Scanners II: The New Order

During a class, David Kellum realizes he can read minds and is overwhelmed by a chorus of voices. He relocates from his country home to the city to continue his studies, hoping to learn to control his powers. The discovery hints at a dangerous potential he must master.

During a store robbery, he unintentionally unleashes his power and causes the gunman to die by an exploding head. Fearful but amazed, David begins to understand the deadly implications of his abilities. The incident draws the attention of law enforcement.

Police Commander John Forrester watches the store's security tape and identifies David as a Scanner. He proposes that David help track down elusive criminals using his powers. The revelation marks the turning point from isolated talent to a role in law enforcement.

David helps capture a man who adulterated milk with strychnine, demonstrating his ability to influence minds in real-world crime fighting. Forrester formally introduces him to Peter Drak, another Scanner who works for him. Drak's aggression contrasts with David, setting up a power dynamic between them.

Forrester subjects Drak to Eph2, a drug variant designed to calm a Scanner's mind, though it is addictive. He explains the drug's risks and urges David to develop his abilities without chemical aid. Drak's vulnerability underscores the ethical tension at the heart of their work.

Forrester presses David to use his power to force the mayor to appoint him chief of police. David refuses and confronts the mayor, confessing that she was coerced into the decision. The moment reveals Forrester's manipulative reach and sets David on a collision course with the Chief.

Forrester orders Drak to attack David and kill the mayor before she can react. David escapes the ambush and flees to his parents' home to regroup. The mayor's death escalates the conflict and intensifies David's resolve to resist Forrester.

David learns from his parents that he was adopted and that his birth parents were Cameron Vale and Kim Obrist, linked to the Scanner legacy. They explain that his abilities place him in danger and that his lineage is entwined with a larger Scanner world. This revelation deepens David's sense of responsibility.

David's father reveals that his older sister Julie Vale is alive and in hiding, and explains that their family stood against Forrester. David sets out to find Julie, hoping to unite their strengths against the antagonist. The mission marks a turning point toward personal alliance.

David tracks down Julie in a secluded cabin, where she confirms who she is and explains their family's past. Julie recounts that their parents were killed by Forrester for resisting him, and notes Walter's role as an early Ephemerol tester. They agree to join forces against Forrester.

David and Julie infiltrate Forrester's secret compound, disabling the perimeter guards and attempting to free the test-subject Scanners. Julie is tranquilized during the operation, forcing David to push forward alone to dismantle the lab. He aims to free the captive Scanners and end Forrester's experiments.

Drak attacks David in the test-subject quarters, but the captive Scanners simultaneously mount a united defense that drains Drak's life force. The addiction and injuries of the subjects begin to reverse as a result. The surge of power shifts the balance of control in the facility.

Forrester arrives as news crews broadcast the chaos and denies the existence of Scanners. With his powers, David compels Forrester to publicly admit his involvement and motive on camera. The public exposure undermines Forrester's authority and reveals the truth behind the mayor's death.

Forrester grabs a shotgun to shoot David, but he and Julie deform Forrester's head and face with telekinesis. David proclaims on the cameras that Scanners mean no harm and deserve to live in peace. The final act marks the Scanner community's stand against oppression.