Trancers (1984) User Reviews

It's the Velveeta of B movies

[dfranzen70 · 6/10 · 12 February 2005]

This low, low budget sci-fier is somewhat derivative, but it's kind of a take-off on Bladerunner-type movies, rather than a ripoff of them. Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) is a detective in the future who's sent back to 1985 to stop a madman who's decided to kill the ancestors of the city council of Deth's time. With the help of Lena (a young Helen Hunt), Deth fights Trancers (who have fallen under the control of the madman) and his own culture shock.

It's a short movie (76 minutes), and things move pretty quickly; plot isn't so much of a focus as a annoying gnat that appears from time to time. But for being so short, the characters are pretty well developed - and one huge bonus is that Deth isn't an no necked, shoot-first idiot, as renegade cops are often portrayed.

Trancers is original, often-funny sci-fi cheese. It's great to see Thomerson and Hunt - especially Hunt, who looks great.

TRANCERS (Charles Band, 1985) ***

[Bunuel1976 · 7/10 · 11 October 2007]

This sci-fi entry comes across as a charmingly trashy amalgam of BLADE RUNNER (1982) and THE TERMINATOR (1984) – not as good as either, sure, but arguably more entertaining. It involves an unshaven, raincoat-clad police detective from the 23rd century (the film, in fact, was re-issued as FUTURE COP) chasing the leader of a group of Trancers (gullible "squibs" who turn vicious and expire fluorescently in a pile of ashes) back to the present day, where the latter intends to exterminate the ancestors of the three council members who brought about his downfall.

Except for a young Helen Hunt, I was unfamiliar with the main cast – though craggy-faced lead Tim Thomerson evokes the perfect blend of machismo, world-weariness and bewilderment the role requires. The film is also refreshingly tongue-in-cheek – with the funniest bits being the hard-boiled hero lighting a match against his own teeth and when, on entering a discotheque frequented by punk rockers, he deadpans "It looks like a room full of Trancers to me". As a matter of fact, the sharply-written script has a fair amount of amusing one-liners: when Thomerson complains about the implausibility of a name like Peter Gunn upon catching an episode of the vintage series on TV, Hunt quips, "What kind of a name is Jack Deth?" (i.e. the character played by Thomerson himself).

While the special effects afforded by the modest budget could best be described as quaint, the action sequences are adequate enough – including a couple in which the hero manages to halt time (via a James Bond-like gadget wrist-watch) in order to flee the presence of Trancers who have him cornered and, then, to save the heroine from certain death. Though perhaps too low-key for its own good and somewhat under-developed at 76 minutes, the film seems to be deserving of a cult reputation (for what it's worth, it was followed by two sequels also featuring Thomerson) – but, alas, hasn't been served at all well by the DVD format so far (this viewing came by way of the no-frills fullscreen R2 edition from a budget label). I, for one, wouldn't be averse to a more exhaustively packaged and properly framed re-issue...

the eternal struggle between detectives and zombies!

[dr_foreman · 7/10 · 19 March 2004]

"Trancers" is one of the most enjoyable B-movies ever made. The time travel plot and "fish-out-of-water" aspects make it similar to the first "Terminator," but try to imagine that classic film with an infinitely lower budget and a more highly developed sense of humor. On some days, I probably prefer the wisecracking antics of "Trancers" star Tim Thomerson to the earnestness of Michal Biehn in Cameron's film; in this instance, cheaper production values and more obscure actors do not necessarily equal an inferior product.

Thomerson is, without a doubt, the glue that holds the whole silly series together. He's a performer, not an actor. He entertains without emoting. And hey, for this material, that's fine. In fact, that's the bomb. He could read his lines right off the page in a monotone, and you'd still want to stand up and cheer.

The only flaw in this film is a slightly boring villain, but everything else is cool - check out Helen Hunt as some kind of trashy '80s biker chick. Best scene? When Thomerson beats up the stupid punks in the disco.

Overall, an effective blend of the sci-fi and detective genres, and a good indicator of what imagination and a good sense of humor can accomplish in the absence of cash.

Tim Thomerson once again steals the show in "Trancers"!!

[brian james · 7 August 2001]

This underrated movie opens to a Los Angeles of the future with Tomerson playing the role of a bounty hunter/cop who is facing the likes of which would probably make any real officer quit and take a safer job. The time period is somewhere in the 1980's. The antagonist is an ultra futuristic criminal who has the ability to control the minds of weak people and get them to do his bidding. This is the classic B movie dramatizing the never ending battle between good and evil; good being Jack Deth (Thomerson) attempting to stop the antagonistic subtle evil criminal who is even able to travel through time. His job is made more difficult when he discovers his nemesis is a high ranking police official which gives him a powerful position from which to do his evil deeds. This one is a true work of art and Thomerson did a GREAT job in the role! See it!!!!

Cult Sci-Fi

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 21 November 2017]

In the Twentieth-Third Century, in Angel City, the trooper Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) hunts down the criminal Martin Whistler (Michael Stefani) that killed his wife and turns weak-minded people into Trancers to follow his command. Jack is assigned by the government to travel to 1985 to chase Whistler that has fled to the past to kill their ancestors and assume the government. The way to travel in time is injecting a drug that makes the consciousness of the user traveling through ancestors. Jack learns that Whistler left his body in the Twentieth-Third Century and took over his ancestor, L.A. Police Detective Weisling. Before traveling to the past, Jack destroys Whistler's body to trap him in the past. Jack awakes in the body of the journalist Phil Dethton that had one night stand with the sexy photographer Leena (Helen Hunt). Jack teams up with Leena to look for the the ancestors of the member of the government, but Whistler has the power of the police. Will they succeed?

"Trancers" is a cult sci-fi film directed by Charles Band in a film- noir style. The idea of traveling in time through ancestors is unique and the story has action and humor in right doses. Helen Hunt is very cute and shows great chemistry with Tim Thomerson). My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Trancers – O Exterminador do Século XXIII" ("Trancers – The Terminator from the Twentieth-Third Century")

great sci-fi concepts

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 25 February 2015]

Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) is a cop in 2247 with old Los Angeles now under water. He is hunting down the last of Martin Whistler (Michael Stefani)'s people after he singe Whistler. Whistler's psychic power turns people into psycho killers under Trance. Trancers can seem normal until they're scanned or activated. Then the council calls in Jack Deth telling him that Whistler had actually escaped down-the-line into the body of his ancestor Police Detective Weisling in 1985. Whistler intends to kill every member of the council by killing their ancestors. They send Jack Deth into the past into the body of Phil Deth with two vials to send both him and Whistler into the present. He's also given a watch that stretch a long second into ten. Leena (Helen Hunt) is Phil's one-night stand from the previous night. This is packed full of great sci-fi ideas. It may be one too many but it's all easily understandable. I love the hard-boiled Jack Deth character. It's a relatively low-budget affair. With a few more bucks and some imagination, this would be a great sci-fi classic. Instead it's a campy cult classic.

Prancer Trancer

[barnthebarn · 6/10 · 2 October 2008]

Trancers is a breathtaking film. Made on a minute budget, the sets clearly suffer from costings yet despite this the film is consistently humorous and riveting. Tim Thomerson blasts his way through many bad Trancers dude in his sarcastic and wry style - the scene where he tells a well toned body-builder (Michael McGrady) that his tan suits Christmas well is brilliant as are many of the daft remarks. Featuring a pre-fame Helen Hunt as Leena and a great range of supporting actors we also have to be grateful to the writers, Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo (later to concentrate on computer games understandably) who tone the film in ways that Charles Band (as director) could never have done alone.

A Cult Gem!

[The_Moviegeek · 7/10 · 19 January 2006]

If you like sci-fi and noir, you're in for a good time. Tim Thomerson plays trooper Jack Deth, a future cop who's occupation is to kill a dangerous breed of humans called Trancers. Deth's mission is to travel back in time to stop Martin Whistler (Michael Stefani) from assassinating the future forefathers and peacekeepers of Angel City. During Deth's journey he encounters Leena (Helen Hunt) who helps him find his way in the city of the past.

This film doesn't take itself too seriously and aside from some cheesy, but funny acting in certain places, this little cult gem is one of the most entertaining low budget movies you'll ever see.

Some Jokes

[bemyfriend-40184 · 5/10 · 29 March 2021]

An action comedy. It's been a few days since I've seen this; and truthfully, I can't remember much about it. There was time travel involved; something about some kind of zombies, and some jokes.

This is just a slightly above average addition to the genre that is worth seeing once but is not a classic.

[kevin_robbins · 6/10 · 18 May 2021]

Trancers (1984) is a movie that recently grabbed my attention when I saw it was falling off Tubi this month. The storyline focuses on a bounty hunter from the future sent back to Los Angeles to stop a man who can take over peoples bodies and do whatever he wants. The bounty hunter also is in a host body and will need to try and be inconspicuous for his plan to work. This movie is directed by Charles Band (Puppetmaster) and stars Tim Tomerson (Dollman), Helen Hunt (Twister), Richard Herd (Get Out) and Art LaFluer (The Blob). The storyline and overall movie starts hot and losses some steam. The opening diner scene and battle with Santa Claus is awesome...then there's not much else in terms of action and cool effects after that. I did like the way they had LA in the ocean and thought the "squid" references were funny; but overall, this is just a slightly above average addition to the genre that is worth seeing once but is not a classic. I'd score this a 6/10.

This is the bad movie that got me into bad movies

[CheeseDogX · 5/10 · 26 January 2010]

Five out of ten might seem a bit generous for a movie I just called bad, but Trancers is a rare gem. It's a low-grade B movie that knows it's a low-grade B movie and isn't ashamed. There are some gaping plot holes (the bad guy's entire scheme, for instance), but even with that it's a fun ride if you're into cheesy Sci-Fi films.

Jack Deth, a nearly-but-not-quite cookie cutter rogue cop, has to travel 300 years into the past to the year 1985. He is after a notorious cult leader/terrorist from his time named Whistler, who is killing the ancestors of the council of Angel City (the remains of Los Angeles). Whistler has the ability to turn people into the titular Trancers, mindless killing machines.

One of the charms of this movie is the fact that it at times pokes fun at itself, such as when people point out the main character's rather strange name. Also, some of Deth's wise-acre comments are genuinely amusing in a dry, hard-boiled sort of way.

The movie is handicapped mostly by its thin and at times ridiculous plot, as well as its at times wholly uninspired script. In the first few minutes of the film, the screenplay seems to be trying to cram the Jack Deth's renegade persona down your throat, but Tim Thomserson manages to take the role and turn Deth into a surprisingly likable character. The acting is pretty good across the board for a film of this caliber, and I'm a little surprised Helen Hunt is the only actor who went on to bigger and better things.

If you're the kind of person who likes to sit back and chuckle at a well-made turkey, this film is right up your alley. If you've got friends who just don't understand why you like B films so much, this one might change their minds. As long as you can set aside things like plot holes and low budgets, you should be in for a good time.

Superb 80s Sci-Fi

[alex-999 · 8/10 · 4 September 2005]

I remember renting this superb Sci-Fi movie back in the late 80s. I'd only had a VCR for about a year and this renting video titles lark was still very exciting for me. Trancers was one of my favorites at the time and still is to this day. It stood the test of time. Speaking of time, that's what this movie is all about. Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson in great form) travels back in time to stop Whistler who created the kill-crazy 'Trancers.' A terrific sci-fi action movie that, despite being low-budget, never fails to thrill. I haven't been able to find it on DVD as yet but I'm ever alert. I hope to get it and its 5 sequels in a box-set. If not I'd happily settle for 'Trancers' on its own...

Short, sweet, and pulpy

[jellopuke · 6/10 · 29 September 2019]

It's a derivative story but done with a real pulp edge, no fat or wasted scenes, just action and constant moving forward. Nothing spectacular, but done with economy and just enough style to work despite the low budget. A solid good time!

Not My Kind of Cheese

[Tweetienator · 4/10 · 7 June 2022]

I just detected Trancers a couple of days ago, somehow I missed the movie back in the 80s (or I just don't remember watching it). I really like my 80s cheese strong, but I can't agree with those reviewers who call Trancers a cult, a classic, or a superstrong piece of cheese or something like that - the funny moments are not too many, the action scenes too. What else? We get a B movie budget production undeniable made in the 80s and a story that mixes Blade Runner and Terminator and such stuff, but not in the most interesting way, and I got to confess, even the short running time of around 80 minutes felt too long. I know a lot of cheesy low budget sci-fi movies of the 80s that are way more entertaining and funny: The Ice Pirates, Cherry 2000, Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone, Hell Comes to Frogtown just to name a few. Trancers is not a total mess, but I won't watch one of those 5 sequels (or 6 if you take one short movie in account too) - simply put, the power of cheese is not too strong in this one.

Entertaining b-grade SF.

[Infofreak · 19 January 2002]

'Trancers' (known under the dull title 'Future Cop' here in Australia, don't ask me why) still holds up all these years later as a lot of fun. It's cheap, sure, and suspiciously second hand (time travel schtick ripped off 'The Terminator', hard boiled Bogartish main character probably via 'Blade Runner', neither idea original anyway), but it knows its limitations, and is entertaining in a trashy way. The main reason it succeeds is because of the always reliable Tim Thomerson ('Near Dark', 'Cherry 2000') who was made to play Jack Deth. He's always enjoyable to watch. And as much as Helen Hunt irritates me now that she is a "serious artiste", she is fine as Deth's feisty side-kick. Also keep a look out for Thomerson's comedian buddies and frequent co-stars Art LaFleur and Biff Manard, and Richard Herd, a familiar face to 'Seinfeld' fans. I was also impressed by Michael Stefani as Deth's nemesis Whistler, king of the trancers. He seems to have disappeared from our screens since this movie, which is a pity.

'Trancers', a favourite guilty pleasure.

Entertainment 80's Sci-fi

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 4 October 2017]

Representative movie of the 80's era, low budge and a primitive special effects but delightful and entertainment picture, a mature man played by fine Tim Thomerson and the young beauty Helen Hunt in great performance together with a clever plot made this trash Sci-fi one those memorable movies from the eighties!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

Thomerson at his best

[Tito-8 · 7/10 · 5 April 1999]

This is definitely one of the finest B-movies that I've ever seen. Now then, I'm not saying that this is a great movie, but it is surprisingly good. B-movie icon Tim Thomerson is perfect as Jack Deth, and Helen Hunt (yes, THAT Helen Hunt) is fun to watch as well. It's got some good action, has decent production values, and it is rather funny at times too. But for me, the main reason to watch this is Thomerson. There's just something about this guy that cracks me up...

In Australia This Was Released as.... Future Cop

[damianphelps · 7/10 · 28 January 2021]

So when Trancers II came out we were like what was Trancers I?

This is and has always been one of my favourite B movies. I have always enjoyed it as a comedy but it does have some ok action scenes as well.

The concept of the movie is actually really good, its a clever premise.

In reality its all about the likeability of Jack Deth.

Jack Deth is Back and he's never even been here before!

Brings the definition of a B-movie to a whole new art form!

[differencefilms · 7/10 · 3 February 2003]

Trancers is a classic time travel-film/noir movie, with a gritty B-movie edge. The first in it's class, and quite possibly the last in it's genre.

Tim Thomerson is brilliant as the self-styled, down-and-out pertually angry Jack Deth. Anyone who has enjoyed Blade Runner and Timestalkers will enjoy this movie. It has traces of both these films, as well as references to the Maltese Falcon in the art direction and in Jack Deth's rather conspicious wardrobe - don't you just love those trenchcoats and brylcreemed hair??? Helen Hunt - the only other 'normal' character in this film - is a delight to watch.

With booms in shot, mopeds as getaway vehicles and matte paintings galore, it spells out low budget in capital letters, but who really cares? It's all great fun.

It's a pity that B-movies like these are no longer in an age where they are considered cool.

Rather watch The Terminator...

[paulclaassen · 2/10 · 26 April 2020]

This confusing, badly acted fantasy action has very little explanation and motivation. How it gained a cult following and spawned five sequels is completely beyond comprehension.

The premise feels like a 'Terminator' rip-off, and a very cheap and bad one at that. The protagonist's goal is not very clear, and neither is the antagonist's. How exactly does he turn people into zombies? Very little information is given on antagonist Whistler. What's his purpose in transforming people into zombies? To rule the world? But what good would zombies be?

Jack Deth is sent from the future to 1985 to save Hap Ashby, who will play a pivotal role in the future (sounds familiar?), but Hap's character is not exploited enough for us to fully understand why. Helen Hunt's character, Leena, is a Sarah Connor wannabe, but not effective enough, despite descent acting from Hunt. Her character simply isn't given enough to do. Just like 'Terminator', they chose a mature lead. (Tim Thomerson was 39 when portraying Jack Deth, whereas Arnold Schwarzenegger was 37 when he did 'Terminator').

'Trancers' is a B-movie in every sense of the word, with a lazy script and equally lazy directing. The make-up effects are also quite bad.

Would I watch it again? No.

Pretty Good 80s Sci-Fi Time Travel/Zombie Detective Story

[charlieoso · 7/10 · 10 December 2019]

One of the best so far that I have seen from Charles Band (director and producer here) who at times does produce some clunky material. There really are some good ideas packed away in this low-budget sci-fi flick, even though it does borrow from BLADE RUNNER a bit.

The year is 2247 and we follow a police trooper Jack Deth (perfectly cast Tim Thomerson) who believes that his arch nemesis Martin Whistler (Michael Stefani) has been killed. His boss McNulty (Art LaFleur) lets him know that he is still alive, but back in 1985 Los Angeles. So, they give Deth a drug that shoots him back to the past where he is able to live inside the body of an ancestor. Back to 1985 Jack Deth goes to chase down and bring back Whistler who has the ability to turn people into mindless zombies that Deth calls Trancers.

Has a run time of only 76 minutes, so this is a quick film to watch. Everything seems to work with this film from the cheesy special effects that would wreck other sci-fi movies. It seems to work here though. Tim Thomerson to me is great as Jack Deth who plays like a fish out of water when he travels back to the 20th century. Helen Hunt also stars as his love interest Leena, who saves his bacon a couple times. Followed by five sequels.

Too Much Unexplained

[view_and_review · 3/10 · 7 November 2019]

I suffered through over an hour of this drivel and I still don't have a clue what a Trancer is. All I know is that a guy with a permanent 5 o'clock shadow and a ridiculous name (Jack Deth) was tasked with going to the past to bring back a guy named Whistler. Whistler, somehow, makes Trancers. How he makes them, I don't know.

This was a bad attempt at a sci-fi. They left too much unexplained, and if you're going to be low budget you better at least have a good plot and some plausible science in your science fiction.

Probably among the best B-Movies of all time!

[jluis1984 · 8/10 · 2 December 2005]

When one thinks of a B-Movie, one thinks of low-budget, awfully SFX, bad actors, and plots that border idiocy. Well, this little underrated gem surely will erase any preconception you have about it as soon as it starts.

Starring Helen Hunt in one of her first roles, this movie has turned into one of the most popular cult movies, and helped to establish Charles Band as a figure in the genre.

The story is quite simple: 300 years in the future, in Los Angeles(now called Angel City), Trancers are people who were controlled by a terrorist named Whistler. He developed a mind-controlling technique that allowed him to turn people with weak minds into mindless zombies. A detective, Jack Deth, apparently killed him, but in fact Whistler traveled to the past using a machine that allows him to inhabit the body of one of his ancestors. His purpose? To kill the ancestors of the government of Angel City.

As you can imagine, Jack Deth is sent to the past inhabiting the body of his ancestor too, who happens to be a reporter. What makes things interesting is that Whistler's ancestor is the chief of the police department of Los Angeles.

Even with it's striking similitude with Cameron's "The Terminator", the movie manages to be very entertaining, at times it even is more enjoyable that "Terminator".

This is possible thanks to the very good performances of Tim Thomerson as Jack Deth, and Helent Hunt as Lena, Deth ancestor's girlfriend. They have a very good chemistry and the way Thomerson developed the character puts Deth in the same league as beloved B-Movie heroes like "Evil Dead"'s Ash.

The movie is for the most part very well developed, an achievement considering the budget it had. Even when the script has many plot holes, the whole thing is so entertaining that one ends up ignoring them. Now, that is what good movies must do.

Obviously, the SFX is not the best, but the movie's lack of pretensions makes it charming, and very rewarding. In the end this is definitely not your typical b-movie and surely will give you 77 minutes of joy. My only complain is that it is definitely very short. Very recommended.

8/10

Pretty Good 80's Sci-Fi Flick

[gwnightscream · 6/10 · 6 January 2022]

This 1984 sci-fi film stars Tim Thomerson and Helen Hunt.

Thomerson (The Wrong Guys) plays rogue, future cop, Jack Deth who is sent back in time to 1980's L. A. to stop a madman who uses hypnotic/psychic powers to turn people into zombie like killers, Trancers.

Hunt (As Good as it Gets) plays Leena, his ancestor's girlfriend he finds romance with.

This is a pretty good 80's flick that obviously contains elements of "Blade Runner," "The Terminator" and other noir flicks/shows. The film has some cheesy, but amusing qualities, Thomerson is great and I like the score.

Check this out if you enjoy sci-fi or action.

Just saw it last night..,

[djanimor · 1/10 · 20 October 2006]

I am actually a big B-Movie fan, but this movie was just awful, and not in the good way.

Whoever the guy who plays Jack Deth is has to be one of the worst actors ever. His "serious" lines were laughable. Even Helen Hunts lines were bad, although I think terrible dialogue writing could be blamed for most of it. And did anyone else find it kinda creepy that Helen Hunt falls for a guy who looks old enough to be her grandfather?

I am surprised Helen Hunt got more roles after this bore-fest. She is a great actress, and this dud could've destroyed her career before it even got started.