It's a classic horror-thriller premise - abduction and/or captivity by malevolent beings. Usually the antagonist is an extraterrestrial, a demon, or another human, though; a highly-developed artificial intelligence is definitely a fresh, atypical spin. It seems a curious notion at the outset, yet as Proteus takes over the Harris household and terrorizes Susan, let there be no doubt that 'Demon seed' is unquestionably horrifying. Certainly the visuals of 1977 may at times seem outdated by the standards of 2022, but by the same token, even outdated practical effects tend to be preferable to the most advanced CGI. And so it is here: the production design and art direction are outstanding, and all the fabricated tangible creations no less so; the advanced polyhedral machine in particular is stupendous. From start to finish this is much more rich and engaging than I assumed sights unseen, and it still holds up!
For all the work that went into 'Demon seed' - from producer Herb Jaffe, writers Robert Jaffe and Roger O. Hirson, director Donald Cammell, editor Francisco Mazzola, cinematographer Bill Butler, composer Jerry Fielding, the supporting cast, the stunt performers - most of it is distinctly second fiddle. The real stars here are the crew that built the sets, and all of Proteus' tools and manifestations, and the effects artists whose finishing touches lent to the sci-fi horror wizardry and devilry. Half a heartbeat behind is Julie Christie, the only human we meaningfully see for most of the length, and she very ably demonstrates terrific range, nuance, and physicality in portraying Susan. These components alone do all the heavy lifting in this feature, and everyone else is just rounding out the details.
It falls short of perfect. Unsettling as it is at its best, the movie doesn't or maybe can't sustain heightened emotions from the audience; it's mostly a deviously fun romp with bursts of more gnarly inventiveness. I also think there are flourishes in the visuals that are just unnecessary. At various points on the viewscreens of the house we see swirls of color representing what Proteus has seen, or his process of creation, touches that recall the most artsy moments in '2001: A space odyssey.' I don't think they add to the experience, however, so much as pad out the length.
Still, if these are the worst critiques I have to offer, then the film has done well for itself. I had mixed expectations in the first place, but this is very solidly made, with just the right mixture of sci-fi and horror to get the blood pumping at the necessary moments. It's no barn-burner you should go out of your way to see, but if you come across 'Demon seed' with the chance to watch, it's worthwhile even just to see what the crew assembled. Well done!
For all the work that went into 'Demon seed' - from producer Herb Jaffe, writers Robert Jaffe and Roger O. Hirson, director Donald Cammell, editor Francisco Mazzola, cinematographer Bill Butler, composer Jerry Fielding, the supporting cast, the stunt performers - most of it is distinctly second fiddle. The real stars here are the crew that built the sets, and all of Proteus' tools and manifestations, and the effects artists whose finishing touches lent to the sci-fi horror wizardry and devilry. Half a heartbeat behind is Julie Christie, the only human we meaningfully see for most of the length, and she very ably demonstrates terrific range, nuance, and physicality in portraying Susan. These components alone do all the heavy lifting in this feature, and everyone else is just rounding out the details.
It falls short of perfect. Unsettling as it is at its best, the movie doesn't or maybe can't sustain heightened emotions from the audience; it's mostly a deviously fun romp with bursts of more gnarly inventiveness. I also think there are flourishes in the visuals that are just unnecessary. At various points on the viewscreens of the house we see swirls of color representing what Proteus has seen, or his process of creation, touches that recall the most artsy moments in '2001: A space odyssey.' I don't think they add to the experience, however, so much as pad out the length.
Still, if these are the worst critiques I have to offer, then the film has done well for itself. I had mixed expectations in the first place, but this is very solidly made, with just the right mixture of sci-fi and horror to get the blood pumping at the necessary moments. It's no barn-burner you should go out of your way to see, but if you come across 'Demon seed' with the chance to watch, it's worthwhile even just to see what the crew assembled. Well done!