The Eclectic Choice: Demon Seed

Demon Seed (1977)
dir. Donald Cammell

In the science fiction sub-genre of computers coming to life, Demon Seed takes the cake for being one of the more bizarre and that's what makes it great. Sure you have films like Colossus: The Forbidden Project (1970), War Games (1983), 2001 (1968), and Electric Dreams (1984), but none of these come close to the twisted killer computer Proteus IV.

Fritz Weaver plays a scientist who has built the super computer which quickly outgrows it's human masters. It takes over the house of Weaver's estranged wife played by the eternaly sexy Julie Christie. Well, since Proteus has already learned everything about humanity, now it want to be human, or at least breed and that's where Christie comes in handy. Yes, where else can you get scene after scene of a computer working to convice a terrified woman that they need to have intercourse?

However campy it sounds, it's actually very unnerving and has some wild visuals provided by artist turned director Cammell. The impressive geometric shape that Proteus takes on has a certain sublime grace as it moves through scenes, shifting and slithering to manuvere around. The entire film may look dated, but think of it as part science fiction, part body horror, part expiremental video project. If that doesn't do it for you, Christie's performance should, she's amazing in this one.

Personally I think it's a real gem and a masterpiece in a surreal way. You may not want to own it, but see it with an open mind and you might discover a very original and bold piece of filmmaking.