SCANNERS (1981) is a science-fiction horror film written and directed by DAVID CRONENBERG, often credited as his biggest hit and the film that marks the true "start" of his career.
The film chronicles two faces of one coin; the characters Darryl Revok and Cameron Vale. Vale is a Scanner; a telepath. Cameron is plagued by his disease and is left on his own to roam the outside world, living homeless and tormented until he is caught by ConSec employees after he is seen attempting to harm a woman in a mall food court. Vale is soon taken in by Doctor Paul Ruth, a doctor who specializes in the Scanner phenomena as well as in the tranquilzing drug Ephemerol. Ruth teaches Vale to harness and control his gift.
Meanwhile, however, another Scanner, Darryl Revok, is brewing plans for a Scanner uprising made up of the Scanners in his underground society. Those who will not join him and instead work with groups such as ConSec or on their own are killed. Revok assassinates a ConSec Scanner in front of a public audience and is subsequently detained, however he kills his captors and escapes unharmed. Ruth grooms Vale and informs him of his task — Vale is to capture and kill Revok, as he has been deemed a threat to society, normals and Scanners alike.