MovieChat Forums > Demon Seed (1977) Discussion > A Very Cool Flick

A Very Cool Flick

posted 19 years ago by gnolti
4 replies | jump to latest

Maybe it's a personal thing, but I've always thought DS is terribly underrated. You may take offense at the subject matter, or the plodding, artsy production, or the pretentiousness of its ideas (2001-ASO-derived); but visually and psychologically it's absorbing as hell, in a sick sort of way. Donald Cammell is a Nic Roeg affiliate who never quite found his niche, but that connection gave him access to Julie Christie, who works the role for all it's worth. And a great deal of Jerry Fielding's score is as creepy and majestic as anything by Jerry Goldsmith.

The problem with DS for today's moviegoers is what less imaginative viewers would call "datedness." Stylistically, it's so inescapably 70s. But you have to hand it to the filmmakers that they didn't labor the special effects -- they're purely kinetic and mechanical; you shouldn't miss the CGI because none is needed; the robots are actor-substitutes. It's a sexual-psychological drama, not a sci-fi extravaganza. And very human.

"L'audace, l'audace. Toujours l'audace."

[–] ndatmo-1 18 years ago

gnolti -- I am here to be the Ed McMahon to your Johnny Carson... You are RIGHT sir! Over and above the fact that I would go to see Julie Christie in just about anything of any vintage, the mere mention of Nic Roeg makes me want to see DON'T LOOK NOW.

Demon Seed... Ooh,the hyper-heated kitchen floor, Fritz Weaver as the disconnected husband, the goop & metal baby, the cheesy computer voice, the twirling faceted alloy 'diamond tops'...what's not to like?

Oh, now you've done it -- I also want to see BILLY LIAR, DARLING, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD and maybe McCABE & MRS. MILLER. And FAHRENHEIT 451.

[–] Woodyanders 18 years ago

Julie Christie's excellent performance really holds this film together; she brings great dignity and humanity to her part.

"Warren Oates died for our sins"

[–] Hey_Sweden 13 years ago

Nice post. I would have to agree.

What do you think this is, a signature? It's a way of life!

[–] asgard-5 13 years ago

I think it's no masterpiece at all, but I had fun watching this movie. Even though I've never read it, I suspect Koontz' book is much better than the treatment its story gets here, it still shines through. Watching this movie taught me that filmmakers in order to make futuristic stuff appear futuristic use classical music on the soundtrack as a counterpoint. But it's also pretty clear how much that dates said futuristic stuff, while classical music remains where it is. The polyhedron was really cool, but the baby and the one-handed bandit really date the picture.