Before starting Full Moon Features, Charles Band founded Empire Pictures following his dissatisfaction with how studios handled his previous films. Founded in 1983, the company specialized primarily in fantasy, science-fiction, and horror films, many of which have become cult classics. The first few films released through Empire included The Alchemist, The Dungeonmaster, and Ghost Warrior, all released between 1983 and 1984. Around this time, Band received a sci-fi script, which Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo rewrote. The script was about a time-traveling cop, but Bilson, De Meo, and Band decided to add film noir elements. For the cast, they hired Tim Thomerson, who Band worked with on Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn, as the lead. At Thomerson’s suggestion, they also hired a relatively unknown Helen Hunt and stand-up comedian Biff Maynard, with whom Thomerson worked. The result was the sci-fi action film Trancers, released in 1984.
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Synopsis
In 2247, Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) is a cop hunting down trancers, zombie-like people being controlled by an evil mastermind. After an incident at a diner, Jack is told by his superior McNulty (Art LaFleur) to meet the high council. The council informs him that the mastermind behind the trancers, Whistler (Michael Stefani), lives and has retreated to the past. Using a process called “going down the line,” he’s inhabited his ancestor’s body and hunted down the council’s ancestors. Jack’s consciousness is sent into his ancestor’s body in 1985 to track down Whistler and bring him to justice. In the past, he meets Leena (Helen Hunt), a punk girl his ancestor picked up at a bar. He asks her for help finding the council’s ancestors, but she’s initially reluctant until she encounters some trancers. With her help, Jack works to track down the ancestors before Whistler gets to them.
Review
Even though aspects of the film are slightly dated, Trancers still works thanks to its fantastic story and talented cast. Tim Thomerson nails it as Jack Deth, perfectly capturing the look and attitude of a film noir detective. His sarcastic attitude, smart-ass quips, and tremendous charisma make him an instantly likable and believable leading man. To match his attitude and charisma, Helen Hunt does a great job and has fantastic chemistry with Thomerson. Michael Stefani is a good villain, and Art LaFleur is entertaining as the hard-ass police lieutenant. Charles Band’s direction is on-point, and he manages to stretch the film’s low budget as far as possible. Bilson and De Meo’s script is well-written, and the concept of time travel is unique and ahead of its time. Trancers is one of the more unique sci-fi action films of its time.
Many crew members from Trancers worked at Full Moon, including David Allen, Ted Nicolaou, and John Carl Buechler. Allen did stop-motion effects for many Full Moon movies, Nicolaou directed the Subspecies franchise, and Buechler worked on makeup effects. Bilson and De Meo went on to write and direct Zone Troopers for Empire, reuniting Tim Thomerson and Art LaFleur. After Empire fell and Full Moon started, Band decided to resurrect Trancers into a franchise totaling five sequels. In addition to film noir, Trancers also takes inspiration from Blade Runner, even hiring Gene Winfield, who designed the spinners. Admittedly, I would’ve liked more scenes in the future setting and further explanation on how the trancers work. Even still, this is a fantastic hidden gem of a sci-fi film that more than earns its cult status. Overall, Trancers is a solid sci-fi noir that launched a popular cult franchise.
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