Demon Seed is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Dean R. Koontz. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first saw this film. Needless to say, I was impressed. Whilst the idea of a megalomaniacal computer is not new, it is used to great effect. Proteus IV is a computer that actually questions the tasks it has been made to do and what the relevance of those tasks are. It also seems to have emotion and is heard several times to other characters in the film that he does not wish to hurt them when they are not co-operating with his demands. Although aspects of this film are now dated ( particularly the computer equipment ),Proteus IV's interesting philosophy, Julie Christie and Fritz Weaver's performances and the unexpected creepy ending make this film worth watching.

The Entity in this Classic Sci-Fi Scenario...an "Artificial Intelligence" has Observed and Determined that it is Smarter and Deserves its Place in the Universe as a Man-Made "God" and should be in Charge.

But Here is the Bizarre, by any Measurement, Twist...

The Invented "Brain" has Acquired a "Desire" to be "Free" of its "Box" and Also wants to "Impregnate" Its Creator's Wife so the Essence can "Carry-On" Biologically, Its "Greatness".

It's a Trope of Mythology as Old as Time Itself. The "Gods" Descend to Interact, Physically, with Females and Procreate "Demi-Gods".

This Telling of the Tale is Updated to Modern Times Resulting in a Curious Film that is "High Concept" Thinking for the New Computer-Based World.

A Film that has Moments of Entertainment for Moderns in an Exploitive KInd-of-Way, While Still Maintaining a Method of Commenting About Human-Machine "Mating" Without Getting Laughed Off the Screen.

Good-Looking, State of the Art Film-Making with a Medium Budget Utilized to Maximum Artistic Deliverance.

Still, to this Day, a Controversial Musing about a Not-to-Distant Future Interaction, Mixing, a Collaboration of "Man" and His Creation Replaying God's Initial Intercourse with Man and that is Now Full-Circle.

Not Totally Satisfying in Any Way, but a Film Daring and is Creative. Well-Staged and is Thought-Provoking Enough to make it...

Worth a Watch.

Dean R. Koontz's novel is adapted for the screen with this original and provocative science-fiction tale. An organic super computer dubbed Proteus has been created, but this entity has ambitions and thoughts that its creators couldn't have foreseen. The one emotion built into it is reason, and it doesn't want to just blindly follow orders; it questions things. For example, why it's so necessary to plunder the Earth's oceans in search of precious metals and destroy wildlife in the process. But what really intrigues Proteus (eerily voiced by an uncredited Robert Vaughn) is human life itself, and it traps Susan Harris (ever radiant Julie Christie) inside her own home, intending for her to bear its "child".

As one can see, "Demon Seed" is far from your typical sci-fi, and is positively creepy, and personal. For a while it's practically a two character drama, with the frightened Susan and the coldly determined Proteus locked in a battle of wills. With the high level of intimacy generated, it's easy to be with these characters and feel concerned for Susan's safety.

The popular subtext of this and similar features - "Colossus: The Forbin Project" and "The Terminator" - illustrating a potential for disaster in trusting our lives to machinery, is front and centre. The movie never insults the audience's intelligence, and as it plays out it's really fascinating to see. Even if one can take issue with the way the movie strongly dates itself - special effects, fashions, etc. - some of the visuals are still quite hypnotic and the scenario remains compelling the entire time, with a memorable and haunting wrap-up, which will leave the viewer to wonder about the "What next?" aspect.

The acting is strong from all concerned, with Christie an engaging lead, and the likable Fritz Weaver doing well as the confident human brain behind Proteus who realizes this creation of his can't be so easily controlled. It's also cool to have on hand the always entertaining Gerrit Graham ("Phantom of the Paradise", "Used Cars") as Susan's would-be rescuer, Walter Gabler.

Excellent widescreen cinematography by Bill Butler and chilling music by Jerry Fielding are also heavy assets in this solid shocker, one of the more noteworthy films of its type from its era.

Eight out of 10.