Terminal Error (2002)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

John Murlowski

Writer (WGA):

T.L. Petrie (written by)

Release Date:

26 April 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Powerful automation software begins to make decisions for itself. |

Plot Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Human Versus Computer

Cast

Matthew Ewald	...	Dylan Weston
Marina Sirtis	...	Alex
Michael Nouri	...	Brad Weston
David Wells	...	Russ
Timothy Busfield	...	Elliott Nesher
Robert Leon Casey	...	Pilot (as Robert Casey)
Audrey Wasilewski	...	Kathy
Robert Covarrubias	...	Kenny
Rick Cramer	...	Detective Lavin
David Storrs	...	Student
Kim Delgado	...	Deputy Mayor
Jane Yamamoto	...	Miriam
Scott Clifton	...	Jock
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jason Tatum	...	Plant Engineer

Also Known As:

Peace Virus

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and peril.

Runtime:

UK:90 min | USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

PorchLight Entertainment

Goofs:

Factual errors: A computer monitor bursts into flames in the room Brad is trapped in which is filled with Halon. As explained in the movie, Halon is a fire suppressant that displaces oxygen, making such a fire impossible.

Drive-In Monsters of the New Millennium

In the '50s the standard low budget movie monster was some innocent insect enlarged by radiation; today, it's a computer or similar technological device run amuck, often infected with a virus or some such. Neither premise was ever much grounded in science, but at least followed a series of familiar conventions, both with respect to the human and non-human protagonists. "Terminal Error" fits the genre, though, of course, made for the drive-in has succumbed to direct to video or (in this case)made for cable .

That said, this is an ominous enough little film that its ambitious, but ultimately cheesy special effects (thankfully limited to a small screen) and entirely predictable plot don't keep it from being entertaining in the same way those old drive-in films kept you watching.

In brief, a disgruntled employee uses the teenaged son of his ex-boss to infect the company's computers with a virus designed for revenge. Since these computers are widely used as control devices, the area's power grids, elevators, traffic signals, Army missiles are all put in the hands of our evil doer until the virus begins to mutate and turn on humankind in general.

The acting is competent enough, and there is even a bit of witty dialog between the boss and his Stephen Hawking-like associate.

If you don't expect much from this movie and need a monster fix, that's what you'll get, and you probably won't be too disappointed.