Demon Seed (1977) User Reviews

Artificial Intelligence Terrorism

[Coventry · 7/10 · 8 May 2004]

Demon Seed is a solid, independent science fiction thriller, regretfully overshadowed by the tragic fade of its director Donald Cammell. He was a devoted filmmaker who never really could depend on much support from both critics and distributors. His career started in a minor key, with `Performance' suffering from a lot of re-editing. Similar problems with his last film `Wild Side' drove him into committing suicide.

Don't let the technical mumbo-jumbo at the beginning of `Demon Seed' trick you…The first half hour leads you to believe this film is a theoretical suspense-thriller but in fact, the premise is more simple and appealing to a wider audience. `Proteus' is the name of a super computer, designed by scientist Alex Harris, in order to help him with his research. Yet, Proteus is so smart he soon develops an own will. Continuously growing stronger, Proteus perpetrates Alex's house and keeps his wife as a hostage. Proteus's goal is to impregnate Suzan (Julie Chrisie)…

Proteus is like a feared computer-virus in a pre-internet era! A super computer thinking & handling for itself! Which is, according to me, a very successful horror formula. The absence of a villain in the shape of a man helps increasing the tension. The setting of the over-protected house is great and causes uncomfortable feelings of claustrophobia. Julie Christie (the female star of `Don't Look Now') is great and almost carries the entire film. The visual effects in `Demon Seed' may look a bit dated by now, but the film still contains one of the greatest decapitations ever and…an outstanding ending! I swear to you…if you thought the whole movie was only so-so, the last 5 minutes will make you think more highly of it.

An interesting sc-fi film.

[kscaduncan · 7/10 · 25 July 2002]

Demon Seed is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Dean R. Koontz. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first saw this film. Needless to say, I was impressed. Whilst the idea of a megalomaniacal computer is not new, it is used to great effect. Proteus IV is a computer that actually questions the tasks it has been made to do and what the relevance of those tasks are. It also seems to have emotion and is heard several times to other characters in the film that he does not wish to hurt them when they are not co-operating with his demands. Although aspects of this film are now dated ( particularly the computer equipment ),Proteus IV's interesting philosophy, Julie Christie and Fritz Weaver's performances and the unexpected creepy ending make this film worth watching.

Unusual Sci-Fi...This A.I. Concept is Conception via "Hard- Drive"

[LeonLouisRicci · 7/10 · 21 December 2021]

The Entity in this Classic Sci-Fi Scenario...an "Artificial Intelligence" has Observed and Determined that it is Smarter and Deserves its Place in the Universe as a Man-Made "God" and should be in Charge.

But Here is the Bizarre, by any Measurement, Twist...

The Invented "Brain" has Acquired a "Desire" to be "Free" of its "Box" and Also wants to "Impregnate" Its Creator's Wife so the Essence can "Carry-On" Biologically, Its "Greatness".

It's a Trope of Mythology as Old as Time Itself. The "Gods" Descend to Interact, Physically, with Females and Procreate "Demi-Gods".

This Telling of the Tale is Updated to Modern Times Resulting in a Curious Film that is "High Concept" Thinking for the New Computer-Based World.

A Film that has Moments of Entertainment for Moderns in an Exploitive KInd-of-Way, While Still Maintaining a Method of Commenting About Human-Machine "Mating" Without Getting Laughed Off the Screen.

Good-Looking, State of the Art Film-Making with a Medium Budget Utilized to Maximum Artistic Deliverance.

Still, to this Day, a Controversial Musing about a Not-to-Distant Future Interaction, Mixing, a Collaboration of "Man" and His Creation Replaying God's Initial Intercourse with Man and that is Now Full-Circle.

Not Totally Satisfying in Any Way, but a Film Daring and is Creative. Well-Staged and is Thought-Provoking Enough to make it...

Worth a Watch.

One of the coolest

[siderite · 27 February 2004]

This movie does seem to be older than 1977 when you see it, yet it is very nice. Nice enough to have searched for it on Imdb. The film depicts a rarely seen machine intelligence, one that has a conscience, a purpose and a cool calculating mind. One would expect that from a machine, but usually machines in movies are stupid, mean, vengeful, everything a computer should have no reason to be. The ending is also great, showing the stupidity inherent in extreme human emotion. A must see and a classic. Demon Seed could seem to many troubling as it forces you to think and ask questions many of us prefer to refuse to ask. The nature of humanity, moral and thought are all put into question by this movie. See it and answer those questions for yourself.

Offbeat, disturbing, ahead of its time, and thoroughly riveting

[gridoon · 7/10 · 14 February 2002]

This visionary and tense cautionary sci-fi tale brings to mind HAL from 2001, of course, and maybe "Rosemary's Baby", but also later films such as "Altered States" (the psychedelic sequences) and "The Terminator" (the birth of Skynet?). It's economically directed, disturbing, has intelligent dialogue, and will have you glued to your seat. Julie Christie carries it practically single-handedly in front of the camera, and Robert Vaughn, who provides the disembodied voice (both calm and menacing) of the computer Proteus, gives perhaps the finest performance of his career! There are some awesome visuals in this movie - it can also function as a head trip. *** out of 4.

Dated, but Still Fascinating

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 17 November 2017]

Dr. Alex Harris (Fritz Weaver) has developed a computer called Proteus IV with organic artificial intelligence and lives with his estranged wife Susan (Julie Christie) in a fully automated house administrated by the computer Alfred. When Alex decides to separate from Susan to work harder In Proteus IV, the computer asks for an open terminal to study the human behavior to increase his knowledge. Alex refuses to give a terminal to Proteus IV, but he forgets that there is one at his home. Proteus IV uses the terminal to take over Alfred and trap Susan at home. He also decides to have a son with the wife of his creator to become immortal.

Forty years after its release, "Demon Seed" is a dated, but still fascinating sci-fi horror film. In the 60's and 70's, Julie Christie was sort of muse with magnificent cinematography including "Dr. Jivago", "Fahrenheit 451", "Don't Look Now" and has another wonderful performance. "Demon Seed" shows a scary view of artificial intelligence and has a great open conclusion. The character Walter Gabler is forgotten in the story. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Geração Proteus" ("Proteus Generation")

Proteus Generation or the years to come.

[dbdumonteil · 6/10 · 3 July 2005]

When we realize today how the computers changed our life ,"demon seed" can easily be looked upon as a film ahead of its time.A bizarre cross between "Rosemary's Baby" and "2001"'s "Hal 9000" ,one feels ill-at-ease after the viewing .The screenplay may seem far-fetched but today it can become a transparent metaphor :we might be the computers' prisoners and it won't improve with time.The computer might know intimate details about us,he may "rape" us in a way.

But what remains impressive today is how the director and the script writers managed to sustain interest while using only one character most of the time.Most of the time,the audience is left alone with Julie Christie and the "monster" (there are snatches of "Frankenstein" too),and the viewers can easily identify with her character.

Now We Know Why Computers Have Hard Drives

[BaronBl00d · 5/10 · 17 January 2005]

Dean Koontz's novel about a computer wanting to keep its legacy alive by basically having a woman impregnated with his essentials if you will has some merit and a lot of fault. Director Cammil does a real good job of keeping the suspense going throughout the first three-quarters of the film. The ridiculous plot and how it is executed almost seems plausible during this time. Much of that is directly due to Cammil's subtle direction and the acting of leads Fritz Weaver, and in particular, Julie Christie. Christie is the central character in most of the film as a woman that has been locked in a specially high-tech house by a computer called Proteus(voice done very nicely by Robert Vaughn). It seems Proteus doesn't want to perform the tasks he has been asked to do and wants to have a child with Christie. Well, I was able to not dwell too much on the scientific un-reality of such a plot strand because of the acting, atmosphere, and some very well-crafted scenes, but things just got out of hand in credibility in the last quarter of the film. Without going into too much detail, the actualization of the plot's climax and the necessary downfall of viewer credibility is just too powerful a force at the films climatic end. I was laughing and shaking my head from side to side with disbelief that so incompetent an ending would actually be thought to work by all parties involved. Anyway, Demon Seed is interesting, quirky, and something fresh at least for me. While definitely leaps and bounds away from being a good film, it is not a bad film either. I found it to be quite entertaining for the most part and at least one more condemnation on the success and rate of success our world has with creating and trusting too much in technological advances and artificial intelligence.

great movie

[BOOBEAR66 · 10/10 · 17 November 2004]

This movie deserves much more ratings & reviews. This movie was great back in 1977, it was so much ahead of its time. Even in 2004 this is still a great movie.When I was younger & seen this movie, I thought " man what a cool house ", then once the stuff started happening, I was like " oh man it fights back ", need I say for awhile I was scared of stuff in house ( TV, fridge, stove, stero). I have this movie on VHS & have lent it to friends to watch, they all enjoy it , some not as much as I, but they all agree this movie is ahead of its time. I strongly suggest anyone who has not seen this movie, don't listen to the reviews, go watch it for yourself & you decide.

Beware of AI?

[seveb-25179 · 7/10 · 23 August 2021]

Beware of AI! (A sentiment that becomes more relevant each day?)

Wherein a scientist creates a Supercomputer to solve the problems of man, like cancer, but then the computer starts to question the morality of some of the other things it is also being asked to plan as well, like mining the bottom of the ocean.

The scientist is married and lives in an advanced computerised house, with voice command doors and lights, ubiquitous surveillance cameras, shelves that move up or down to a convenient height and where martinis can be made and served by an automated wheel chair with one mechanical arm. (So we are about half way there now)

He's been working so hard on his project that his psychologist wife is upset with him, so he moves out.

When the supercomputer begins to question and then rebel, it manages to take over the computer in his house and becomes fascinated by his attractive wife (Julie Christie from Dr Zhivago) It ogles, I mean observes, her using the surveillance cameras (and of course we get to ogle her too, as she takes a shower etc.)

Then the computer decides to examine her more closely, so the doors are locked, the window shutters come down and the one armed wheel chair overpowers her and takes her down to the basement lab for a closer look...

Then the computer decides it would like to experience what it's like to be a human, and makes a plan to impregnate her...

By then the husband a friend have become suspicious and attempt to intervene and various action and moralising ensues

The science is completely bonkers of course, but the special effects are quite imaginative and effective, given the limitations they had back then.

There is also element of voyeurism and rape, but it is more suggested than actual, and I think falls within acceptable bounds of telling the story, rather than being overly gratuitous.

And yes there is indeed a robot penis, telescoping and covered with ridges and bumps, however we are spared any graphic details of its use.

The film was directed by Donald Cammell, who I also recently read about in Keith Richards autobiography. He also directed the infamous movie "Performance" which featured Mick Jagger and Anita Pallenberg. Keith characterised him as being a sadistic and manipulative personality.

Alexa, please conduct an abomination against nature!

[JoeB131 · 5/10 · 23 July 2023]

So a computer scientist creates a super advanced automated home, and then has a terminal leading to his super-advanced artificial intelligence machines. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, everything, as the super computer goes mad (as they tend to do in movies like this) and decides that it wants to create a living host for itself. The movie's interactions with the female protagonist are really uncomfortable to watch.

The movie is amusing in what it got wrong and right about our computer automated future.

This movie came out the same year as Star Wars, which changed the face of Science Fiction forever. This one is long on dialog and short on action by comparison.

It also ends with a trippy light show, because it was a rule after 2001: A Space Odyssey that every SF Movie had to have a trippy light show.

Intelligent, well-done sci-fi/horror

[willywants · 10/10 · 20 February 2005]

Susan Harris (Julie Christie), wife of a scientist working in the field of advanced robotics, becomes a prisoner in her own home when super-computer Proteus IV, who also wants to spread its seed by impregnating Susan, takes charge of her life. I rented "Demon Seed" because I felt like watching something with a brain, and based on a lot of positive IMDb reviews, I was praying for a smart sci-if flick. My prayers were answered.

The acting in Demon Seed is fine. Robert Vaughn was creepy as hell as Proteus IV, both sinister and relaxed at the same time, in fact he does an even better job as an evil computer here than Douglas Rain did as HAL-9000 in 2001: A space Odyssey.

The film benefits greatly from an intelligent screenplay, penned by Robert Jaffe and Roger O. Hirson. The dialog is thought provoking and thankfully never really insults the audience's intelligence.

Helming the director's seat is Donald Cammell, who directs with a firm hand and injects a claustrophobic and uncomfortable atmosphere into the film, also managing to maintain the suspense scenes well. Interestingly, he apparently condones the film (assuming that calling the film a 'piece of sh*t' warrants that…).

As others have pointed out there are some dated aspects to the production. The special effects were sparse but thoroughly unconvincing, the only exception being the mesmerizing computer screens that consist of ever-changing shapes and colors that are shown on Proteus's computer terminal. The film takes place in the 'distant' future—1995, I believe—yet it looks like it's right out of the 70's, no thanks to the cars, clothing, computers and hair styles that give away the films age. This is a small complaint but an annoying one, though it's easy to ignore once you get involved with the story line.

"Demon Seed" is an intelligent sci-fi film that's pretty rare but if you happen to see a copy of it, pick it up if you're in the mood for something smart.

7.5/10.

Pretty good

[qrt7 · 7/10 · 25 June 2001]

For it's time, this film deals with some pretty advanced stuff, namely computer AI. It's a fairly well executed and quite convincing psychological thriller. Although the computer equipment in the film looks incredibly dated (big chunky TV and lots of flashing primary-colours).

At times I found the movie had a few holes in it, and i'm amazed that Christies character was unable to escape. It only took a bit of nous, but then again, the female character is a bit stereotyped. From that point of view things are a bit predictable. However, once the inevitability of the story is accepted, the dramatic tension as the computer reveals its desire to take human form via Christie is pretty gripping and quite atmospheric, turning bleaker as it the picture progresses.

I'm not sure about the ending though, but I guess it's intended to make the viewer think, so that's fair enough.

Pretty good for a one-off viewing.

7/10

Nastily uncomfortable, but interesting food for thought...

[moonspinner55 · 5/10 · 30 August 2015]

"Rosemary's Baby" for the computer age! A multi-billion dollar super-computer, Proteus IV, incorporated with organic elements and possessing the power to think and speak, decides it wants "out of the box" and takes over the computer-controlled home of the estranged wife of its creator. Proteus, who speaks in the same smug tones as HAL from "2001", terrorizes Julie Christie's Susan with talk of conceiving a child with her, genetically altering her cells with synthetic spermatozoa and impregnating her womb. Dean R. Koontz's book, which probably made for a quick, easy read, looks fairly silly when blown up on the big screen: computerized penetration and conception! Still, Christie gives it a go and manages to be fairly quick-witted and forthright. The scenes of her assault are (for the most part) tastefully rendered, though an earlier bit with Proteus peeping at her coming out of the shower is likely to raise some unintended laughter. The film is often uncomfortably physical and insensitive; it has a fine production design and an intriguing overview of the overreaching modern scientist, although there are glaring gaps of continuity and the 'shocking' finale leaves more than a few questions unanswered. ** from ****

Intelligent SF/horror movie.

[Infofreak · 1 December 2001]

If you know anything about Donald Cammell's checkered career watching 'Demon Seed' can be quite a strange experience because you can't help but wonder what it might have been if Cammell was able to bring his original vision to the screen without studio interference. For those unfamiliar with his sad tale watch the astonishingly original 'Performance' that he wrote and co-directed with Nic Roeg, then try and see the documentary 'Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance' which fills in the gaps from that landmark to his untimely suicide in the 1990s.

Anyway, I can only comment on 'Demon Seed' as it is, and it's a very strong, intelligent and scary SF/horror movie. Recently activated super computer Proteus questions Alex Harris the scientist who created him (played by Fritz Weaver). He wants to know what the information he is gathering and problems he is being asked to be solved are REALLY all about. Not getting satisfactory answers he decides to rebel, and takes control of Harris' fully automated home, which is occupied by his estranged wife Susan (Julie Christie).

Almost immediately Susan and Proteus are at odds. Proteus won't accept non-cooperation with his plans, which include Susan's impregnation, and she becomes a terrorized prisoner of the "evil" (?) computer. What follows is a battle of wills and wits, which makes compulsive viewing. 'Demon Seed' may be dated in the FX department, what SF over twenty years old isn't, but it compensates with suspense, style and food for thought. Plus one of the best endings of any 1970s SF movie! Make sure you see this one.

A simple premise, done well

[drownsoda90 · 7/10 · 12 September 2021]

This late-'70s horror-sci-fi hybrid has Julie Christie, a child psychologist, who becomes trapped in her Los Angeles home after an AI system her computer scientist husband has created and installed into their home becomes obsessed with her--to the point that it wants to procreate.

While the premise here is straightforward and might sound silly on paper, "Demon Seed" is executed rather smoothly, and the film manages to be consistently entertaining despite its limited locale. Director Donald Cammell makes ample use of the interiors, and there are a number of substantially suspenseful scenes.

The film as a whole is really held together by Julie Christie, who commits fully here and gives a believable performance. While the grand finale gets a bit silly (and the special effects, though practical, don't exactly do it any favors), the screenplay is more intelligent than it may appear, as it does pose some philosophical questions about humans, our technology, and the complex relationship between the two. All in all, this is an entertaining sci-fi funhouse of horrors with a dash of philosophy, some shadowy cinematography, and poor Julie Christie in all sorts of physical quandaries. Not perfect by any means, but it is executed amicably. 8/10.

Not as bad as it sounds...

[JasparLamarCrabb · 6/10 · 14 October 2001]

Julie Christie gives a gutsy performance as the unlucky wife of a scientist (the always creepy Fritz Weaver) who becomes the obsession of a rogue computer and its out of control libido. DEMON SEED is much better than one would think, perhaps because it takes itself so seriously---it's like Rosemary's Baby only with scientists and a computer instead of a coven of witches and Satan. Robert Vaughn (before he started accepting EVERY role offered to him) is the computer's sinister voice. From director/tortured soul Donald Cammell & made in the demented editing style he and Nicolas Roeg cultivated throughout the '70s (see PERFORMANCE or the snail-paced MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH).

A Tense, Intriguing Film

[TheExpatriate700 · 7/10 · 26 February 2010]

Demon Seed is a highly effective science fiction thriller which surpasses its potentially exploitative premise. Walking in the same territory as 2001 and Colossus: The Forbin Project, the film focuses on the dangers posed by artificial intelligence, at least as perceived by people in the 1970s. A scientist creates a thinking computer that soon wants to escape the "box" it has been put in.

The greatest strength of the film is Julie Christie's performance. Although she spends much of the movie by herself, she still gives an engaging performance that makes you care about her character. Fritz Weaver lends good support as her technology obsessed husband.

Although the special effects are not as spectacular as the CGI produced marvels of today, they are still effective. Particularly interesting is the large geometric robot that the computer uses to do its bidding.

Computer Seed

[JasonXIX · 5/10 · 9 December 2018]

Basically an exploitation movie masquerading as a Sci-Fi movie. Even the title exploits better "possession" movies like Rosemary's Baby and the Exorcist. However, there are no demons to be found anywhere, just an obnoxious misogynistic computer called Proteus, and a wheelchair with a mechanical arm. You have to suspend disbelief for so many plot contrivances, it becomes difficult to take the movie seriously.

Julie Christie's character is terrorized and assulted by Proteus for most of the movie, which could be acceptable if there was some point to it. But, what is the audience supposed to take away from all this torment? That A.I. is dangerous and technology is controlling our lives? Without giving much away, the ending of the film completely contradicts this possible message, and almost treats Proteus's offspring as some sort of miracle, or savior.

The Sentinel (1977) or The Entity (1982) would be better options for people interested in this type of movie.

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

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 24 March 2012]

Dean R. Koontz's novel is adapted for the screen with this original and provocative science-fiction tale. An organic super computer dubbed Proteus has been created, but this entity has ambitions and thoughts that its creators couldn't have foreseen. The one emotion built into it is reason, and it doesn't want to just blindly follow orders; it questions things. For example, why it's so necessary to plunder the Earth's oceans in search of precious metals and destroy wildlife in the process. But what really intrigues Proteus (eerily voiced by an uncredited Robert Vaughn) is human life itself, and it traps Susan Harris (ever radiant Julie Christie) inside her own home, intending for her to bear its "child".

As one can see, "Demon Seed" is far from your typical sci-fi, and is positively creepy, and personal. For a while it's practically a two character drama, with the frightened Susan and the coldly determined Proteus locked in a battle of wills. With the high level of intimacy generated, it's easy to be with these characters and feel concerned for Susan's safety.

The popular subtext of this and similar features - "Colossus: The Forbin Project" and "The Terminator" - illustrating a potential for disaster in trusting our lives to machinery, is front and centre. The movie never insults the audience's intelligence, and as it plays out it's really fascinating to see. Even if one can take issue with the way the movie strongly dates itself - special effects, fashions, etc. - some of the visuals are still quite hypnotic and the scenario remains compelling the entire time, with a memorable and haunting wrap-up, which will leave the viewer to wonder about the "What next?" aspect.

The acting is strong from all concerned, with Christie an engaging lead, and the likable Fritz Weaver doing well as the confident human brain behind Proteus who realizes this creation of his can't be so easily controlled. It's also cool to have on hand the always entertaining Gerrit Graham ("Phantom of the Paradise", "Used Cars") as Susan's would-be rescuer, Walter Gabler.

Excellent widescreen cinematography by Bill Butler and chilling music by Jerry Fielding are also heavy assets in this solid shocker, one of the more noteworthy films of its type from its era.

Eight out of 10.

Flawed but interesting and prescient sci-fi/horror tale of modern technology

[a_chinn · 7/10 · 7 October 2017]

Sci-fi/horror film about an automated house that becomes obsessed with and controlling the house matron, Julie Christie, is more timely than ever with the rise of more and more "Smart Home" products coming online. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not at all fearful that my Echo Dot is going to hold my wife hostage, but this film certainly does pose interesting questions of how much we are allowing technology to insinuate itself into our daily lives. Dramatically, the film is flawed, with a some gaping plot holes, a not always believable performance by Christie, and some very dated futuristic special effects. However, "Demon Seed" works both as an entertaining thriller, but more importantly works on an intellectual level, posing many prescient questions, which is why this film has endured. "Demon Seed" is one of only a handful of films directed by Donald Cammell (the others were the brilliant "Performance" that he co-directed with Nicolas Roeg, the suspenseful thriller "White of the Eye," and one other film that was re-cut by producers that he took his name off of, along with some U2 music videos). Definitely worth watching for fans of 1970s science fiction or fans of Julie Christie. Even if it's not her best performance, it's basically a one-woman- show.

Unconvincing, uninteresting, unlikely...almost unwatchable.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 4/10 · 27 January 2007]

As much as I love science-fiction movies, as much as I love '70's movies and as much as I love movies with silly premises, I just didn't liked this one.

The movie started of promising and seemed tense and mysterious. However after the opening, the movie picks about the least interesting and convincing approach and the story got lost in a jungle of weird, uninteresting and highly unlikely moments.

The middle just wasn't good and interesting enough to keep my attention. It becomes all too obvious that the movie is an attempt to cash in after the success of "2001: A Space Odyssey". The story shows a bit too many similarities and Proteus obviously of course is the same as HAL 9000, only less scary and less convincing. The movie tries to be deep and clever with its story but it instead works out shallow and unconvincing due to an unconvincing and uninteresting storyline. In a way you can call this movie a "2001: A Space Odyssey" for dummies.

The premise of a woman being locked inside of a high-tech filled house and is being held hostage by a supercomputer just isn't the most exciting and convincing story they could had come up with, considering its good and in a way relevant subject, about computers and technique eventually taking over the human-race. It becomes all the more unconvincing when the intentions of the super computer become clear; he wants to impregnate the woman to create a hybrid child, eventually resulting in the rape of the woman.

The movie could had been tense and above all also thought-provoking. It now instead is a silly '70's mess, with a silly and uninteresting premise that also barely entertains enough. The middle drags on for way too long, without much interesting or tense happening in it. The buildup and story-flow falls flat and the movie is only still mildly interesting and good to watch in some few sequences, mainly due to its good- and good looking technical sequences.

Normally Julie Christie is always great to watch in any movie. She has played in classics such as; "Doctor Zhivago", "Fahrenheit 451", "Don't Look Now" and the more recent; "Dragonheart", "Troy" and "Finding Neverland". She however was simply awful in this movie to be frank. Her performance was emotionless and unconvincing and she didn't seemed comfortable with her role and the movie its story.

A silly, unconvincing, technical good looking movie, which subject deserved a better plot.

4/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

This is THE sci-fi film of the seventies

[trondbj · 10/10 · 23 November 2001]

I admit it,I have been seduced by this sci-fi classic, there isn`t much to say, except this: DEMON SEED IS A MUST SEE!. Demon Seed contains critical and political views on the technology in the future. With an megalomanic computer which are taking over an house, and even get pregnant with the human lady of the house(played by Julie Christie)this movie contains suspense at the best. The computer takes over the house....but will the computer (which is called Proteus,if I remember correctly)take over the world...the answer is within each viewer. Not unlike Hal in 2001 the error is caused...as always by human behaviour.

The director of this masterpiece; Cammell, deserves a lot of credits for Demon Seed. The movie is a golden moment in the film history!

A 2001's Hall & Colossus facsimile science fiction!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 10 March 2021]

Haunting Science-Fiction brazenly is a replica of 2001's Hall and Colossus the forbidden Project, if both is high profile productions Demon Seed doesn't fits in this higher status, apart this the concept is rather ambitious and visually bodacious, it has some irrevocable inconsistences pursuant on the science as invariant benchmark, I watched this picture in early eights on TV, hence I just get one opportunity to see it again, finally this picture came out in Brazil.

The starting is auspicious with high-tech sets of a highest computer ever built mixing with an organic brain named Proteus IV, a worldwide state enterprise to research in countless fields where the science gets few achievements only, as on medicine, also measuring of the seize and quality of some valuable metals underneath of the bottom of the sea for a forthcoming prospecting and others issues that the mankind for many years asking for best results.

Proteus has a human mind, nonetheless its needs learning all about humanity which is provides by a wise Chinese teacher Soong Yen (Lisa Lu), now having a cognitive mindset he starting questioning Dr. Alex Harris (Fritz Weaver) about the minerals prospecting due it doesn't make sense, all shores around will be utterly ruined by devastating mining area, such damage would be harmful to the civilization, then he refuses allows the datasheets.

Heretofore the movie has a meaning until here, however a sudden changing come up, Proteus demands to Dr. Alex Harris get out him at the box, promptly denied, thus Proteus connects with a high-tech Harris's house, finding his wife Susan (Julie Christie) alone there, the cunning Proteus has a plan to getting knocked up Susan in order to build his own human replica, at this point the movie falls into disbelief, a sort of a multifarious lozenge device got off of a crashed computer screen, turns into a solid material (from a computer??) also Proteus counts on luck due Dr. Alex Harris didn't show up at your house for weeks, enough time to Proteus accomplish his target, well done however built over the instable sands ground!!

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 1984 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7

Uncalled-for nonsense; unappetizing and annoying.

[HenryHextonEsq · 4/10 · 14 April 2003]

'Ridiculous... only time well tell'; well, my dear Proteus, time has indeed been able to tell: this film is ridiculous. "Demon Seed" is a film with no real 'intelligence' or purpose; it is a grand guignol puppet show embossed with pyrotechnics.

Nothing like an interesting or relevant context is established for the film's events, at the beginning. We know next to nothing about any of the 'characters', a locale or bluntly even the computer project itself. The script shows next to no ingenuity, discarding the slightest hint of an interesting possibility when it briefly rears its head. There is a dearth of issues, situations and reactions explored here; barely an ounce of human character comes across in a film which surely needs its depiction besides a cantankerous computer, voiced by an un-credited Robert Vaughn.

Many may find this film slightly 'disturbing' or more rightfully mildly unpleasant and exploitative. The whole concept of a HAL-lite super-computer wanting a child is ludicrous stuff, lent farcically somber weight here. To extend this to an idea of this machine forcibly producing a child via Julie Christie is yet more worthy of ridicule. The whole thing is really not thought through in terms of consequences and the internal realism of the situation; quite how Proteus is so able to gain complete control over Christie's abode, is merely one of many questions. The task of Cammell, who directs as if he were dragged into it reluctantly, seems barely taken up; performances are not coaxed from actors who tend to go through some very abject paces. Julie Christie is surprisingly ineffective as the 'wife figure' Susan Harris; emoting meekly and prissily to little effect. It's rather an undignified role, and Christie struggles to lend it any credence; she seems very badly cast. As an actress, I'd say from the films of hers I have seen, that she tends to be more effective as a still, subtle presence ("Don't Look Now") or as an archetype (of swinging new metropolitan England, in "Billy Liar!") than really as a strong character actress. She was quite a shallow Marian Maudsley in "The Go-Between", physically charming but not getting to the heart of the character. Susan Harris is a little more than a non-character in this script, badly essayed by this statuesque actress. Next to no impression is made by semi-names such as Fritz Weaver, and Ms. Christie really cannot carry the film. It is largely a two-hander with nothing really said, between Mrs Harris and a faceless computer; certainly not an easy task for her to act this out I suppose, but then what are performers paid for? Perhaps not ideally to turn out sullen, generally toneless and indistinct portrayals such as Christie's here.

There is no point discussing the ending, which is about the most unoriginal, cloyingly cloddish way to 'wrap things up' one could care to imagine. Idiotic stuff, really; that cribs from other films of the time and has the fashionable 'shock factor' that seems laughable today. About the only real saving grace of this film is really that it could have been worse, more infuriatingly annoying than it is; the ending really shows this. Yet, the whole is truly anemic, and special effects and gadgetry, however well applied, do not a movie make.

"Demon Seed" is not anything like a good science fiction film, and that it is at all credited with any worth is really an embarrassment to its critical benefactors. For it is simply shlock 'sci fi' lent mock gravity; a dulling demonstration of a bag of tricks with no purpose, credibility or strategy. Julie Christie is compromised in a rather questionable 'storyline' and rendered ridiculous as she barely tries with what is some very inept material.

Rating:- **/*****