Reviewed By: Flickman
If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love diving back into classic movies from the 80s and 90s. So today’s pick was Brainstorm, a 1983 sci-fi flick starring a much younger Christopher Walken. What’s funny is, forty years later he’s still basically Walken-ing exactly the same way.
There’s something magical about watching films from that era. The clothes. The giant box-shaped computers that look like they’d overheat from a Google search. People smoking everywhere like the Marlboro Man was the patron saint of indoor air quality. If you weren’t alive then, it probably sounds ridiculous, but trust me: it was weird, it was messy, and it was horribly great at the same time. So anytime I watch an 80s movie, I get a nice little time-capsule trip back to childhood.
Anyways, Brainstorm centers around a group of scientists who invent a machine that lets you see into someone else’s mind. Naturally, as soon as something like that exists, the military shows up like, “Hey, that’s ours now.” What happens though when someone dies while recording their thoughts? Well, it could be deadly for anyone watching it afterwards, as they feel everything that the person went through. I won’t give any spoilers or share the entire story, but let’s just say it could have been more exiting.
I went in hoping for a fast-paced, sci-fi thriller, but that’s not what I got. While I enjoyed the movie for what it was, it definitely felt like it was missing a few ingredients that would’ve made it genuinely great. There weren’t nearly enough “inside the mind” scenes, and the thriller aspect was more of a gentle nudge than an actual thrill. Honestly, the first hour is basically character introductions and science-lab build-up.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. One thing I miss about older movies is that they actually tell a story. Newer films often forget that part and end up confusing everyone or just annoying them. This one, at least, made sense. I knew what was happening the whole time and even connected with what the characters were going through. It wasn’t the most exciting viewing experience in the world, but at least it had a clear plot – Kudos for that.
Then the last 25–30 minutes, the film finally decides to kinda show up to the party. Suddenly we’ve got old-school computer hacking, rogue robots, and water activated foam? Yes, you read that right, water activated foam. There are buckets of the stuff, which the movie tries to make sound futuristic, but let’s be real: it’s soap. It actually reminded me of the popcorn-explosion finale from the film Real Genius. Only instead of drowning in popcorn, these folks are drowning in bubbles. It’s goofy, but in a fun way.
Honestly, I could totally see a remake happening someday. The concept is great, and with today’s CGI, they could pull off some incredible scenes. The original has a strong foundation, it just never fully leans into its full potential.
So overall, Brainstorm is a semi-ok 80s movie with a great cast, but don’t go in expecting nonstop excitement. It’s worth watching for Christopher Walken and the nostalgic 80s vibes alone, but it’s not going to blow your socks off. If you enjoy older sci-fi classics, give it a shot. Just don’t expect anything on the level of Robocop, because that’s not what you’re signing up for here. I don’t regret watching it, but if you’re chasing something more sci-fi action-packed or thrilling, there are much better options.
Overall Verdict: The concept is good but there's plenty of better sci-fi thrillers out there. Watch it for some classic Walken, then wait for the remake... If there will ever be one.
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