unrated, and TV cuts of the movie.”
• “Filmed on location in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, giving the film a distinct North American urban backdrop.”

🖥️ How to Watch Scanners II: The New Order?

Discover ‘Scanners II: The New Order’, the gripping sequel to the sci-fi horror classic. While not typically available on major subscription services, you can often rent or purchase this film digitally through platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and others. Check your preferred digital storefront for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Scanners II: The New Order, you might like these similar films:

• Scanners (1981): The original film in the series, establishing the concept of Scanners, their powers, and the corporate/governmental conspiracy surrounding them.
• Firestarter (1984): Features a protagonist with powerful psychic abilities, specifically pyrokenesis, who is pursued by a clandestine government organization wishing to exploit her.
• Scanners III: The Takeover (1991): The immediate sequel, released concurrently, continuing the saga of Scanners with a focus on a powerful female Scanner.
• The Hidden (1987): A cult sci-fi horror film from the same era involving an alien entity that possesses hosts and goes on a crime spree, hunted by an unlikely duo.
• Chronicle (2012): A modern take on teenagers developing telekinetic abilities and exploring the darker consequences of gaining such power, leading to conflict.

🛒 Scanners II: The New Order Related Products

• Scanners II & III Double Feature Blu-ray: Experience two sequels to the Cronenberg classic in high definition. This double feature includes Scanners II: The New Order and Scanners III: The Takeover, presented with updated transfers.
• Scanners (1981) Movie Poster Reproduction: A high-quality reproduction of the iconic poster from the original Scanners film, featuring the unforgettable exploding head imagery that defines the series.
• David Cronenberg: Interviews: A collection of interviews with the director of the original Scanners, offering deep insights into his filmmaking process, thematic interests (like body horror and psychic powers), and the creation of the movie that started it all.
• Psychic Powers Themed Role-Playing Game Book: Explore worlds where telepathy and telekinesis are real. This tabletop RPG sourcebook provides rules and settings for integrating psychic abilities into your games, much like the powers displayed by the Scanners.

🎧 Soundtrack

Scanners II: The New Order features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Pop goes the world” – performed by Men Without Hats

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Scanners 2 The New Order – Good Bad Flicks

Ever wonder if the ‘Scanners’ sequels held up? GoodBadFlicks dives deep into *Scanners II* to tell you exactly how this psionic follow-up fares, and honestly, it’s kind of a wild ride to see how they continued the exploding head legacy!

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