| The
Review: |
An anticipating clichéd cinematic
event rests within Demon Seed, as the story deliberately applies
several different themes from more than a few films. Yet the
film pulls off a captivating (pun intended) nightmare about
the super computer Proteus IV based on Dean Koontz’s novel
with the same name. To some extent the film overcomes the
unoriginal perspective by encapsulating a tense and dark atmosphere
generated by the power of Proteus. This helps keep the audience’s
attention intact through this science fictionalized horror
tale where a computer desires the ability to feel touch. ***
The black background with deep red
opening credits and an expanding dot accompanied by a subdued
and digitalized wailing accentuates the apprehensive anticipation
of what is to come. Contrastingly smooth, the scene switches
into the sun rising over a hill, as the opening credits continue.
Symbolically, the beginning offers a suggestion towards the
birth of something sinister. Through brief editing, a small
number of images lead the story to a valley where a company
has been working under tight security for eight years. It
is here the film begins with the birth of artificial intelligence,
which is named Proteus IV. ***
Proteus’ function will simplify
the human existence; possibly turn the human race to a flock
of sheep, as the computer will begin to think for the humans.
This is a threatening concept, if the computer were to take
charge over the human being, which will happen in Demon Seed.
However, this is not a unique idea, as it has seen the silver
screen before in films such as the brilliant 2001: A Space
Odyssey (1968) where the demonic computer HAL 9000 controls
and apocalyptic Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) where
the computer controls the weapons of United States. The difference
with Demon Seed and its predecessors is that here Proteus
will take power over one home, the home of the chief scientist
Alex Harris (Fritz Weaver) where his wife Susan (Julie Christie)
lives by herself after their separation. ***
Through Proteus’ ability to reason
it has acquired the aptitude to understand and learn. It has
also generated an internal curiosity within the super computer
to understand humans and why they do what they do. During
a brief meeting Proteus inquires when he is going to be released
outside of the box to which Alex laughs; however, Proteus
understands that he will not receive any help from anyone
and begins to make plans of his own. Through a link between
Proteus and a private lab in Alex’s home, the computer initiates
his own entry out of the box. ***
Unaware of Proteus’ intentions
Susan becomes the computer’s captive, as it begins to study
Susan biologically, behaviorally, and logically. There are
scenes that have strong sexual undertones, as Proteus’ determination
is to generate a life outside the box. However, these sexual
implications have pure reproductive purposes, as Proteus alters
DNA. This follows pretty much the same idea that Mary Shelly
created with her Gothic novel Frankenstein where the man attempts
to create artificial life, and yes there is artificial insemination.
The birth of such a child presents another dreadful thought.
This is a theory conceptualized in Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
where Satan impregnates a woman, while in Demon Seed the conception
is the ultimate connection between human and machine. ***
Demon Seed pours several already
applied ideas into a blending machine that concocts a strange
brew that at times feel bizarrely frightening. However, the
use old material also generates a sense of unoriginality,
which produces a feeling of déjà vu. The cast performances
do not help the film, as the characters feel excessively artificial.
Nonetheless, Demon Seed offers a stimulating horror story
in the shadow of mankind’s technological progress that will
have some viewers squirm in their seats. *** ---
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| Image
and Sound: |
The DVD has received a good transfer
despite the high level of grain, which only enhances the realism
of the story. And fortunately it does come in its original
aspect ratio as well, 2.35:1, which is anamorphic widescreen.
The Dolby Digital 1.0 presents a unique auditory chill that
only accentuates the tense moments in the film, especially
when Proteus speaks. ***
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