Brainscan

The early to mid 1990's were a confusing time for the horror film genre. Slasher films got pushed to the far wayside and horror remakes weren't the fad until the early 2000's. Some franchise sequels came out to little success ("Halloween 6", "Jason Goes to Hell"). And then there was "Brainscan" from 1994, a hodge-podge of horror, science fiction, and comedy that still has a cult following to this day.

Scream Factory presents "Brainscan" on Blu-ray for the first time, a film that features actor Edward Furlong ("Terminator 2") in the meaty role of an anti-social young man. Michael loves video games and when his newest interactive one Brainscan arrives, the killings that occur inside the game happen in real life too.

Michael isn't dreaming like the characters do in the horror classic "A Nightmare on Elm Street." But it doesn't stop the fictional and Freddy Kruger-ish "Trickster" (T. Ryder Smith), who lives inside the Brainscan game, from coming to life and forces Michael into a bizarre game of murder and mayhem.

Actor Frank Langella plays the local detective who basically sleepwalks through his role. But for a prime example of the virtual reality movie genre, "Brainscan" aims to please.

Shout Factory also pleases in the extras department on the Blu-ray, where vintage special features are coupled with brand new ones. Among the new segments are separate interviews with the screenwriter Andrew Walker and a talk with the Trickster in the appropriately titled "Talking with Trickster" featurette.

Other supplements are a look back at "Brainscan's" special effects and the creation of the film's unique music soundtrack.

"Brainscan"
Blu-ray
$29.99
www.shoutfactory.com