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The 1984 sci-fi movieBlade Runneris one of the most famous in the genre and also one of Harrison Ford’s most popular films. The film was so popular that it led to a 2017 sequel,Blade Runner 2049, which also starred Ryan Gosling. While Ford will always be known for his iconic Indiana Jones role, his time spent playing Rick Deckard is also an important part of his background.
While fans know thatBlade Runnerhas several different endingsand has acompelling portrayal of androids, they might not have seen another sci-fi movie from the 1980s that is very similar.Blade RunnerandTrancershave a lot in common, from plotlines to main characters to setting, and they were only released two years apart.
What Is Trancers About?
Trancersis aboutpolice trooper Jack Deth (Thomerson)who tries to stop Martin Whistler (Michael Stefani) whotransforms humans into “trancers” through psychic abilities. These characters are dangerous since they can go on killing sprees. The movie turns into a time travel story when Whistler goes back to 1985 and inhabits the body of Detective Weisling, a police officer. After Deth makes sure that Whistler is stuck in the 1980s by getting rid of Whistler’s body, he becomes Phil Dethton, who he is related to.
Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo
Cast Members
Tim Thomerson, Helen Hunt, Art DeFleur, Richard Herd, Telena Hopkins, Michael Stefani
May 22nd, 1985 (United States)
Runtime
76 minutes
WhileTrancersisn’t asci-fi movie that properly conveys time travelsince the rules are kind of vague and murky, it’s an entertaining story about two characters battling each other in a fun setting. All audiences need to know in order to enjoy the movie is thatpeople can travel back in time if they inhabit the body of an ancestor.
Since Jack can figure out who is a trancer if he uses a bracelet to scan their bodies, he’s an important character who is more perceptive than the others. AlthoughTrancersis a corny movie, it’s interesting to watch him try to stop Whistler/Weisling. While there are somecompelling sci-fi movies with no human characters,Trancersis a great example of a film about androids that also has an intriguing main character to follow along with.
At the beginning ofTrancers, Jack explains what trancers are and gives audiences some insight into his tough, no-nonsense personality:
“Last January, I finally singed Martin Whistler out on one of the rim planets. Since then, I’ve been hunting down the last of his murdering cult. We call them ‘Trancers:’ slaves to Whistler’s psychic power. Not really alive, not dead enough. It’s July now, and I’m tired. Real tired.”
Similarities Between Trancers And Blade Runner
There are a few similarities betweenTrancersandBlade Runner, particularly the fact that both sci-fi moviestell a story set in a future Los Angeles about police officer characters dealing with androids. The main characters Jack Deth inTrancersand Rick Deckard inBlade Runnerare both dedicated to their jobs and trying their best to save everyone around them from thesescary and dangerous sci-fi movie robots.
set in the 23rd century
set in 2019/in the future
set in Los Angeles
main character is a retired police office
main character is a current police officer
trancers are similar to robots
replicants are robots
Leena is Jack’s love interest
Rachael is Rick’s love interest
an uneasy yet somewhat happy ending
BothTrancersandBlade Runneralso use voiceovers, a sometimes cheesy narrative device that doesn’t always work. In both cases, the voiceovers by Deth and Deckard are fairly effective. They make it clear that these two characters are in control of their lives and that they’re the only people who can stop the androids.
When Harrison Ford reprised his role as Rick Deckard for the sequelBlade Runner 2045, he shared in an interview withABC Newsthat he didn’t like the voiceovers in the original movie. He said:
“I guess it’s well known that I didn’t so much admire that.”
The Critical Reception For Trancers
Trancersnot only has a lot in common withBlade Runner, but it’sconsidered a corny guilty pleasure kind of movie. According to the reviews quoted on the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page, it’s clear that the film had a low budget, but it’s possible to sit back and enjoy the ride without thinking too much about it.
How Did Critics Feel About Trancers?
Blade Runner, on the other hand, has been better received by critics… but only in more recent times. It has an89% Rotten Tomatoes Score and a 91% Audience Score. When it was released, however, critics didn’t love it, and it took a while for it to become afan-favorite mind-bending sci-fi movie.
