Cult horror directed by David Cronenberg. Frank Carveth (Art Hindle)'s wife Nola (Samantha Eggar) is being treated at an institute run by the eccentric psychologist Dr Raglan (Oliver Reed), who is known for using bizarre techniques to break down defensive barriers in the psyche of his patients. After Nola's parents are brutally killed and his daughter returns from a visit to her mother covered in bruises, Frank comes to suspect that his wife and Raglan are up to no good. What he discovers is stranger still: a group of cloned midgets, apparently spurred on by Nora's psychopathic rages, are responsible for the attacks. Since no one else will believe him, it is up to Frank to try and put an end to the violence...

Controversial horror auteur David Cronenberg gained his first international success with this conspiracy thriller, featuring a notorious exploding head sequence. A group of psychics, nicknamed 'scanners' for their ability to read minds, realise they can also induce massive brain haemorrhaging in their subjects by locking into their nervous system. A 'good' scanner is sent out by doctors to track down the psychics who are using their powers for evil purposes.