Trancers [Future Cop] *** (1984, Tim Thomerson, Helen Hunt, Michael Stefani) – Classic Movie Review 9013

Director Charles Band’s 1984 sci-fi action thriller Trancers [Future Cop] stars stand-up comedian – tough guy character actor Tim Thomerson, who acts tough as Trooper Jack Deth, a rogue 23rd-century cop and bounty hunter.

He is sent back to present-day [Eighties] Los Angeles to inhabit the body of one of his ancestors and battle the evil criminal megalomaniac zombie master Whistler (Michael Stefani), who is trying to take over the world.

Director Band’s lively and entertaining sci-fi spoof is a low-budget marriage of The Terminator and Blade Runner, reactivating a lot of their raw energy and visual panache.

Writers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo’s knowing screenplay, with its strong roles, its complicated plot and its many movie references, is unusually satisfying for this type of movie.

Helen Hunt does well as Deth’s guiding hand, Leena.

Four sequels, leading to Trancers 5: Sudden Deth in 1994, all with Tim Thomerson, plus Trancers 6 (2002).

Trancers [Future Cop] is directed by Charles Band, runs 85 minutes is made by Empire Pictures and Lexyn Productions and Altar Productions, is released by Empire Pictures (1985) (US) and Entertainment Film Distributors (1984) (UK), is written by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo, is shot by Mac Ahlberg, is produced by Charles Band and is scored by Mark Ryder and Phil Davies.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9013

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