Things are going swimmingly for the film producer Roy Tilden, his last film is a success and he will soon receive an award for it. But his perfect day changed quickly when he takes an elevator with a keen writer. Directly after the door is closed, the emergency stop button is pressed and he is caught with a bunch of mildly different people.
When other Scanners in the Los Angeles area are left drained of life, Sam is forced back into action in a desperate attempt to stop Volkin, who is determined to become the most powerful - and ruthless - of his kind.