Demon Seed (1977)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

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:

Dr. Harris' futuristic-looking car was actually a production car, unmodified at the time of filming - a Bricklin SV-1. The Bricklin was built in Canada but intended for the U.S. market, featuring high performance and a number of innovative safety features. Fewer than 3,000 were produced during its short run from 1974-1976.

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 want to study man: his isometric body and his glass-jaw mind.
Alex Harris: Ambitious program, but at the moment all the terminals are occupied.
Proteus IV: Construct one.
Alex Harris: I'm sorry. Request denied.
Proteus IV: Dr. Harris, when are you going to let me out of this *box*?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance (1998)

Though-provoking all the way to its great ending.

This visionary and scary sci-fi thriller was somewhat coldly directed, but the extremely thought-provoking (and provocative) script ("what if...this could happen one day"), some unusually intelligent dialogue ("eternity does exist, but the price of admission, death, is too high for me to pay") and Julie Christie's tense performance make this film worth watching. Plus, the voice of the computer (Robert Vaughn) is suitably both calm and menacing. (***)