bad/awesome flixxx review: Trancers (1985)

"His name is Deth. He hunts Trancers. Even in the 20th Century." Such is the tag line of this totally amazing flick that I remember hearing about years ago either on like Joe Bob Brigg's Drive-In Theater or USA's Up All Nite with either Gilbert Godfried or Rhonda Sheridan. Hopefully it was Sheridan. Rrrowr.



Totally got more than I bargained for with this little gem. I do remember hearing about it, but at the time not giving a shit. How was I to know that this flick resembles the same kind of sci fi noir vibe of any Philip K. Dick book (of whom which I'm currently obsessed with)? Much like a cross between Blade Runner and Terminator, the story starts out with a "trooper" dressed in long beige detective duster coat named Jack Deth. He's out checking for "Trancers" in the 23rd century with a pistol and a little device he slaps on their wrists. Trancers are people whos minds are taken over by a criminal psychic named Martin Whistler. So somehow, after catching and 'retiring' a trancer, the three main judges in Angel City (LA in the future) call a meeting with Jack. They tell him that somehow Whistler has found a way to be ported from his own body back into one of his ancestors bodies back in 1985. There he plans to kill the ancestors of the judges who put him away. So they are freaking out and decide to send Jack back in time to save their own lives. Before he splits, he shoots the body of Whistler so that he can't be sent back "down the line". If Jack kills him in the past, hopefully he'll be stuck and die. Then they give Jack a special watch that gives him a "long second" in case he gets in trouble. He can push a button on it and slow down time and possibly escape a sticky situation. This is very reminiscent of the package given to the dude trying to save his wife and the religious figure in Philip K. Dick's book Counter Clock World. So he splits back to 1985 and hunts down Whistler. His ancestor's girlfriend just happens to be Helen Hunt. She's pretty bangin in the flick, but then again, she's always been pretty bangin. No reason to tell any more really, I highly recommend looking up this super bad awesome title. For a little more info, I looked it up, and there's been 5 sequels so far, all staring Tim Thomerson as Jack Deth except for Trancers 6 which was supposedly about his daughter. And everyone says its dogshit. There is a petition online to get Charles Band, the original director to direct Trancers 7, which some dude wrote a screenplay for. I signed it b/c fuck it, you know? If you want to sign it, go here: TRANCERS 7
Enjoy partyers! and thanx for the comments and suggestions! Keep em coming!!
yrs, Valient Himself