Demon Seed (1977)

Director:

Donald Cammell

Writers:

Dean R. Koontz (novel)
Robert Jaffe (writer) ...

Release Date:

30 September 1977 (West Germany)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Julie Christie carries the "Demon Seed."

Plot:

A scientist creates Proteus--an organic super computer with artificial intelligence which becomes obsessed with human beings, and in particular the creators wife.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Computer | Artificial Intelligence | Rape | Machine

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Julie Christie	...	Susan Harris
Fritz Weaver	...	Alex Harris
Gerrit Graham	...	Walter Gabler
Berry Kroeger	...	Petrosian
Lisa Lu	...	Soong Yen
Larry J. Blake	...	Cameron
John O'Leary	...	Royce
Alfred Dennis	...	Mokri
Davis Roberts	...	Warner
Patricia Wilson	...	Mrs. Talbert
E. Hampton Beagle	...	Night Operator
Michael Glass	...	Technician
Barbarao	...	Technician
Dana Laurita	...	Amy
Monica MacLean	...	Joan Kemp

Also Known As:

Proteus Generation

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 (re-rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

About 20 minutes into the film, Dr. Harris watches television while eating a meal. The television audio is from the third chapter of part three of Joseph Conrad's suspenseful 1915 novel, Victory: An Island Tale. The novel's central character, Heyst, who has renounced the world due to his ascetic upbringing, falls in love with Lena. He takes her away to his isolated island to live alone together, but others intrude on his plans - somewhat foreshadowing developments in the film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Mrs. Harris is trying to get the little girl out of the car for her session, a sound man can be seen through the back window behind her.

Quotes:

Proteus IV: I can't touch you, Susan. I can't touch you as a man could. But I can show you things that I alone have seen. I can't touch, but I can see. They've constructed eyes for me, to watch the show. And ears, so that I can listen in to the galactic dialogue.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Conceiving Ada (1997)

"When are you going to let me out of this box?"

Dr. Alex Harris (Fritz Weaver) has developed a creative artificial brain dubbed Proteus IV which can do its own thinking. Ultimately, it decides to trap Harris's poor wife Susan (Julie Christie) in their own home because Proteus has determined that she can give it what it desires most.

This knockout 1977 science-fiction thriller is almost a two-character story, a battle of wills between the frightened and angry Susan and the coldly determined Proteus IV (whose voice is provided by an uncredited Robert Vaughn). It's a strange, disquieting, fascinating little movie with a thoroughly engaging performance by Christie, exploring not only the idea of entrusting our lives to computers, but of also what it means to be human. The music and special effects are good, and the dialog is interesting.

The screenplay is by Robert Jaffe and Roger O. Hirson, based on an early Dean Koontz novel, and the direction by Donald Cammell, who is sadly no longer with us.

Weaver is good in his role, and it's cool to have Gerrit Graham ("Phantom of the Paradise", "Used Cars", "C.H.U.D. II - Bud the Chud") on hand as Christie's would-be rescuer, but this is essentially Julie's show, and a good showcase for her indeed.

10/10