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23 out of 27 people found the following review useful: Intelligent, well-done sci-fi/horror, 20 February 2005 Author: willywants
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.
23 out of 28 people found the following review useful: This is THE sci-fi film of the seventies, 23 November 2001 Author: trondbj (trondbj@stud.ntnu.no) from norway
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!
14 out of 16 people found the following review useful: "When are you going to let me out of this box?", 8 February 2006 Author: Scott LeBrun from Winnipeg, Canada
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
10 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Artificial Intelligence Terrorism, 8 May 2004 Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls
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.
7 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Though-provoking all the way to its great ending., 14 February 2002 Author: gridoon
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. (***)
11 out of 16 people found the following review useful: A techno-horror masterpiece!, 20 July 2002 Author: HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby, Poland
I watched this one yesterday and all I can say is:wow!Very clever,intelligent and stylish horror/sci-fi with some memorable visuals and lots of suspense.Julie Christie("Don't Look Now")is excellent in the lead role,and Donald Cammell's direction is well-handled.The film is pretty hard to find,so if you get a chance watch it!9 out of 10-a must-see!
13 out of 20 people found the following review useful: Now We Know Why Computers Have Hard Drives, 17 January 2005 Author: BaronBl00d (baronbl00d@aol.com) from NC
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.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: One of the coolest, 27 February 2004 Author: siderite from Romania
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.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Not as bad as it sounds..., 14 October 2001 Author: pljewkes from Boston, MA
Julie Christie gives one of her more animated performances 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).
10 out of 16 people found the following review useful: "Wanna See a House Rape a Woman" - If you say so!, 28 January 2006 Author: dmk_world from Australia
PLOT - 8/10 Believe it or not, but I liked the Plot. A computer takes over a house which is completely controlled by computers. Than he keeps a woman prisoner in her own home and finally impregnates her so he can become a living human. Not bad at all. ACTING - 6/10 The acting was corny. It wasn't bad, but it was sometimes unbelievable. But unlike TV Movies, the acting doesn't get annoying.Screen writing - 6/10 The screen writing was a disappointment. But I have to say this; The writing is better than the novel. As much as I am a fan of Dean Koontz, the movie was better than the book. DIRECTION - 9/10 It had excellent directing. The director (who killed himself year later) was really... um, talented, Despite being sick. But the directing was better than the plot, writing all together. MUSIC - 8/10 It had quite scary music. The music keeps up the suspense, despite there being no suspense what-so-ever in the film. OVERALL The movie has quality. It's not a low budget film that is completely unwatchable. I personally really liked the movie. With it's really good storyline. It's defiantly a movie I would own and watch regular. 7/10."Wanna See a House Rape a Woman" - funny.
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