Trancers

Jack Deth, a police operative from the distant year 2247, gets ripped out of his time and sent to 1985 Los Angeles. His mission is not to arrest someone in his own era, but to inhabit the body of an ancestor and track down a merciless adversary. That foe has a technique that twists people into zombie-like followers, threatening the future's governing council by wiping out its line of forebears. In a neon-drenched, gritty city, Deth plays along with life in the past while steadily closing in on the mastermind. The mission tests his nerve as he negotiates a strange body and a dangerous plot. The tone leans toward neon fueled pulp energy.

Released in 1984 and directed by Charles Band, Trancers is based on a concept by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo. Made on a shoestring budget of about $400,000, it became a notable low budget genre piece.

It earned a place in cult cinema circles due to its cheeky time travel premise, practical effects and Tim Thomerson's Deth. The film sparked sequels and helped establish a niche for Full Moon style cult sci fi in the 80s and 90s.

Critics have greeted it with mixed reviews, noting its energy and rough charm despite a tight budget. The film leans on loyalty, duty and the toll of time travel as it blends action with a retro neon mood and a smart, if imperfect, hero.