Sci-Fi Classic Review: DEMON SEED (1977)

[@hawkboy451]

One of the greatest Science Fiction movies ever made , 50 years ahead of its time. Comparable only with the movie Altered Sates. No CGI in either, but both timeless classics.

[@myguitar5724]

That house is thoroughly modern. This movie could be made today and no one would know the difference. This movie aged well. Thanks for the excellent review of this movie.

[@mxbishop]

I saw this movie when it was first released to theaters. At the time, I was a freshman in college - and seeking anything science-fiction - good, bad, hokey, indifferent. The movie is not boring. A lot happens, and there are some interesting special effects. This is the classic Frankenstein themed sci-fi - with a science project run amok. I enjoyed the film - but must admit I laughed at how silly some of the scenes were. Because I was studying computer science at the time - this movie kept my interest, regardless of its shortcomings. Yes, a guilty pleasure. But also a minor sci-fi classic.

[@geofftaylor8913]

I watched the movie when it came out, and then again only a few years ago. I came to the same conclusions you did and that it was very prophetic and deep on a lot of levels. Very atmospheric and a little foreboding. Still on my list of favorites.

[@charleyyoho4693]

watched this as a kid and it jump started my love for SciFy

[@NoMarketMedia]

Late to the party, but this is probably a great example of how even in less than stellar movies, there are some amazing performances and concepts none the less! Another great review!

[@CaminoAir]

Not much point in Vaughan having his name removed from the credits, when his distinctive voice announces his casting with every word spoken. I've never seen it, despite repeatedly hearing about it. I always assumed it was made earlier in the 1970's.

[@wimvanderstraeten6521]

Colossus: The Forbin Project is another 70's movie about a rogue artificial intelligence.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

It's definitely on my list!

[@MattMcIrvin]

That one is really, really good. Well worth a look. Would make an interesting triple bill with "Dr. Strangelove" and "WarGames".

[@palmercolson7037]

I second that suggestion.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I finally tackled Colossus last month!

[@flashkraft]

I saw this movie on late night TV around 1985 when I was around 10 years old. It spark in me an interest in computers that led to me working in IT today.

[@johnpresnell]

Good video; I’ll watch anything with Julie Christie!

[@eduardo_corrochio]

Only recently I visited this movie again after a long time, and enjoyed it. It's not the worst piece of suspense sci-fi fare. Vaughn's voice is deliciously icy and calculating. One of my favorite moments is when he asks his maker, "Doctor Harris, when are you going to let me out of this box?" Fritz Weaver is something of a minor horror icon to me considering his presence in the Creepshow story "The Crate" and other things. He always lends a certain elegance to a show or film. Plus, I enjoyed him in the 1980s TV anthology Tales from the Darkside episode titled "Inside the Closet" which has a fun twist in its very last scene. Weaver also appeared on Night Gallery, Monsters, The X-Files and more.

[@palmercolson7037]

He was in a lot of TV shows on individual episodes. He was on Twilight Zone twice. Surprisingly, it looks like he was on only one Star Trek series, DS9.

[@eduardo_corrochio]

@@palmercolson7037 Yes, prolific actor.

[@warrennalty6599]

Two of the best lines in the genre. The second being "I'm alive" at the end.

[@eduardo_corrochio]

@@warrennalty6599 Yes.

[@rsacchi100]

I saw the film on TV a few years after it came out. It touched on a few subjects revolving around a computer becoming sentient. This will probably be an interesting subject until such a thing exists.

[@n2bfw884]

I really enjoyed this. Thanks!

[@wychwoodmusic]

Shockingly good film given the bafflingly bad reviews. The only explanation I can think of is that 70s film reviewers didn't understand scifi - as in speculative fiction, not goofy (if fun) space laser swords - and looked down their prejudiced noses at it. Maybe they were also taken in by the smutty robot rape marketing?! Anyways, it's no 2001 or Rosemary's Baby, but it's still pretty great. The development of AI and its environmental concerns are prophetic, Proteus' voice (and behaviour, often) is chilling and should be iconic, Christie's performance and her character's experience is visceral.

[@cpnscarlet]

Saw it first time it was aired on TV. Have a copy. Agree with your assessment 100%

[@thrashpondopons8348]

Haven't seen this... but sounds like it would make a great Double Feature with 'Saturn 3'!

[@valley_robot]

what a great movie , loved it as a kid , loved it when I recently watched it

[@CallmeMrKelly]

I remember seeing this on HBO as a teen. Movies that didn’t do well at the box office often got a new life on Home Box Office.

[@kimberlybone1]

I think that's where I saw it too! I found it gripping, but disturbing. Making the child a clone of their lost child was genius on the part of the computer.

[@morlockmeat]

Loved this movie and the book. I always thought it would make a good double feature with "Colossus: The Forbin Project". Robert Vaughn's voice was great as Proteus. The best computer voice since HAL 9000 - cool and unsympathetic, yet gentle in tone. The concept was quite novel. An A.I. wanting to extend itself into the real world by artificially reproducing a human offspring. How fantastically bazaar! This was one of those 70's sci-fi movies that I was aware of, and went to see, but seemed like it sort of came and went with little notice. I remember it getting some attention, but not a lot. Perhaps it was too uncomfortable.

[@user-sikapeika]

Я его видела в лет 8, он очень впечатлил. А также помню пародию в Симпсонах на этот фильм. Да, он опережает время и многое предсказал. Умный дом, создание сперматозойда из яйцеклетки женщины(недавно это тоже смогли сделать). И неоднозначный финал. Классный фильм

[@paulkenny105]

Though I am definitely a king fan by far I absolutely love Odd Thomas both the book and the movie I always cry at that point in the story!!

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

I liked this film for its originality (one of the things often necessary for a film to become a cult classic it seems) especially years on retrospectively As with most good science lab type sci fi, there is a sense of...suspenseful fascination about it, it does hold the audiences' interest because you wonder what decisions the supercomputer is going to make so I wondered what the conclusion was going to be, just as you might wonder how ROBOCOP is going to fare on the lawless streets of Detroit in the...social experiment there. At the beginning of your blaze review I was led to believe you would arrogantly trash DEMON SEED, but you seemed to praise it at the end of the day

[@Malvito]

I must admit to being somewhat surprised that it took as long as it did for this movie to find itself on your radar, though it's easier to grasp when you note the proximity of this one to STAR WARS, which would go on to eclipse almost everything. It took me while a while to see it, myself, most likely because I was frightened off, at the time, by the advertising. (It didn't take a lot back then.) Besides the fact that it does swing for the fences in terms of what it has to say about Life, The Universe, and Everything (not going to argue that it succeeds, just that it gives it the old college try), I must say that I absolutely love the soundtrack, which is in the best tradition of 60s/70s weird sound/music soundtracks. I have it on a CD where it shares space with the Fred Myrow work from SOYLENT GREEN. As much as I love the fact that John Williams brought Korngold/Victor Young-style soundtracks back to movies, I miss the weird sounds in SF movies. It's all about when one grew up ... So my guess on this one missed (though I do hope the COLOSSUS:THE FORBIN PROJECT finds its way here eventually). The next one is "squishy", so I am going to wild guess that it might be THE BLOB. If so, though, then it becomes a question of which version. Thank you for these; they are all a lot of fun.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I probably should have said more about the soundtrack, since as you correctly note, it's one of the last great examples of an experimental sci-fi score before Williams went and changed everything. I've gotten requests of Colossus: The Forbin Project for over a year now (and several more since dropping this review), so rest assured, it is coming! As for my next one... you'll just have to wait and see. 😛

[@germanshepherd6638]

My question is , if the robot can create artificial sperm , why can’t it create an artificial egg?

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

Good point!

[@chrislewis-n3v]

when watching the film , i was convinced that the voice of the robot was anthony hopkins

[@ADAPTATION7]

This was a long long time ago. Twisted but definitely interesting.

[@dannystaton5386]

Awesome 👌

[@Metal.Gyn.1969]

Demon seed, masterpiece

[@nighthiker8872]

I would have done, about a 300-year-old insecure vampire. Who wants to start a family, to regain back his youth again. As he walks the streets looking for that special woman, who also in need of a worth relationship, but also, want's children. He lives in a mansion with his trusty butler, who also maintain everything!

[@darrensmith6999]

Mmm not seen this but will take a look thank you (:

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

You’re welcome!

[@RSEFX]

Big fan of this film for a number of reasons/hope to finish writing about it...someday (when things calm down---IF they will!) We live to a great extent in the world projected by this film (hmmm, can SF DO that?)...a world in which we talk to our "houses". Can a pet-tetrahedron be very far off?---ok, might as well say it, Petrahedron. (Btw, didn't think silly at all, so maybe, yes, we have differently-skewed views re some of these things/see my comment re: dinosaurs in JOURNEY CENTER OF THE EARTH). Really liked to see this film reviewed here. I saw it at a Fox preview before it came out. A lot of the negative reaction was to the open-ended conclusion---the same disgruntlement audiences and critics directed toward the equally floppy THE THING a few years later.) Interesting your thots re; King vs. Koontz...With very very few exceptions, King isn't exactly on top of my list as a writer, not one bit, and certainly not at all for the long trail of terrible adaptations of his work. (I liked CARRIE.) But that's all just an opinion. Always preferred Koontz, tho have seen only 2-3 screen adaptations of his work. Probably won't bother with any of these. I I've read both versions of DEMON SEED (as well as Robert Jaffe's original script---which is quite a bit closer to the book) and something really clicks with me about this concept, the world that is built around it, and what it suggests about our future...if any (as Paul Frees once added). I spoke to the Jaffes a few years ago when we chatted about another project, and little talk about a re-do of this book was being floated. I sure pushed to see that happen, as I wanted to have some part in its making...but nothing since). (Where did you hear about Robert Vaughn's dislike of his VO work? I'd like to follow up on that.) Thanks for another detailed overview.

[@MrGenyaAvacado]

8:42 Demon seeds of the mind.

[@kylecurry577]

I’ve always found this a curiously unique movie. Possibly the next step in Human evolution…”The Singularity”. Interesting premise.

[@johnnymac26]

thanks for this think I asked for it a few times ha ha brilliant film and a dean Koontz fan also loved this movie though some of it is definitely a bit hokey but hey that's the 70's.

[@jackilynpyzocha662]

I had a problem with the needle!

[@jackilynpyzocha662]

Mr. Koontz update "Demon Seed' in 1997!

[@paulstan9828]

Ha!!! I might have to give this movie another try. I tried to watch it years ago but couldn’t make it through the whole movie. 🥴

[@jackchivvis4188]

I saw this when it came out. It was shown @ my university on a big screen. I thought it was great and made a big impression on me. WAY ahead of it's time. Smoking a fat one made it even more creepy.

[@fredo1070]

This movie is really creepy, and the Rubics snake is kinda cool. Have you ever seen a movie which is similar in style with this one called Death Watch with Harvey Keitel? It predicts reality TV.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I haven’t. I’ll have to look it up!

[@jackilynpyzocha662]

I like both authors with the "K" surname!

[@battlestarmarc]

Good sci fi film from the 70's.

[@suntaog]

"I'm alive. "

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

Selling it as a smutty experience without letting audiences know what it actually is? Are you talking about Jennifer’s Body?

[@TheMormonSorceress]

I can understand Proteus wants to better understand humans, but that's not how to do it.

[@MattMcIrvin]

As science fiction, this movie doesn't make ANY sense--computers are magic in this universe. But I don't think hard-SF plausibility was really what it was going for. "Automated house of the future runs amok" had actually been an established trope for decades by this point, but it was usually played as comedy rather than horror.

[@jerryshunk7152]

Ahead of its time ? Hardly , Once you've read the book ! Genesis 6 The technology is a mere vicar of the wicked ones earliest error !

[@frmm123]

This movie has to be of some obvious influence to the creator of Beyond the Black Rainbow.

[@JohnWilliamNowak]

I've given it another chance. I'm afraid I don't like it much. To me, Proteus has no moments where he clearly behaves like a machine, and even Alien III has a very good one. Robert Vaughn's voice is too distinctive; unlike HAL 9000, Proteus doesn't sound like a machine: he sounds like Robert Vaughn voice acting. Much of Proteus' dialog is written to sound scary, instead of sounding like something Proteus would logically say. It also has one of my least favorite tropes: a residential house that is designed like a prison. Fire exits? What are those?

[@JohnWilliamNowak]

I'll admit I'm not a fan of it, but perhaps I didn't give it enough of chance.

[@wagonsworld9592]

I always thought this movie was called Semen Deed, 🤣🤣🤣

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

😂😂

[@manjsher3094]

Simply awesome movie, almost as awesome as hardware.... just saying.

[@brianmelendy1194]

This movie sucks. Definitely not a classic.

[@Kevin_Kennelly]

It does not 'deserve to be a sci fi classic'.

[@lesslycarthan956]

A movie about artificial insemination by artificial intelligence this is 40yrs ahead of it's time.i was 11 when I saw it and I'm 54 today I saw it again at 14 so for 30yrs it's been in my thoughts.the other thing was Roger Corby star trek all this before the matrix 1999. Thing is people are drunk off action and don't care about story. Kid's under 40 ask me why I'm not amazed at current 2023 technology I said because when I was 12 in 1982 we had tv watch we had game watch solar watch and calculator first computer interaction film Tron stereo jacket transformers cartoon as my teen's went on Sega Nintendo Gameboy apple computers 1942 fax machines to the public voice interaction toys and appliance's it seems to be vr DVD that was big as a house all this tech was just reduced and put into 1 vehicle the smart phone. This film is significant in my A.I evolution study far as the actors go.wasnt the voice of Proteus the rich guy in Superman 3 yeah

[@nycshelbygt500]

UR a #SickPuppy HaHa Great Sci-Fi Cult Classic...

[@gokuvegeta1167]

Dean knootz over king

[@harrypothead42024]

the problem with Dean Koontz books is every time you get to the seed of what's going on it's either an angel Jesus or the devil he's very boring and extremely derivative

[@jorgeseda3311]

I saw it a the movies andI really disliked this movie, is one in my list of never see again.

[@tommydarbe1524]

Dean Koontz has always been a superior writer to Stephen King and Kings movie adaptions suck.

[@tombaker4586]

Can you imagine this made in WOKE world ??? Greetings Tom Belgium.