Trancers
A futuristic bounty hunter hunts a hypnotic criminal through 1980s Los Angeles in a scrappy, punk-inflected time-travel thriller.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- comic-book
- pulp
- visceral
- cult movie night
- retro sci fi marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as an efficient, entertaining exploitation film with inventive science fiction ideas, a punk look, and strong performances despite its limited budget and uneven story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Trooper Jack Deth travels from 2247 to 1980s Los Angeles while tracking Whistler.
The bleak future Los Angeles and the film's noted punk look frame its police thriller premise.
Whistler uses powerful hypnotic abilities to transform people into trancers.
Contemporary commentary specifically identifies the film as funny, comic-book, fun, and efficient exploitation filmmaking.
Films like Trancers, and why
The Terminator
low-budget time-travel pursuit, futuristic police protagonist, and pulpy science fiction action
Blade Runner
retro-futurist urban atmosphere, detective protagonist, and dystopian science fiction noir elements
Back to the Future
comic-book energy, temporal displacement, and an ordinary ally drawn into a dangerous science fiction chase
Movie Details
- Director
- Charles Band
- Release Date
- 1984-11-07
- Runtime
- 77 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (236)
Cast
- Tim Thomerson
- Helen Hunt
- Biff Manard
- Michael Stefani
- Art LaFleur
- Telma Hopkins
- Richard Herd
- Anne Seymour
- Miguel Fernandes
- Pete Schrum
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Full Moon Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Trancers about?
- A futuristic bounty hunter hunts a hypnotic criminal through 1980s Los Angeles in a scrappy, punk-inflected time-travel thriller.
- What is Trancers like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Trancers as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Trancers violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Trancers as moderate.
- What did critics think of Trancers?
- Critics broadly regard it as an efficient, entertaining exploitation film with inventive science fiction ideas, a punk look, and strong performances despite its limited budget and uneven story.
- Which films are like Trancers?
- Films with a similar feel include The Terminator, Blade Runner, and Back to the Future.
- How long is Trancers?
- Trancers runs 77 minutes.
- Where can I watch Trancers?
- In United States, Trancers streams on Amazon Prime Video, Full Moon Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel.
