Scanners II: The New Order

Scanners II: The New Order drops you into a city where telepathic powers are real and dangerous. A new generation of scanners is recruited by a ruthless police captain to seize control, while rival factions scheme to bend the power to their own ends. David Kellum, a young telepath portrayed by David Hewlett, becomes entangled between loyal friends and Forrester's coercive plan. Mind to mind contact, covert surveillance, and sudden bursts of psychic force push the streets into chaos as loyalties shift and the cost of awakening raw abilities becomes all too clear. The movie keeps the focus on pressure, choice, and the gray area between protection and domination. Stakes are personal for Kellum as he weighs trust against survival.

Released in 1991 and directed by Christian Duguay, Scanners II builds on the Scanners concept created by David Cronenberg. It credits Cronenberg and B J Nelson as originators while presenting a standalone story with its own cast and tensions today.

While it did not leave a lasting mark on pop culture, the film sits in the early 90s wave of science fiction horror that explored mind control themes. Fans of the first Scanners may notice familiar visuals and a similar mood, including its neon lit urban atmosphere.

Critics greeted the sequel with cautious interest, noting it tries to extend the franchise while delivering action and suspense. Thematically it wrestles with power, coercion, and the ethics of mind reading, placing individuals under pressure as institutions bend rhetoric to control and a dash of grit.

There are no major awards or nominations listed for Scanners II The New Order. In the shadow of the original, this straight to television or direct to video sequel is generally regarded as a modest late entry in a niche genre. Its modest footprint reflects its TV movie roots.