Demon Seed
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DVD details
Actor: Berry Kroeger, Fritz Weaver, Gerrit Graham, Julie Christie, Lisa LuBrand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 94 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-10-04
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of Demon Seed
DVD Review: "What a pity...my dream turns out to be your nightmare."
Summary: 4 Stars
While I was watching Demon Seed (1977) last night, I couldn't help think what a great title that was...for a different film. I did really like the movie, as it reminded me of one that came out seven years prior, titled Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), both being stories about super computers who got a little too big for their britches, only here it was taken to the next level, which I'll talk more about in a little bit. Based on the 1973 Dean R. Koontz novel of the same name, and directed by Donald Cammell, who would later take his own life apparently due to his 1995 film Wild Side being re-cut against his wishes (talk about devotion to your art), the film stars Julie Christie (Doctor Zhivago, Fahrenheit 451, Don't Look Now) and Fritz Weaver (Marathon Man, Black Sunday, Creepshow), who bares a striking resemblance to actor David Gale, whose most memorable role was the of the lecherous Dr. Carl Hill, from the 1985 film Re-Animator. Also appearing is Gerrit Graham (Phantom of the Paradise, Used Cars, It's Alive III: Island of the Alive), Berry Kroeger (The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant), Lisa Lu (The Last Emperor), and Larry J. Blake (Herbie Rides Again, The Strongest Man in the World).
As the film begins we are witnessing the completion and activation of the world's most advanced computer, called Proteus IV, a project headed up by Dr. Alex Harris (Weaver). Seems this modern marvel is more than just a collection of diodes, resistors, and capacitors...it's a self programming, goal oriented, artificial brain comprised of a quasi-neural matrix made up of synthetic RNA molecules. What does all that mean? It means it can think, learn, and develop...oh yeah, it also has the voice of Robert Vaughn, for some, odd reason...the hopes are that this revolutionary system will provide answers and solutions for a great many questions and problems (along with making the company that owns it a great deal of money), but it seems perhaps that it was built too well, as Proteus begins displaying anomalistic behavior, making its own value judgments, disobeying commands and such...it also insinuates itself into Dr. Harris' home, which is entirely controlled by computer, and assumes control over all the electrical and mechanical systems, making a virtual prisoner of out Dr. Harris' wife Susan (Christie). But for what purpose? Well, apparently Proteus has the hots for the Doctor's wife (I don't blame it), and has designs on reproducing...artificial insemination from an artificial intelligence? Domo Oregato, Mr. Roboto! Needless to say, Susan isn't too keen on the idea, but Proteus is a persuasive entity, one for whom possibilities are only realities that have yet to come...
As I said, I really enjoyed this film a lot, and I thought it was a most excellent blending of science fiction and horror. The story, upon hearing it, may seem completely fantastic and highly improbable, but the futuristic production works due to a strong sense of intelligent writing, solid plotting and effects, excellent direction, and great acting, primarily from Ms. Christie. The terror did feel real, in terms of Proteus keeping Susan captive, as he was quite devious in getting what he wanted, despite her efforts to escape. There was a good deal of tension as Susan tried to resist Proteus' electrically charged charms, especially the sequence in the kitchen as Susan learns the are consequences to her actions, and how far the entity is willing to go to get what it desires. You may be thinking why didn't the scientists just pull the plug? Well, seems Dr. Harris and his wife were sort of estranged and he was living at the facility, so they had no knowledge that Proteus had ingrained himself into the Harris household computer systems, or the super computer's ultimate plans. How do you fight a menace so encompassing, one that knows your every move, and learns at an exponential (at the very least) rate? I mentioned the film Colossus: The Forbin Project earlier and the similarities to this film, but one of the main differences was in that movie the system controlled through global threats (the system was worldwide), while here, much of the story is isolated within the Harris home, and the threats proposed of a very personal nature. Christie is excellent as Susan, a role which many probably wouldn't have been able to pull off as successfully. It also didn't hurt her willingness to briefly shed her clothes...homina homina...if you want to see more, check out Don't Look Now (1973), which is also available on DVD. As far as the special effects, they may hardly compare to today's standards, but at the time I'm sure they were pretty smart at the time. The ginormous object within the basement was definitely odd, reminding me much of a Rubik's Snake aka Rubik's twist, only a whole lot bigger. I wasn't sure where the hell they were going with that thing, but the tactile responsiveness of the object was pretty amazing. It also provided for one of the more interesting scenes featuring Gerrit Graham, as he learns the price for trying to debug the system. There were also some really trippy and beautiful visuals...I wasn't quite sure what they were supposed to represent, but they were fun to watch. All in all I though this was an excellent thriller tinged with a bit of the philosophical, featuring an interesting, unexpected, and kinda creepy ending.
The picture, presented in widescreen (2.35:1) anamorphic, looks very clean and sharp, and the Dolby Digital mono audio comes through very nicely. The only extra available is a theatrical trailer. I'm thinking perhaps Warner Brothers, who released this DVD, could have included some more extras, but then they've never been known to go out of their way as much as they could...at least they've stopped using those crummy cardboard/plastic cases, called `trapper' cases, and switched to a full on plastic DVD cases, in line with what every other major studio uses. Those things were the worst...
Cookieman108
If I learned anything from this film its that super intelligent, highly sophisticated computer systems are capable of sensual behavior, when it comes to their desire to put a bun in the oven...
Description of Demon Seed
Susan Harris is alone in the house when suddenly doors lock windows slam shut and the phone stops working. Susan is trapped by an intruder - but this is no ordinary thug. Instead the intruder is a computer named Proteus an artificial brain that has learned to reason. And to terrorize. In "one of her finest most vulnerable perfromances" (Danny Peary Guide for the Film Fanatic) Julie Christie plays Susan in this taut techno-thriller based on the Dean Koontz novel. Packed with suspense surprise and special effects Demon Seed follows Susan's desperate attempts to outmaneuver and outthink her captor. Then Susan learns what Proteus wants: its own child conceived in her womb and destined for domination.Running Time: 94 min.System Requirements:Running Time 94 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: R UPC: 012569675957Bestsellers in DVD
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