Demon Seed

Based on the book by Dean Koontz, Demon Seed follows Julie Christie’s Susan Harris as she’s imprisoned in her own home by an artificial-intelligence-enhanced supercomputer that’s developed an obsession with humankind. Filmmaker Donald Cammell delivers a slow-going yet intriguing opening stretch that benefits from impressive set design and a solid performance by Christie, and it’s clear, certainly, that movie’s introduction of the aforementioned supercomputer, named Proteus, certainly perpetuates the somewhat irresistible ’70s sci-fi atmosphere. There’s little doubt, then, that Demon Seed‘s hold on the viewer begins to wane as it enters its overly deliberate (and rather uneventful) midsection, as Cammell’s emphasis on less-than-captivating elements essentially highlights the various deficiencies within Robert Jaffe and Roger O. Hirson’s screenplay. And although the picture’s been peppered with a small handful of engrossing sequences (eg Proteus attacks Susan and a hapless techie with a high-powered laser), Demon Seed builds to a lackluster third act that ensures it ends on as underwhelming a note that one could possibly envision – which is a shame, undoubtedly, given the somewhat promising nature of its early stages.

** out of ****