Cody, Robert, and Nat are witnesses to Julie Christie being assaulted by a house in 1977’s DEMON SEED.
Based on a Dean Koontz novel, DEMON SEED finds Susan Harris (Julie Christie) terrorized in her automated house by the sentient artificial intelligence Proteus IV (voiced by Robert Vaughn) which has been invented by her husband (Fritz Weaver). Proteus IV has decided that the way out of being controlled by immoral corporations is to procreate. And its choice for mother is Susan.
Jule Christie had turned to genre films before with DON’T LOOK NOW. And there are certain similarities with both characters having recently lost children tragically. She’s unquestionably the best part of the film. Even when it takes some skeevy turns.
There are ideas in DEMON SEED. The morality of asking A.I. to do something immoral. Semi-automated houses of today are foreseen to a certain extent in the film. The film raises concerns about both of those issues. But, there’s no getting around that a lot of the film is about Julie Christie getting sexually assaulted by a house. And that’s certainly an uncomfortable time for a good portion of the film.
So there’s quite a bit to discuss with DEMON SEED.
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Time tracks:
DEMON SEED Discussion: 0:00 to 57:29
Next Film and Outro: 57:29 to End
Next month, we take in the acclaimed THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN from Richard Matheson and Jack Arnold. We hope you’ll join us.
